The Big Uneasy (2010)

Sadly Over-hyped

Best movie ever!

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The film's central argument is portrayed clearly and effectively throughout, discussing the role the Army Corp Of Engineers had in the flooding after Hurricane Katrina. It was convincing and informative, drawing attention to an interesting element of the disaster I personally was not familiar with.At the same time, the material avoided being dry or overly technical, offering an infusion of the New Orleans character in the presentation, the occasional splash of dry humor, and a deeply personal element as it went into the lives and unfortunate outcomes of those who offered evidence in the making of this movie. That last element additionally was personal enough to remind me of those I've known over the years that embody an unrelenting dedication to their ideals despite the consequences.Viewing it, I was attentive as the evidence mounted at a constant rate throughout the picture, and drawn in to the personal stories of those who were involved in the events to transpire.

This film certainly eliminates one of the alleged "culprits", the hurricane, and hits the nail squarely on the head in showing that this was a MAN MADE disaster that could have been easily prevented.But that is only part of the story.the flooding of the city west of the Industrial Canal was PARTLY the fault of the Corps but even more the result of deliberate, premeditated criminality on the part of Mayor "Slimy Sidney" Barthelemy and the New Orleans City Hall Gang.Barthelemy was warned by the veteran engineers of the Sewage & Water Board, which controls the drainage canals,when they say the plans for the proposed floodwalls, that they would never hold.they were "rewarded" by being PURGED by Barthelemy.The city had one of the most powerful congressional delegations in the country, including Robert Livingston, which got Barthelemy BILLIONS in pork.They were easily powerful enough to force the Corps to build REAL floodwalls instead of PHONEY ones, but that is NOT what the politicians wanted.They wanted to be able to GORGE themselves on GRAFT from the Billions in "disaster relief" that they knew would pour into the city when it was flooded by the next big hurricane that hit, and one was long overdue.Like a businessman who torches his own property to collect the insurance, TO THEM the city was worth more DEAD than ALIVE.And ever since the disaster they have been feasting like vultures on that graft;virtually all of the "federal aid" went to the PERPETRATORS of this tragedy, not to their VICTIMS.But everyone is grateful to Mr. Shearer for keeping this in the public eye, and as long as it is there is at least a slight chance that justice will finally be done.

I wish every American could see this movie! I want to thank Mr. Shearer for spending his own money to make such an enlightening film that presented straightforward scientific fact while it also pulled at your heartstrings.This was the clearest explanation and illustration of the hour-by-hour floodwall breaches and the structural causes of the breaches that I have seen. And I have read and seen a lot about it post-Katrina! The film brilliantly outlined the Corps' decades of incompetence that led to New Orleans flooding. The film also beautifully articulated why it's so important for this country to care about what happens to New Orleans – for all the cultural AND economic reasons.I really appreciated the opportunity to learn about all the potential there is to save New Orleans and the wetlands – it's not too late if we act now. The visions of what the city could be if we utilized Dutch engineering were beautiful and so much more logical than what the Corps is currently constructing. But I fear there is little hope that those in charge will ever have the intelligence to utilize the Dutch resources. But one small step to educate the country is to have everyone you know see this movie when it comes out on DVD!

Caught an early screening of "The Big Uneasy" tonight. It opens nationwide August 30th. Harry Shearer goes deep into the causes of the Katrina flooding with engrossing interviews with the major whistleblowers, who collectively pointed out that the floods were the result of shoddy work by the U.S. Corps of Engineers, dating back to long before Katrina. This is a film with clear cut good guys and bad guys, and hits all the bases of how the floods happened, how the aftermath was dealt with (or not), the backstory on what caused the failures of the levees, the govt spin, and the professional costs to those who bravely investigated the causes and made public what they learned. Good New Orleans atmosphere. And a memorable moment with Sen. Vitter, of all people. Is very well done. Good for Harry. He took his passion for New Orleans, his journalistic skills and political smarts and made them into something.