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A Julia Roberts Tour-De-Force: Erin Brockovich 

Erin Brockovich was one of the most talked-about hit films of the 2000 season, so naturally it would be soon when I eventually got around to seeing it. What this movie represents is a strong attempt at show-stopping film-making, with a big star in a showy role, who spouts out numerous one-liners and elevated speeches so as to make the character and film more memorable (and marketable), and a standard rebellious good guy against the big bad establishment storyline. There is nothing very deep or complicated about this movie, but it will entertain.
 
The story involves a single mother raising two kids who seems to have had her share of hard knocks. Such experiences have given her a steely attitude and one wicked tongue, and she gives a pretty nifty demonstration of this after a car accident in which the other car passes a red light and smashes her car. She takes the bastard to court, but loses the case because she lets her anger get the best of her. Erin becomes even more desperate to get work and money, and so dares to apply for a job -- any job - with the small law firm which represented her in the accident case. The lawyer (Albert Finney) finds her very difficult right from the start, and even some of the staff, especially the female members, find her intimidating, no doubt because of her rather racy choice of wardrobe.
There`s a lot more than just a pretty face and a hot body when it comes to Julia!
Erin`s work is far from challenging, as she does the drudge work of shifting and moving files around all day, but something catches her attention which will set the whole story in motion. She organizes files concerning what seems to be a simple real estate transaction between a homeowner and a corporation, but she notices that there are medical files included, and is baffled why such things would be important in a property transaction. So she does some investigative work of her own, and finds out some very shocking things about the corporation involved. Essentially, the corporation has polluted the water in the area, and large financial compensation, as well as other supposed benefits, will hopefully suppress the facts. But no executive for this corporation ever would predict that Erin would mess up this whole charade.
It`s a dirty job, but somebody`s got to do it!!
 What Erin uncovers is something which is far more than a simple little case, as similar deals are made with large numbers of people in the area. The deals were made mainly through deception; the corporation will have their own doctors claim that the people's illnesses had nothing to do with the pollution, while at the same time, tempting them with large amounts of cash. Yet Erin is able to find damning evidence which supports the idea that the company knew what was really going on, so she soon convinces Finney's character to represent all of these people and fight for an even larger settlement, one which will more than adequately cover the medical costs and hardships of those affected by the chemicals from the corporation plant. The case drags on, but not without emotional stress for both Finney and Roberts; he with the amount of debt he and his firm fall into, she with the stress of taking care of her two kids, and her general impatince with events which just don`t go her way.
 
Julia Roberts is a knockout -- in every sense of that term. Of course, everybody likes to point out Roberts' choice of wardrobe and her heaving bosom, all of which are pluses in my book. But there is more to Julia than that, as she is also a star, and takes full advantage of that. Her dialogue consists of assorted one-liners and imposing statements, and she is not sluggish in delivering them. Her strong presence allows us to understand, and feel more sympathy, for this aggressive, driven woman. There is an interesting moment when she, after being chastised by her boyfriend for not being there for him or the kids, states that this is the first time in her life that she has had any respect, any chance for making a life for herself, and that someday her kids will understand how important her job really is. What such a scene does is illuminate the double standards of family and work. If the genders were switched, such a conversation would be non-existent, because he would be bringing home the bacon, while she would be the mother to the kids. At the same time, I know there would be people bothered by her aggressive attitude, because they think that all women must be "lady-like", whatever the hell that is. Her character, by itself, is, then, very complex, and will provoke argument. So the only real problem is that this character is, in fact, so imposing that Julia Roberts successfully upstages all the other actors in the movie. Even Albert Finney, Oscar nominee for Tom Jones, Under The Volcano, and others, is fairly ill-at-ease at times. All he can do is vainly refute Roberts' ideas, only to grudgingly accept them. Aaron Eckhart is no different, as he is portrayed as the boyfriend who gamely supports her most of the time, except for the times when he is just a damned fool to dare question her drive. I have the odd feeling that I`m merely watching second-fiddles, playing along to Roberts' tune.
This guy doesn`t look like he has the brains to think of this woman -- any woman -- as much more than a pair of breasts!!!
That incriminating evidence has to be here somewhere!!!
Obviously, Erin Brockovich is not a masterpiece. I knew from the start that the story would be extremly one-sided, with this legally inexperienced, struggling woman taking on the evil system -- and winning. And the film milks that for all its worth. As well, after having just read a few articles from Micheal Fumento`s website in which he and others question both her motives and the facts of the case, even I question the truth of this film. But as "feel-good" entertainment, Erin Brockovich is worthy of an evening`s viewing.
 Rating: ***
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Copyright 2000
By David Macdonald

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