The Big Uneasy

Year: 2011

Runtime: 98 min

Language: English

Budget: $41M

Documentary

Humorist Harry Shearer explores the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in this documentary. Through interviews with investigators and experts, he uncovers the story of the disaster's devastating impact and the systemic failures that exacerbated the tragedy. The film highlights the bravery of tenacious individuals who risked much to expose the truth, including a courageous whistleblower from the Army Corps of Engineers, revealing critical flaws that endangered lives and left New Orleans struggling to recover.

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In 2005, a catastrophic event unfolded in New Orleans, a moment forever etched in history. But do we truly grasp the full extent of what happened? Enter The Big Uneasy, the inaugural documentary from the renowned “mockumentarian” Harry Shearer. This film focuses on three extraordinary individuals—the heads of two scientific investigative teams and a courageous whistleblower—as they uncover the stark reality behind the flood that devastated the city and the alarming possibility of it occurring again.

Harry Shearer’s relentless pursuit of truth brings to light a narrative that was perhaps too easily overlooked. Through interviews and personal stories, he captures the insights of those who experienced the disaster firsthand. As the film unfolds, viewers are drawn into the investigation that reveals critical flaws in the methods responsible for the levee failures during Hurricane Katrina. Astonishingly, Shearer discovers that many of the same ineffective strategies are still being utilized to reconstruct the levee system that is intended to safeguard the new New Orleans from future threats.

The Big Uneasy doesn’t merely recount an event; it serves as a cautionary tale about our collective ignorance regarding the conditions that led to one of the nation’s most tragic disasters. It shines a light on the crucial need for improvement in engineering practices and the importance of accountability in oversight. The film issues a stark warning: the same agency that failed to protect New Orleans is persistently relying on outdated and defective scientific practices that could jeopardize many cities across America.

With a compelling narrative and insightful revelations, this documentary marks a pivotal shift in understanding the past, aiming to ensure that the calamity of New Orleans is neither forgotten nor repeated. Audiences are left with the haunting realization that unless significant changes are made, history might indeed have the unsettling tendency to repeat itself in other vulnerable areas.

Last Updated: May 12, 2025 at 07:04

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Documentaries and dramas where individuals risk everything to expose systemic corruption.If you liked the investigative tenacity in The Big Uneasy, explore more movies about courageous whistleblowers. These films follow individuals who risk their careers and safety to expose corruption and systemic failures, creating tense, urgent, and socially conscious documentaries and dramas.

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These films share a cohesive vibe built from a tense tone, steady pacing, and moderate complexity, all in service of a deeply unsettling and thought-provoking theme. The emotional journey is heavy, focusing on the grim reality of preventable tragedies and the sobering lessons they impart.

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