ERIN BROCKOVICH RATING: 7 /10 --> Good movie
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The similarities between this film and the John Travolta lawyer drama A CIVIL ACTION (6.5/10) are uncanny. Both films are based on actual events, feature strong leads pursuing legal cases against major multinationals that have allegedly contaminated the water supply of local towns. The main difference between the two films would have to do with the former featuring a cutthroat, rich, successful lawyer going against the system (also a man), while this one features a twice-divorced, uneducated, sexpot with three kids doing the same thing (oh yeah, and she's a woman!).
PLOT: A sexy divorcee with no formal education and a lot of debt forces herself into a filing job at her lawyer's office, only to run into a lot of internal politics and lack of respect from her co-workers. It isn't until one day while filing away a case that she is intrigued by the details, and takes on the task of researching the case further on her own. After much hard work, determination, and personal sacrifice, she and the firm begin to put together one of the biggest direct-action lawsuits in U.S. history.
CRITIQUE: Despite its slow moments, extended runtime and similarities in plot to A CIVIL ACTION, this film managed to make me like it based entirely on its excellent performances by its shining star Julia Roberts and her rough-gruff counterpart Albert Finney. I know it's still early in the year, but Albert should definitely be remembered come Oscar time next year in the category of supporting players. I don't remember the last time I truly enjoyed seeing this type of love-hate relationship work so well in a film, especially without it involving sex between the couple in question. The characters drawn here are quite opposite, save for the mutual respect that both obviously feel for one another, but to watch them go head-to-head on various issues is just great cinema. The story itself isn't extremely original or particularly engaging to behold (in spite of it being based on real events), the pacing sometimes slow, and the predictability factor pretty high on all counts. But what generally makes or breaks films of this type are their focus on character, character, character, and this film succeeds in radiating light through its stars.
Even Aaron Eckhart, the only other significant player in the film, comes through as the boyfriend standing by his strong female companion as she takes on, what seems like, the world. And even though this film was a little foreseeable, I did find it refreshing to finally soak in a movie that focused more on the achievements of a woman, rather than that of men. So if only for that reason, check it out and "watch them women, hear them roar!". Of course, some of the roaring is also being handled by the flock of mini-skirts and push-em-up bras that Julia's character dons during this picture, but it is not as much of a focus as the film's trailer makes it out to be (Them marketing folks is smart!). So does the movie present the viewer with a lot of conflict, obstacles or tension? Not really. I was barely ever anxious to see what would happen next and rarely felt as though things wouldn't work out for everyone involved, but then again, this film doesn't pretend to be a thriller. It's an interesting, small tale of a woman who never knew what she could be in life, until she actually went out and became it. It's pretty inspiring, it's got one of the most feel-good last scenes in a movie this year, and once again, features a couple of charming performances by two great actors at the top of their game.
If you love Julia Roberts, you will most likely enjoy this run-of-the-mill story, despite it running a little too long, and you will definitely come to further appreciate the broad talent of Mr. Albert Finney, who pulls off one of his finest performances in years. All in all, a decent "lawyer movie", which consciously avoids any long, boring courtroom scenes. Thank you for that, Mr. Soderbergh.
Little Known Facts about this film and its stars: Pay close attention to one of the earlier scenes with Julia and her kids in a restaurant, since the waitress serving them is none other than the REAL Erin Brockovich-Ellis herself! As an inside joke, she is apparently wearing a nametag that reads "Julia". Julia Roberts reportedly earned $20,000,000 for her role in this film. Collectively, her films have grossed more than $2 billion worldwide. Albert Finney was born in Manchester, England and is apparently the only person in history to ever call Audrey Hepburn a "bitch"...in the film TWO FOR THE ROAD (okay, okay...so it was a line in the movie). Writer Susannah Grant's previous work as a screenwriter was on the Cinderella tale, EVER AFTER (7/10), starring Drew Barrymore. Her next writing gig also stars a woman, Sandra Bullock in the drama 28 DAYS. And for once, the events depicted in this film are apparently very accurate in terms of what really happened to Erin in her own life. Only some of the peripheral characters are fictitious or amalgamations of real people from her life. In fact, photographs shown to the crew by the real Erin prove that she really did sport 8-inch mini-skirts, 3-inch heels and plunging necklines during these trying times. A look that she still abides by to this day and apparently looks terrific! This film was spawned from an appointment that executive producer Carla Santos Shamberg had with her chiropractor. For it was as she was lying on her practitioner's table that she overheard a conversation about another patient whose story was larger than life. And yes, that other patient was none other than Erin Brockovich. Carla told her husband Michael about the story, Michael told Danny DeVito and Stacey Sher, with whom he runs Jersey Films, and the rest is movie-making history.
Review Date: February 28, 2000 Director: Steven Soderbergh Writer: Susannah Grant Producers: Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher Actors: Julia Roberts as Erin Brockovich Albert Finney as Ed Masry Aaron Eckhart as George Genre: Drama Year of Release: 2000 ------------------------------------- JoBlo's Movie Emporium http://www.joblo.com/ ------------------------------------- (c) 2000 Berge Garabedian
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