Erin Brockovich
© Columbia Pictures
and Universal Studios
Photo: Bob Marshak
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This woman has been down so long it looks like up never
existed. With a steadfast willpower, a clever mind, and plenty of
experience as the underdog, she fights a battle for others that
has claimed a very special place in legal history. Erin
Brockovich is, both in real life and the movie, an instrument of
hope that managed to win the largest amount awarded to date
(n.b. \$ 333,000,000) in America for a direct-action law suit (and
that ain't nothin' to sneeze at). In a world where the small get
crushed all too often, Erin kept her head up, her wits sharp, her
talents pointed, and fought the battle of the day for the little
man. We love you, Erin.
A twice-divorced mother of three, Erin Brockovich (Julia
Roberts) is someone without a job whose finances are
shriveling daily. Having left her formal education and vocational
prospects behind her long ago for a future of marital bliss, she
now finds herself thrust into the wicked world of dog eat dog.
Without any job prospects before her, it doesn't look like
matters could manage to get worse until she winds up in a car
accident and, though the other party was at fault, loses a
settlement in court. Her debts by this time far exceed both her
income and her imagination. Pleading with her attorney, Ed
Masry (Albert Finney), for a job some days later at his office,
she finally manages to get a position without benefits (after
painfully whispering "Don't make me beg.")
Erin Brockovich
© Columbia Pictures
and Universal Studios
Photo: Bob Marshak
|
Close fitting and expressive define not only her character, but
her clothing as well. Erin breeds dislike among female
employees of the firm because of the way she dresses while at
the same time catching the lustful gaze of male employees.
Eventually her boss points out to her that her outfits do not
exactly follow the directives of accepted attire for the company.
She decides, however, not to act upon his fatherly advice. (As
once pointed out by the real life Ed Masry, the real life Erin wore
skirts that were cut 16 inches above the accepted length. The
costuming for the film is less extreme in its cut.) The intolerably
snide glances of more corpulent associates at the office
sometimes make her assert herself even more willfully than
usual. On one occasion, for example, she remarks to her boss,
"As long as I have one ass instead of two, I'll wear what I like,"
then quickly adds, "You might want to rethink the ties that you're
wearing."
Once working for the firm, she comes across a number of
medical files oddly inserted with real estate files and is confused
by this strange combination. Requesting authority to
investigate, Erin begins to uncover a situation where
contaminated water has been causing a number of illnesses
within a small local community. Without realizing that she has
become so thoroughly involved with her research, her boss
jumps to the conclusion that she has been skipping work and is
prepared to fire her. Clarity saves the day.
Ed Masry was, of course, essential for success in the outcome
of this case. He was originally winding down toward retirement
when this woman entered his life and his business. His legal
expertise and experience were crucial. Erin's attractiveness,
personality, understanding, and warmth were as well. In 1993
this team went after PG&W, a \$30 billion company whose use
of hexavalent chromium in a compressor plant endangered the
health of numerous residents living in Hinkley, California. To
make matters worse, this company, which had employed most
of the townspeople, informed them about the leakage, but in
such a way that made it sound as if it was not dangerous. The
town was led to believe that healthy Chromium 3 was dispersed
in the water as opposed to the deadly hexavalent form of
chromium. If the citizens did not take action against the
company within a year of such notification, they would have
been helpless thereafter due to the statute of limitations. Not
very nice, to say the least. (Nowadays, PG&E are more than
readily prepared to inform those interested that hexavalent
chromium is no longer used in their compressor plants, that
their holding ponds are presently lined to prevent groundwater
contamination, and that they were never found guilty.)
The community is leery at first of Erin's interest and
involvement, but she finally manages to win them over because
she has the innate ability to communicate with them on their
own level. She is a normal, everyday woman who experiences
life the same way they do and can speak to them in their own
terms. As the case progresses, however, the proceedings
almost get botched when her boss, in dire need of surplus
finance, requests the assistance of another lawyer named Kurt
Potter (Peter Coyote) whose legal world and operative methods
are styled in quite another fashion than Erin's. Potter and his
assistant believe that her talents would be more appropriate to
fetch coffee and cake. It doesn't take long before Potter
realizes how mistaken he is. Amazed at discovering the power
behind the pretty face, he tells Masry, "I see what you mean
about a secret weapon." As far as the assistant and her
communicative abilities are concerned, Erin has few words in
summing both up when she says, "That's all you got, lady, is
two wrong feet and fucking ugly shoes." She doesn't tolerate
sexism (from either sex) and she has no patience with
incompetence.
Erin becomes more and more goal orientated as her new
responsibilities toward the injured citizens grow almost
compulsive. George (Aaron Eckart), the boy next door and
Erin's newly found Harley-riding companion, tries to help her by
lending personal support and taking care of her kids.
Eventually, however, he starts to become tired of her total
involvement with this case which keeps her away all hours of
the day and night. The ex-beauty queen from next door is
becoming the activist around town. The new woman is busy
reinventing herself. In doing this, she becomes a better woman
as she helps create a better world.
The distinguished cast and crew on this production directed by
Steven Soderbergh make it a highly professional product with a
story line that surpasses many well-made films of the past (e.g.
the "Love Canal" TV mini-series) which have dealt with similar
topics. Finney is fabulous (as always) and Roberts is delightful
to see in a film with more meat at its center than usual. One
might question whether Roberts is too attractive and well
spoken to portray this character, but the real life Brockovich is
also attractive and well spoken. Besides, from the first few
seconds when we see Roberts in close-up, the blue eye
shadow makes it clear that this is a woman with certain tastes.
DP Ed Lachman (who also worked with Soderbergh on his
crime drama "The Limey") captures the story in images with
appropriate impact and without resorting to needless
embellishment. Indeed, some of the locations used and people
seen are the actual ones involved in the incident. Even the
actual plant that poisoned the people is in the picture.
A movie that shows sometimes justice still wins out. You gotta
fight for your rights, or at least have somebody competent and
passionate behind you who can. The dynamic duo of Ed and
Erin made it possible in this case. Erin, Go Bragh! Or should I
say Bravo Brockovich!
© 1994-2006 The Green Hartnett
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