Reel Critics

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Reel Critics column features movie critiques written

by community members serving on our panel.

Roberts shines in an inspirational story

Ever since I was old enough -- or thought I was -- to form my own

opinions, my mother would drill into me the cliched,

heard-it-a-thousand-times-before words of wisdom, “don’t judge a book by

its cover.”

At first I dismissed the lesson, thinking that my mom hadn’t read

anything that I’d read in a long time; what does she know? However as I

uncovered a melange of humanity, I began to realize that my mom wasn’t

actually talking about books.

Director Steven Soderbergh’s latest film, “Erin Brockovich,” emphasizes

the pratfalls of judging someone solely on appearances. The film’s title

character and implausible protagonist, Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts),

is an out-of-work, twice-divorced mother of three young children. She’s a

former Miss Wichita clad in leather miniskirts, three-inch heels and

revealing blouses.

She’s candid and gutsy. Demanding and manipulative. Quick-witted and

sarcastic. So how could anyone so bold and brazen be so lovable at the

same time? Well, it doesn’t hurt that she’s charismatic and gorgeous. But

above all, behind that $20 million smile, Erin Brockovich, along with

Roberts’ performance, is refreshingly honest.

In front of a pro-environmental mural, we meet Erin after yet another

failed interview. Her frustrations escalate, along with her foul

language, when she breaks a nail after finding a parking ticket on her

clunker. Think that it can’t get any worse? As she’s driving through the

intersection, she’s sideswiped. At this point, self-pity and a run of bad

luck may entitle others to give up.

Not our Erin. She’s strong and tenacious. Unfortunately, she’s also

without medical insurance.

Although not at fault in the accident, Erin proves to be an unsympathetic

plaintiff and loses her case. As final notices stack up, she desperately

searches through the classifieds. With no where else to turn, Erin

finagles a job with her pro bono attorney, Ed Masry (Albert Finney).

There she is handed what appears to be a trivial real estate case: Due to

a planned freeway offramp, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E;) has offered to

purchase the property of their clients, the Jensens. However, the Jensens

are requesting more money to help with exorbitant medical bills.

Based on a true story, the rest is history. Erin is set on proving that

the illnesses and deaths occurring in the small California desert town of

Hinkley are not coincidental but a direct result of PG&E;’s negligence

when its misuse of chromium 6, an anti-rust agent, contaminates the

town’s water supply.

In Erin Brockovich, the comfortable chemistry between all the actors is

phenomenal, especially between Roberts and Finney, where their opposites

-- Brockovich’s relentless energy to fight injustice against Masry’s

jaded restraint -- seem to endear them to each other. And us to them.

Soderbergh has assembled an outstanding supportive cast: Peter Coyote as

Kurt Potter, the polished, intimidating lawyer whose firm collaborates on

the case; Aaron Eckhart as George, the tattooed, soft-sided Harley

Davidson biker who is invaluable as Mr. Mom to Erin’s kids; and Marg

Helgenberger as Mrs. Jensen, the vulnerable, naive victim and catalyst to

Erin’s crusade.

Erin Brockovich is an inspirational movie about the power of the human

spirit. Although a sure thing when cast in romantic comedies, Roberts’

tepid, often-forced dramatic performances have been disappointments.

Finally with “Erin Brockovich,” Roberts shines with conviction and

believable aplomb. Roberts’ performance, well worth the Oscar buzz,

shouldn’t be missed. Hooray for Julia!

JULIE LOWRANCE, 40, is a Costa Mesa resident who works at a Newport Beach

overnight aircraft advertising agency.

Roberts is only bright spot in dull film

Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts) is at her wit’s end, bogged down with the

care of three kids, left her with $74 in her bank account (with which she

is able to afford rent, a car and a dazzling array of provocative

outfits).

With no fancy degrees to her name and, despite her looks, an inability to

charm a series of potential employers, she finagles a job as a research

assistant to attorney Ed Masry (Albert Finney).

By sheer coincidence, her new neighbor, a biker named George (Aaron

Eckhart), is (by choice) unemployed and willing to take care of her kids

while she’s in the legal office scraping out a living.

When Erin comes across evidence that an epidemic of illnesses in the town

can be traced to the presence of chromium in the water supply, she

convinces her boss to take on the perps, PG&E;, despite the time, money

and energy needed to pursue the case against an array of slick corporate

lawyers.

The hearings, the petitions, the meetings with the largely

unsophisticated and mistrusting townspeople are by now so easy to follow

by anyone who has ever been to the movies that there’s scarcely a need to

reveal the plot.

The similarities between “Erin Brockovich” and the John Travolta lawyer

drama “A Civil Action” are uncanny. Both films are based on actual events

and feature strong leads pursuing legal cases against major multinational

companies that have allegedly contaminated the water supply of local

towns.

The main difference between the two is the former features a cutthroat,

rich, successful lawyer going against the system (also a man), while this

one features a twice-divorced, uneducated sexpot with three kids doing

the same thing (oh yeah, and she’s a woman!). Here it is Julia Roberts,

whose main assets are her big mouth and, as one Internet critic puts it,

her possession of a Wonderbra. Travolta may know how to dance, but Julia

has the cleavage needed to bring in the crowds -- particularly since

“Erin Brockovich” is a feel-good film with all the numbing predictability

moviegoers seem to demand.

When asked by her boss how she was able to get so many people to

cooperate with the plaintiff’s cause, Erin replies, “It’s called boobs,

Ed.” Absent the bosom and the thigh-length skirt, would this case have

ever made it out of the initial deposition stage? Would this movie not be

shipped off to videotape after a quick run in the theaters?

And while the mind wanders when the film turns toward the perils of

fighting the system, your eyes light up when Roberts takes the stage.

“Erin Brockovich” is her movie. Albert Finney steals a bit of thunder as

her grumpy boss, but it’s Roberts’ brassy, white-trash, amateur

investigator that makes you want to watch this movie, all 2 1/2 hours of

it.

A good film, not great, not terribly compelling but featuring a decent

performance by Roberts in a season of otherwise unwatchable films.

The story itself isn’t original or particularly engaging to behold (in

spite of it being based on real events). The pacing sometimes slow and

the predictability factor pretty high on all counts. But what generally

makes or breaks films of this type are their focus on character,

character, character, and this film succeeds in radiating light through

its stars.

MICHELLE HANCOCK, 27, lives in Newport Beach with her husband and works

for a Costa Mesa law firm.

One more rave for Roberts

Can you stand one more review of “Erin Brockovich”?

This is a Julia Roberts whose acting skills are tested in a real-life

circumstance, and she performs superbly. Erin Brockovich is a

down-but-not-out mother of three little kids. She has no husband, no job

and pathetic prospects for a life-altering career.

The likelihood of this direct young woman finding a place in a law office

seems remote. But Albert Finney as Ed, the crusty lawyer, reluctantly

hires Erin. She pursues an investigation of Pacific Gas and Electric’s

cavalier disregard of the community adjacent to its plant and the health

problems arising from contaminants being dumped. Gaining the trust of the

people is not a given.

There is wonderful chemistry between Finney and Roberts as they duel at

windmills.

The insight into the frustrations of single parenting, coupled with the

necessity of providing the food, shelter, care and love for her children,

is a very tough balancing act and well played out.

The straight-talk script is refreshing and saucy. The fact that the story

is true is a bonus.

ELAINE ENGLAND, 65, lives in Newport Beach and owns a gift-basket

business she operates out of her home.