ERIN BROCKOVICH

Actress Julia Roberts makes her bid for another Oscar nomination in the highly entertaining movie, ERIN BROCKOVICH. In the movie, she plays a straight-shooting single mother who’s not afraid to speak her mind, using very salty language as she does so.

Based on a true story, ERIN BROCKOVICH opens with the twice-divorced Erin (Roberts) losing another job and getting into an auto accident. Her lawyer, Ed Masry, played by Albert Finney, tries to collect punitive damages for her and her three young children. Erin, however, spoils the case by speaking out in court, using even foul language.

With nowhere else to turn, Erin pleads with Masry to give her a job. While working, she stumbles upon some medical records placed in real estate files for a family living in the desert in Hinkley, Calif. Confused, she begins to question the connection. She convinces Ed to allow her to investigate. Ed welcomes the chance to get the brash young woman out of his hair. Surprisingly, however, she discovers a cover-up involving contaminated water which appears to be causing devastating illnesses around the town.

Erin’s persistence and the personal interest she takes in the lives of the townspeople earns their respect. Soon, she and Ed are litigating a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the power company that’s apparently responsible for the contaminated water. Meanwhile, Erin strikes up a relationship with a part-time construction worker, George, living next door to her. George enjoys watching her children for her while she and Ed pursue the case. He turns out to be the best babysitter she’s ever had.

ERIN BROCKOVICH allows Julia Roberts to showcase all her talents, including her physical attributes. Reportedly, the real Erin Brockovich not only uses lots of strong foul language, like in this movie, but also enjoys wearing low-cut, tight-fitting clothes and very short dresses. Much of the humor in the movie involves how Erin uses her body and her straightforward speech to get people to do things for her and the case, especially the men she encounters. Roberts plays these qualities to the hilt, yet avoids any cartoonish moves. Part of the reason for her success with this seems to be the warmth and vulnerability she also displays. As Erin, Roberts expresses genuine concern for the plight of the people in Hinkley. Her earnest portrayal helps the audience identify with her character. The rest of the cast meshes well with her as well, especially the great Albert Finney. Finney also may find Oscar knocking on his door next year.

The director, Steven Soderbergh, handles the story in a direct, straightforward manner. Though always focused on what Roberts does, he still manages to highlight each and every character and situation. He also maintains a smooth, high-energy pace that firmly holds the attention of viewers.

Although the foul language used by the title character may accurately represent her true personality in real life, that still does not excuse the filmmakers, however, for using such language. Also, even though the movie takes a compassionate moral stance toward righting a terrible wrong, it does so without reference to God, the Bible or any religious faith community. Erin’s battle is thus a secular one. As such, it also contains some feminist elements. This is, of course, the kind of humanistic fight that today’s Hollywood loves. Ultimately, therefore, ERIN BROCKOVICH lacks the deepest kind of transcendent value that makes a movie truly great, despite its entertaining qualities, which are admittedly strong.