Review of Erin Brockovich (2000) by Gregory G — 04 Apr 2013

As the brassy title character, a divorced mother of three working at a law office, Julia Roberts dresses and talks like a tart, wearing miniskirts and push-up bras, charming her boss (Albert Finney) and the local California townsfolk, for their assistance in an environmental personal injury lawsuit.

There are obvious parallels here to "Norma Rae" and "Silkwood" of a no-nonsense woman standing up against a corrupt corporation, but it offers few surprises with implausible red herrings.

This overly slick, populist drama plays like an inspirational, underdog TV movie that gets a lot of mileage on Roberts' charisma, despite faltering in the more dramatic moments. She won the Oscar for Best Actress.

Finney is thoroughly delightful in one of his best recent roles. Directed with economy by the prolific Steven Soderbergh. Written by Susannah Grant. With Aaron Eckhart, Marg Helgenberger, Tracey Walter, Peter Coyote, Cherry Jones, and the real Erin Brockovich as a waitress named Julia R.