Erin Brockovich
rated R 127 minutes Universal Pictures starring Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, and Aaron Eckhart written by Susannah Grant directed by Steven Soderbergh
A Review by Frankie Paiva
Julia Roberts has been digging herself into a very deep hole, beginning with the release of My Best Friend's Wedding in 1997. She was cast in the lead role again and again in the same type of dreamy romance movies, her recent credits include Stepmom, Notting Hill, and Runaway Bride. After Bride, I was beginning to get pretty tired of her. It just seemed like she was playing the same person repeatedly. She has done a marvelous job of digging herself out of the hole that I mentioned earlier. While she still retains much of the regular Julia charm, she's able to use it in another way, and the results are a great comedy/drama that many will enjoy.
Erin Brockovich, (Roberts) a woman with three kids, an interesting assortment of plunging neckline outfits, and little money, is desperate for a job. When misfortune leads her to a law office she begs for a job on a whim, right after her claim is settled. Ed Masry (an amazing Finney) is the head of the small legal firm. Erin convinces him she will do a good job, and she's hired.
Soon after they hire her, she notices a real estate file that looks suspicious to her. She investigates the files she finds, which concern chemicals a Pacific Gas and Electric factory have let get into the water of the small California town of Hinkley. People in the town are dying of a large variety of illnesses and everyone has some type of disease or another. For some reason, no one really seems to do anything about it. They aren't wealthy enough to take care of their families, and this could go on forever if someone doesn't do something. Erin discovers that there is an extremely high amount of a deadly chemical in the water for the town and is determined to help the residents bring PG&E corporate down. Due to her low knowledge of legal expertise, her and Masry must team up, in order to win the fight.
Winning performances here from Julia Roberts and Albert Finney. The two have dazzling chemistry and their is much humor in their developing friendship. The two make a great team, and writer Susannah Grant (who has also written the screenplay for the upcoming Sandra Bullock film "28 Days") gives Julia some great one-liners. It's really fun to see Erin jostle with the big time law firms. Don't think this movie is all comedy though. It would be appropriately suited in the dramedy category. The scenes of Erin's struggle with men and her new love George (Eckhart) are the other part of the movie. The film doesn't get too crowded, despite it's dramatic and humorous counterparts. Director Steven Soderbergh (director of two superb pictures, "Out of Sight" and "The Limey") use the slow fade to death, which makes the film's story appear to be in chapters, a welcome thing that helps us keep track of the time this movie covers.
A welcome addition to the Julia Roberts film library, this true story is a fun drama that will probably appeal to young teenagers and up. Besides the heavy use of the f-word this would be a good movie to take your kids to. At times Erin's strife feels too easy, at times too hard, but by the end of the movie, you'll be rooting for her. The real Erin Brockovich is in the movie, look for her in the diner scene as a waitress named Julia. What fun, I can't wait to see what Roberts does next. And maybe if the movie catches on, we'll even see a line of Erin Brockovich clothing, now wouldn't that be interesting.
A
Frankie Paiva SwpStke@aol.com http://www.homestead.com/cinemaparadise/mainpage.html
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