Movie Review: Erin Brockovich

Story: You all know that old adage If it weren't true you wouldn't believe it! - well, that could easily be the subtitle for this film, but since it is a true story, I just went with it. It is David Vs. Goliath and A Civil Action with cleavage and attitude all rolled into one. Director Steven Soderbergh (Sex, Lies andVideotape, Out of Sight and last year's The Limey, starring Terrance Stamp who I think was overlooked for an Oscar nomination - oh, oh, I digress) displays his unique style for the first very entertaining 25 minutes and then the movie takes a sudden turn into the 'just what you thought would happen' stuff scene after scene, which causes my audible groans and inappropriate outbursts of laughter. Yet, even though it was predictable and quite full of itself I admit readily to enjoying Julia Roberts' outfits (I lived in Southern California and people really do dress this way except of course, I lived there in the 70's) the attention paid to trashy detail in each set and of course I am quite partial to the 'big guys; taking a hit - this time it is a huge utility company (PSE and G).

Acting: Julia Roberts gives the people what they want as Erin - they want pluck! They want sassy! They want a lot of hair! They don't want Mary Reilly! For the first 25 minutes she is really good and then she sort of mails in her performance. She appears in virtually every scene and seems to be the only character with three dimensions (similar to the problem in The Hurricane, with Denzel Washington). Albert Finney (who I have adored since 1963 when he roared as Tom Jones) seems to have had a fun time as Erin's boss. I always enjoy watching him, even if he had on a stupid curly toupee. Aaron Eckhart, the biker, love interest, seemed to be uncomfortable most of the time. Almost everyone else was directly out of central casting and very stereotypical.

Pets: One dead frog and photos of dead chickens.

Visual Art: Some wonderful trailer type stuff

Soundtrack: Don't remember

Sappy Factor: 6

Oscar Worthy: NO

Length: 11 long minutes over the 2 hour Lobo rule.

LOBO HOWLS: 5