Erin Brockovich Review
By Joe Lozito
A Bigmouth Strikes Again
"Erin Brockovich", the true story of a poor single mother in middle America who takes on a Goliath in the form of Pacific Gas and Electric, follows the well-worn path of "Norma Rae", "Silkwood" and particularly "A Civil Action."
Erin has a good story to tell, even if some of it feels unbelievable even by Hollywood standards - particularly when a scruffy Harley-Davidson enthusiast (Aaron Eckhart) moves in next door and seems content to take care of Erin's three kids all day and night while she fights the good fight.
Julia Roberts, acting largely through her wildly-supported cleavage, plays Erin, a character that, by the end of the film, becomes borderline unlikable. There are one too many scenes of Erin telling off someone for not realizing that her way is the right way, and there are one too many times when her way is the right way. Also, it is never explained how a single mom with three kids and $75 in the bank never wears the same ridiculous outfit twice. Granted, this is based on a true story and apparently the real-life Erin was as much of a brassy loudmouth as Mr. Roberts plays here, so she should be given credit for staying true to the character at the expense of her wide-smiling image.
The real breakout performance in the film is given by none other that Albert Finney playing the curmudgeonly lawyer Ed Masry who, through no action of his own, sets Erin's story rolling.
With a solid track record of films which have a unique depth of style and storytelling, the most depressing part of watching "Erin Brockovich" is witnessing what may or may not be the Hollywoodization of Director Steven Soderbergh. Let's hope that Mr. Soderbergh accepted the job of this obvious crowd-pleaser to fund another project like "sex, lies and videotape" or "The Limey". That would be a cause worth fighting for.
