Erin Brockovich

ERIN BROCKOVICH

D: Steven Soderbergh (2000); with Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, Conchata Ferrell, Aaron Eckhart, Peter Coyote. Julia Roberts is winsome and not at all cloying in this Silkwood-meets-Marie-meets-Pretty Woman extravaganza. In fact, I'd almost admit I'm beginning to like Julia, now that I've gotten past all the years of oppressive hype. But that's not her fault. She seems like a genuinely nice woman who is growing up to be a competent actress. And Erin Brockovich supplies her with just the kind of role that the world likes to see her in -- a woman who's beleaguered, but with spunk (an often repellent combination). She plays the real-life whistle-blower of the title (the real Erin has a role as a waitress in the movie) and proves she's a real actress by following the time-honored path well beaten by Hollywood actresses -- playing white trash. But, of course, she's white trash with a heart of gold, who cares only about taking care of her three children and finding justice in the world. With her bra showing most of the time and her New Jersey-deluxe hair, she actually does a credible job of it, and that's where it's possible to develop compassion for her character. And thank God for that -- for without her, there's little that makes this movie any different from the kind of movies made for the Lifetime channel. Finney is excellent as her boss, although the handsome Eckhart is wasted as the boyfriend when the love story just kind of fizzles out. Many say it's the best work Roberts has done. I wouldn't know. But I'm always a sucker for seeing the little guy win against the behemoth powers-that-be, even though it's been done over and over again. (Civil Action ring any bells? Norma Rae?)