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She Brought A Small Town To Its Feet And A Huge Corporation To Its Knees.

2000



Erin Brockovich (2000)

Directed by 
Steven Soderbergh    
  
Writing credits (WGA) 
Susannah Grant   (written by) 
  
Cast (in credits order) 
Julia Roberts ....  Erin Brockovich  
Albert Finney ....  Ed Masry  
Aaron Eckhart ....  George  
Marg Helgenberger ....  Donna Jensen  
Cherry Jones ....  Pamela Duncan  
Veanne Cox ....  Theresa Dallavale  
Conchata Ferrell ....  Brenda  
Tracey Walter ....  Charles Embry  
Peter Coyote ....  Kurt Potter  
Scotty Leavenworth ....  Matthew  
Gemmenne De la Pena ....  Katie  
Jamie Harrold ....  Scott  
rest of cast listed alphabetically  
Mimi Kennedy ....  Laura Ambrosino  
Norma Maldonado ....  Woman #1  
Scarlett Pomers ....  Shana Jensen  
  
Produced by 
Danny DeVito    
John Hardy (III)   (executive)  
Gail Lyon (II)   (co-producer)  
Carlo Santos Shamberg   (executive)  
Michael Shamberg (I)    
Stacey Sher    
  
Cinematography by 
Edward Lachman    
  
Film Editing by 
Anne V. Coates    
  
Casting 
Margery Simkin    
  
Production Design by 
Philip Messina    
  
Art Direction 
Christa Munro    
  
Set Decoration 
Kristen Toscano Messina    
  
Costume Design by 
Jeffrey Kurland    
  
Makeup Department 
Susan A. Cabral ....  makeup department head  
  
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director 
Gregory Jacobs ....  first assistant director  
  
Sound Department 
Larry Blake (II) ....  sound re-recording mixer
supervising sound editor  
  
Other crew 
Gavin J. Behrman ....  assistant accountant  
Clelio Boccato ....  office production assistant  
Colleen Brogan ....  production assistant: Barstow  
Keri Bruno ....  production assistant  
Richard Castro ....  payroll accountant  
Carmen Cuba ....  casting associate  
Frank Endewardt ....  set lighting  
Robin L. Green ....  production co-ordinator
production co-ordinator (as Robin Le Chanu)  
Barry Idoine ....  first assistant camera  
Karen Jarnecke ....  assistant production co-ordinator  
Larsen Jay ....  production secretary  
Jeffrey Jenofsky ....  production assistant  
Rich King (I) ....  extras casting  
Jay Krymis ....  extras casting  
Michael LaCorte ....  production assistant  
Chris Lombardi ....  camera operator  
Caitlin Maloney ....  assistant to director
assistant to producer
post-production supervisor  
Bob Marshak ....  still photographer  
Masako Masuda ....  set designer  
Jim Schiro ....  accounting clerk  
Ricki L. Stein ....  production accountant  
Patrick Thornhill ....  production assistant  
 
 
 
 
 

                             ERIN BROCKOVICH
                    A film review by Christopher Null
                      Copyright 2000 filmcritic.com
                             filmcritic.com

Besides having the hardest-to-type title of a movie since BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, what will be the legacy of ERIN BROCKOVICH, an unabashed Julia Roberts star vehicle that, coincidentally, also tells the story of the largest direct-action legal settlement in American history?

It won't be for its aura of jurisprudence. As a primer on the U.S. legal system, BROCKOVICH is not terribly compelling. The legal mumbo-jumbo is all there and feels accurate enough, but the heart of the movie simply doesn't rest with the details of the case, which features Pacific Gas & Electric poisoning 600 people in a small California town with chromium (and then telling them it's good for them).

While it's not a class-action lawsuit, the case has essentially the same details as A CIVIL ACTION and any number of other VERDICT clones, with nearly-bankrupt attorneys who risk it all on One Big Case.

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. And while Albert Finney steals a bit of thunder as her grumpy boss, it's Erin's brassy, white-trash, amateur investigator that makes you want to watch this movie, all 2 1/2 hours of it.

That, and the fact that none of Roberts' outfits seem to be able to cover her brassiere. To say the least, Roberts is breaking new grounds in cleavage with this film -- anticipate much to be made of her "new look". That said, it's fabulous to see her in an atypical role, far away from the sap and formula of recent fare like RUNAWAY BRIDE.

With the exception of Finney, the supporting cast is lackluster. Aaron Eckhart tries awfully hard as Erin's Harley-lovin' yet family-friendly boyfriend, but the role doesn't really suit him. While attempts are made to humanize them, the victims are all pretty much the same character, each battling one tragic disease or another.

It's obvious that indie breath-holder Stephen Soderbergh (OUT OF SIGHT, THE LIMEY) is behind the camera. Shots are regularly hand-held, close-ups are regularly extreme. The film looks different, but in the end it's really just more of the same fist-waving we've seen before. A good film, not great, not terribly compelling, but featuring a slam-dunk performance by Miss Roberts in a season of otherwise unwatchable films.

All of which may leave you wondering, Is PG&E still this awful? Last year somebody at the company flipped the wrong switch, and the power went out in San Francisco for a full day. I think a few lawsuits are pending.

RATING:  ***1/2
|------------------------------|
 \ ***** Perfection             \
  \ **** Good, memorable film    \
   \ *** Average, hits and misses \
    \ ** Sub-par on many levels    \
     \ * Unquestionably awful       \
      |------------------------------|
MPAA Rating: R

Director: Steven Soderbergh Producer: Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher Writer: Susannah Grant Starring: Julia Roberts, Aaron Eckhart, Albert Finney, Marg Helgenberger

http://www.erinbrockovich.com/

--- Christopher Null - null@filmcritic.com - http://www.filmcritic.com




Have I seen this movie: No
Will I see It: probably on video
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