Erin Brockovich DVD > Reviews > More than a woman

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Outstanding
Characters / Performances	Good
Special Effects	Good
How does it compare to similar films?	Outstanding

Advantages:	Heart - warming and very funny
Disadvantages:	Julia seems to be in too many films

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

It's taken me a while to actually get round to watching this film. I must have missed it at the cinema when it came out but I have always wanted to see it. It came out in the UK in 2000 and was really popular with all my friends both male and female.

It is based on a true story which always attracts my attention to films. I bought the DVD in WH Smiths for £9.99 with a Christmas gift voucher. Even though I knew very little about the film I wanted to see it so I bought it.

It is directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Susannah Grant. The tagline on the front cover of the video and the DVD is:
'She brought a small town to its feet and a huge corporation to its knees.' - Kind of resembles the one small step for man... speech doesn't it? It got me interested anyway.

In the beginning of the film I thought it might be a bit cliche. Julia Roberts plays a single mum of 3 struggling with money after her ex husband's have run off.

The film starts with her in an interview room, showing how difficult it is to sell yourself when you have the responsibilities she has. I don't really like this approach in films. It always seems to be the mum's that have the hard times and the dads are made out to be evil. There are exceptions but it seems to be a regular thing.

Then Julia is involved in a car crash and seeks help from a lawyer, looses her case and to pay for her loss she forces him to give her a job on a trial basis. She uses her 'assets' to work her way up in the firm and finds herself investigating a big case. However most of her colleagues think she is a joke because of her low-cut tops and clingy mini skirts.

Quote:

Ed Masry(her boss played by Albert Finney): In a law firm you may want to re-think your wardrobe a little.
Erin Brockovich: Well as long as I have one ass instead of two I'll wear what I like if that's alright with you? You might want to re-think those ties.

The case involves very poisonous chemicals in the water supply of a town which has meant many of them dying or developing cancer and similar diseases. Julia (AKA Erin) then finds out it was all the water companies fault and they have been hiding the problem for years.

Along the way Erin meets her biker next door neighbour George (absolutely adorable if he had a hair cut and a bath - played by Aaron Eckhart), who offers to sort out her child minding problems. They then fall in love dispite Erin spending all her time on the case.

The ending is fantastic with the people winning their case and Erin getting promotions within the company.

Erin is a very funny character who is very bold and dedicated to her job. She makes constant speeches about how she has no law degree but can still work hard and fight the case. Her language is probably the best bit about her with some classic lines including:

Kurt Potter (stuck up partner in law firm): Wha... how did you do this?

Erin: I just went out there and performed sexual favors. Six hundred and thirty-four blow jobs in five days... I'm really quite tired.

It is rated as a certificate 15 although I would say that is only because of the bad language. There were no unsuitable scenes apart from that I didn't think.

The DVD running time is 126 minutes and there are special features of:
Animated Menus
Deleted Scenes with Director's Commentary
Filmographies
Isolated Score
'Making Of' Featurette
Theatrical Trailer
'The Real Erin Brockovich' Featurette

I found this film moving, funny and upsetting at times. Although Julia Roberts is in so many films with so many different parts she seems to successfully pull it off every time.
The fact that it is a true story just adds to the fascination of the storyline. This film is on many levels and choosing a genre for it would be difficult.

Sorry to be stereotypical but this is what happened when I've asked male and female people about this film.
Men like it for the court case and the detective bits ( along with staring at Julia's chest) and women seem to like it for the girl power and feel-good factor the film has.

Either way it's a great watch and I would recommend it.