Review of Erin Brockovich (2000) by Nathan M — 01 Jun 2014

Or.

I've never been a huge fan of Julia Roberts. She has great charisma, there's no doubt about that, but I've never really been interested in her performances. However, with Erin Brockovich she showcases everything that's made her a movie star. Of course, she's charismatic, but she has the kind of "girl next door" beauty that she's relatable and sympathetic. Roberts comes across as an everyday woman in difficult circumstances, fighting for the rights of others. You're rooting for her the entire movie.

But the film is also full of great supporting performances from Albert Finney's reluctant crusader to Aaron Eckhart's biker boyfriend who just wants Erin to pay him some attention to the cast of women in the office who don't respect Erin based on appearances. Everyone in this film really works in their roles, and it serves to bring a real world sensibility to this very true story. You care about the characters, and you care about what happens to them.

And a lot of this is due to the amazing performance by director Steven Soderbergh. Soderbergh is a director who is both stylish and nearly invisible in his projects. He has a clear sense of what he's doing, but he also knows what his performers are doing and never detracts from them, his style only enhances them. This is particularly true with this film. In every scene he highlights performers in a way that allows them to shine, and to shed light on these characters.

It's a really good film, that might become a little too repetitive at times. However, you want care, because the film has a lot of heart, and you want to see more and more of it.