For seven years during the late 1980s and early 1990s, I attended Mardi Gras with friends who lived in NOLA, so I have a deep love for the people and the city. Watching the devastation of the 2005 hurricane Katrina was heart-breaking.
This documentary reopens that painful period. Many people would recognize director, writer, narrator, and New
Orleans resident Harry Shearer for his over 152 acting roles ranging from The
Simpsons to Spinal Tap, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration.
Shearer has a lot of understandable rage toward what happened
to his city. Unlike those who want to just lay the blame on "It was an unprecidented natural disaster," the film follows the findings of two leading scientists who headed their own
investigation teams and a government whistleblower, who lays out how equipment
failures were inevitable. The film points its finger chillingly at the work of
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and, ultimately, their maintenance and operation of the
Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO), [cited in a legal opinion of Judge
Stanwood Duval]. The scientists show that the levees were improperly built.
Pumps were used which never passed tests. And not surprisingly, a lot of effort has been spent in covering up what happened.
The film doesn’t just present blame. It also investigates
solutions which could help correct some of the current problem, such as
establishing canals like those used in Holland.
For anyone who has affection for NOLA, this is a must-see film.
Additional documents researched for the film are found at The Big Uneasy's website.
The Big Uneasy (2010) ****
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