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Erin Brockovich

Erin Brockovich

List Price: $14.98
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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A GREAT lesson on how to motivate people!
Review: Okay, language issues aside, Julia Roberts SHINES as the real-life Erin Brockovich, a dogged, unabashed crusader for justice.

Erin accidentally finds out that several hundred unsuspecting residents of Hinkley, California are dead or dying from poisoned water that has exceedingly high levels of toxic chromium.

This is a touching story that reminds me a lot of Sally Field's performance in Norma Rae. It's about a grass-roots effort to right a very terrible wrong, and the investigative techniques used by Erin will floor you with their sheer simplicity. It's not what she does, rather it's HOW she does what she does that makes a difference. Erin is not equipped professionally to take on this insurmountable task, but she refuses to let that stop her from trying. She's what I would call "ignorance on fire", but she's also smart as a whip.

What I love most about this movie is how Roberts character gets results when others can't. She may not be the most professional (this movie is cleavage city!), or meekest person you'll ever meet (her boss says she could use a good dose of "charm school" - he's right!) but she has a way with people. True, her wardrobe doesn't hurt in her getting her way so often (especially with men), but it's her honest compassion for these victims that makes the movie work.

Erin Brockovich teaches all of us a lesson in true leadership, persistence against all odds, and how to motivate people. These victims TRUST her because they know she really CARES, That's the real lesson here, and that's why she is so successful in getting them to do something they would never have done without her.

This movie is a real gem. You will learn a lot about purpose, passion, corruption, romance, and how to deal with people so that they respond. And you'll also learn that door-to-door selling is NOT antiquated!

Highly recommended.

Cris

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Julia Roberts + Steven Soderbergh = perfection
Review: Alright, I'll admit it. I wasn't attracted to this movie because of the story of triumph or to be inspired. I had to have a Julia fix, and I had to have it BAD. However, when I remembered the movie was directed by Stephen Soderbergh, I got (even more) excited and started to analyze.

The movie's based on a true story, so... it's not exactly the most difficult thing in the world to figure out. Especially when the cover to the DVD says "Stand up and cheer!" Basically, it's about a single mom (Roberts) who is down on her luck and finally lands a job at a law firm. She finds some things that just don't make sense, follows some leads, and happens upon a giant of a conspiracy. See where this is heading?

Don't write it off just yet. Brockovich's romance with the next-door neighbour (Aaron Eckhart) is laced with surprising twists and turns, and the chemistry between the two is magnificent. The script is never eye-roll-inducing, and I never felt like I was wasting my time for an inevitable conclusion. There are a few reasons for this.

The first is Roberts. Alright, alright, it was the costume designer that attracted me to the film, but I was absolutely floored by Roberts' performance. She immerses herself in the character, and goes against the "America's Sweetheart" image like there's no tomorrow. (I actually read something about her standing in front of a mirror to practice cussing, because she had just never done it.)

The second is Soderbergh's directing. Alright, so I'm biased. I love the guy! I was nervous that since this is arguably his first "mainstream" film, he wouldn't stay true to his stylistic decisions that have become sort of Soderbergh signature. I just thought he would try to appeal to Audience America by hiding behind the star power of Roberts. He shines through, though, signatures and all. He lets his actors steal the show, but his influence is felt behind it all. In the end it's Soderbergh that separates this film from every other whistle-blower Lifetime Movie of the Week.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Erin Brackovich is brilliant
Review: Erin Brockovich is a superb movie. Erin's determination, passion, and steadfast desire for justice are an inspiration of human spirit. With her persistence and the wholehearted desire she applies to her job, she uncovers undetected criminal activities of a major corporation and manages to build the biggest class-action law suit in American history.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A Strong Character Study
Review: Although highly overrated, this movie is far from being great, as it is distant to Z-grade filmmaking. Overall, "Erin Brockovich" is an above average Hollywood flick that suceeds due to two relevant elements: the director Steven Soderbergh and the lead actress Julia Ruberts. Frankly, I have never been a big fan of any of them, but I`ll admit that they make this movie work.

Roberts gives a solid and convincing performance, probably her best ever, and proves that she can do better than formulaic romantic comedies. Soderbergh creates a film that is somewhat like many predictable TV-movies, yet he manages to present a couple of details which turn this effort into a peculiar and distinct one (professional and appealing direction, competent character development, a familar story told in an absorbing and gripping perspective).

Despite the typical Hollywood ending that certainly won`t surprise anyone, "Erin Brockovich" is an interesting cinematic experience that doesn`t need to rely on high action, multiple twists or shock-value scenes to offer enough dramatic tension. This is a subtle and well-crafted effort, not the great film ever but not a disappointment either (however, the huge hype that it received may work against it).

A compelling mainstream product.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: CINE 285k-IMOS- Erin Brockovich
Review: *ERIN BROCKOVICH

Erin Brockovich: Julia Roberts
Ed Masry: Albert Finney
George: Aaron Eckhart
Donna Jensen: Marg Helgenberger
Pamela Duncan: Cherry Jones
Kurt Potter: Peter Coyote

Directed by Steven Soderbergh/ Written by Susannah Grant/ 126 Minutes (Rated R).

BY ANDREW KOCH

While many movies have subtle and underlying themes, "Eric Brockovich" blatantly screams female empowerment and the fracturing of feminine stereotypes. This movie tells the amazing true story of a woman who against all odds and against many hardships was able to turn a court case around. At first glance Erin Brockovich with her skimpy clothes, bad manners, tough attitude, kids and mediocre job seem to frame Erin as a promiscuous, ill mannered and irresponsible mother type. It seems as though she is capable of nothing but mediocrity. Yet, throughout the movie her behavior, intelligence, courage, hard work and use of femininity help her become something even more special then she could have ever imagined.
Erin's appearance is an entity of its own throughout the movie. In the movie she is an extremely good-looking female who dresses to impress. With her breasts in plain view, tight clothes that show her curves and the way she carries herself; they all combine to objectify her as a "piece of meat", and not a person. Men cease to see her as a woman and only as a commodity/object of which to look at or try to acquire. This phenomenon is not in vain; it serves a purpose for Erin. The objectification in the eyes of all men allows to her to unsuspectingly acquire knowledge and to get her way without any resistance. This concept is not unique to only Erin. All women whom radiate these qualities are deemed a sexual prize to admire or try to win, they loose all personality and substance. It is a common theme within society today and will always be. Ironically, this objectification that seemingly decreases her human feminine substance is just the thing that allows her to become the staple of female empowerment throughout the movie.
This movie also works to explore some feminine stereotypes that society has built through the last couple of decades. The fact that "a middle age mother, fairly non-educated and of the middle class" is able to achieve so much in law/ humanity is really amazing. She proved that someone of the middle social and economic class can achieve greatness. Most importantly, she proves that women can take processes that work against them and turn them around in their favor. Erin also took the notion that someone so attractive and expressive is just a nitwit/ "sexual prize" and destroyed all precedent with her achievements on screen and in reality.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A career high for Julia Roberts
Review: "Erin Brockovich," directed by Steven Soderbergh, is based on the real-life story of the title character, played in the film by Julia Roberts. Brockovich, a feisty legal clerk, is instrumental in exposing the misdeeds of a powerful corporation which has exposed families to disease-causing industrial residue. As Brockovich and her grouchy-but-loveable boss (wonderfully played by Albert Finney) take on the corporation, the viewer is treated to a rousing "David versus Goliath" story.

At the heart of this film's success is the sizzling (but entirely non-sexual) chemistry between Roberts and Finney. They bring great passion and intelligence to their roles, and when they are together, the energy is amazing. Also noteworthy is the fact that although this is a serious drama, the witty script (written by Susannah Grant) is also full of humor. In fact, many of the best scenes from "Erin" are firmly in the great tradition of the workplace comedy. Both Roberts and Finney thus deliver not only excellent dramatic performances, but also great comic performances.

The supporting cast is also outstanding. Marg Helgenbeger is particularly affecting as one of the victims of corporate greed and dishonesty.

Julia Roberts won a pile of awards (among them her first Oscar) for "Erin," and I do believe that she deserved the accolades. But "Erin" is not all about Julia. If you like a fact-based, rousing drama acted out by a superb cast, check out this film.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Inspirational
Review: Julia Roberts is my favorite female actress of all time, she never seems to let me down on a movie. I think the story is extremely motivating. The movie is about a middle aged, divorced, mother of three that takes on a multi million dollar company to make them pay for families living in a town that was affected by dangerous chromium. Based on a true story I thought the movie really portrayed the good in a person and to what extents they were willing to go to in order to try and help a total stranger. Everyone that is a fan of Julia Roberts or not should watch this movie. Inspirational!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Julia Roberts Formula Picture
Review: Roberts makes a lot of formula pictures...but this one wasn't too bad. Movie was a little too predictable, and I could not imagine Roberts as a poor person, because in real life, she is a multi-multi millionaire.

Nice story, but could have been better acting involved. Too dummed down!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: She brought a smll town 2its feet & big company to it knees
Review: this amazing movie has touched my heart. based on a true story, it was made in to a motivating box office hit. with a small suply of heroes, this truly tells us what we can accomplish and what a difference we can make in any1z life. with memorable lines that you can remeber such as..
"They're called (...) Ed"
"You want my number? How about this for a number, 6, that's the age of my daughter, 8 is the age of my son, 2 is the number of times I've been married and divorced and 16 is the number of dollars left in my bank account."
"Not personal? That's my work in there, my sweat, my time away from my kids ... if that's not personal I don't know what it is."
I could just watch this movie over n over again...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Remarkable True Story
Review: Erin Brokavitch is one of the best "true to life" movies I have ever seen. Julia Roberts gave the performance of her career in this film about a young woman who strives to save a dying community and still handle three kids ans a relationship. The other performances that were played really well were the roles of Aaron Echeart and Albert Finney's. The movie also has a good score and soundtrack. The film is definately one of the best films of the 2000s. I highly reccomend this film.


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