Disappointing

Rating: Null/10 (25 March 2000)

When I heard that a "hip" legal drama starring Julia Roberts with the director Steven Soderbergh and Albert Finney will be in it as well, I expected a much better film than this. I wouldn't call this film a "legal" drama, and I know it didn't actually attempt to be like Civil Action or a John Grisham film. But if failed as a film in my point of view.
First I didn't believe in Juila Roberts' character Erin Brokovich. The script centered around her and her actions in the film were very rich-characterized, but Julia Roberts looked like she was being thrown all over the place by the script, rather than actually being the character. The chracter seemed like a stereotype ditzy-mother-of-three-self-made-determined-foul-mouthed-character. It looked as if Julia Roberts was just trying to catch up to the script, rather than running nicely along with it. Juila Roberts just played the emotions of what the character went through, but she didn't play the character well.
Second, the stereotype issue came up again when the big-time-evil-corporation PG&E came up and their lawyers, and then the Viotelli(or something)who was another big time lawyer that Ed Masry had to join up with. The characters were very, very stereotyped that it was not believable that this was a true story even though it was, and it stated in the first frame of the film that the following story is all true.
Now, I'll just say something nice about the film. I loved Albert Finney! As a matter of fact that was the only good thing about the film. The film had its moments with snappy lines, but they and Al couldn't hold the film all by themselves.
Anyway, In the final verdict, I'd give this film two stars out of four. It had Al and snappy lines(actually there were a bunch that I liked, but anyway...) those two gave the two stars. But if you don't analyze the film into its core but just go with the flow type of movie-goer, this will be a descent choice to watch, but don't waste good money on this if you're like me or Roger Ebert or something.
** out of ****