Erin Brokovich
Rating: * * * * out of * * * * (* * * * * for NZone) Starring: Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, Aaron Eckhart, Marg Heleberger, Cherry Jones, Peter Coyote, Veanne Cox, Conchata Ferrell. Directed by: Steven Soderbergh 2000--131 Minutes Written By Brandon Herring March 17, 2000
So far in the year 2000, we have not had a great movie. So far in the year 2000 only 7 films have gotten *** or more, two films have gotten Zero Stars. I was starting to give up on movies so far, when I came along this gem, which has become a huge hit. Julia Roberts is probably my favorite actress in the world, and starred last year in one of my top 10 favorites "Notting Hill". Roberts was mostly known for her roles in romantic comedies such as "Pretty Woman" and "Runaway Bride", now in the year 2000 Roberts comes back in a role much different from her past, this time she is a tight skirt wearing, foul-mouthed, sexy paralegal in the first great movie of 2000.
"Erin Brokovich" is the incredibly true story of a young woman (brilliant played by Julia Roberts) who is the single mother of three, married twice and divorced twice, living in a run down house with roaches, battling a lawyers office which happens to be her job, and her love life is on the rocks. This is the everyday of Erin's life. The film starts out with Erin getting into a nasty accident, and sueing the guy responsible for hitting her. She ends up working for this lawyer's office led by Ed Massery (played greatly by Albert Finney). Erin is hired reluctencly as a paralegal, and ends up investigating a very serious case in her real estate files, which has to deal with people on this once piece of land, whose water comes from PG&E, ends up developing cancer after living on this land, and drinking this water. Erin meets a young woman played fantastically by Marg Helenberger who is being attacked with a handful of diseases, and Erin gathers up enough people who in the past have lived on this land to file a lawsuit. What insues is a uplifting story, and an incredibly showcase of acting.
Julia Roberts who starred last summer in one of my favorite movies of all time, 1999's "Notting Hill", has again come through and made another movie that is howlingly funny, devistatingly sad, and in the end uplifting and powerful that a tear came to my eye because I felt so good. Julia gives yet another Oscar-calibur performance, and her portrayal of a single mother here is priceless. Roberts being not a mother in real life, is so believable that you'd think she has kids secretly. Her on screen chemistry with the camera is beyond descriptive words, and only the mind can imagine how good Julia is. Her snappy dialogue written by Susannah Grant has some brilliantly funny lines, and very smart words come out of this woman's mouth. Julia and her tightfitting clothes are another character trait in this film, she is always in cleavage showing, short tight-fitting skirts that always show off not even enough. She in the end is powerful, yet subtle, foul-mouthed, yet gentle woman whom we fall in love with by the time the credits role.
Her supporting actors notably Albert Finney are fantastic, and back up the lead actress with charisma and charm. Albert Finney plays Erin's boss, and is incredibly effective in his role. He gives us a believable man, who owns a business and is having this young woman work for him, which we all know could not be that easily done. In the end again we fall in love with him as well. Aaron Eckhart most notable from "In The Company of Men" and "Your Friends & Neighbors" is an on screen gem playing Erin's gruff, biker boyfriend Robert, who behind all the facial hair, and ruff and tuff image, is a sweet natured guy, who falls in love with both her and her kids.
Directed by Steven Soderbergh who gave us 1998's fantastic "Out of Sight" strikes gold once again, with this realistic, breathtakingly fresh view into Erin's world, and the effects it has on Erin's family. Not only does he do such a good job at being a director, as he does making good movies. If Soderbergh continues to make movies like this, I will continue to praise movies like this. When you walk into a movie, and expect the best, and get even more it is a rare feeling to know that movies like this can come out. Even though only being March of 2000, I can already tell right now, "Erin Brokovich" is already one of the best films of 2000, and so far the best movie I have seen of 2000.
Copyright Brandon Herring 2000.
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