Roberts poorly cast, but does her best with T.V. material

Rating: 5/10 (31 July 2001)

I must have missed something here. I saw this movie when it was called "A Civil Action." But wait, let's add a new twist, let's use somebody's t.v. movie of the week true story, alter some facts therein, and make it the next Julia Roberts movie vehicle. I don't understand movie reviews that say "Julia has done it again. She has played against type and succeeded." Wait one hot minute here. If I'm not mistaken, she really has only played Julia Roberts in every movie. Sure she squints her face, makes a goofy chuckle, walks as if she's prettier than she actually is, and sheds a tear for good measure. I've seen this in every movie she's been in. Possibly she could have won a lifetime achievement award, but at such a young age? The Oscar should stand for an individual performance, not for slack in the rope that needed to be tightened for past efforts. I think roles like Sigourney Weaver's in Aliens, for which she was nominated and lost far exceed the range of drama than in this picture. Erin seemed beaten down by her own life. But that alone is not deserving of a reward. The character seemed like a bitch to be honest. Let's see, no manners, an awful attire, a foul mouth, an ignorant mother-who leaves their kids with a biker she just met-no matter how desperate?, and money driven. There are many people in tough situations who don't have the best of resources. Maybe if the movie centered on why SHE merits such an opportunity to rise above the mess instead of manipulating those around her by promising things she cannot/will not produce, it might have been compelling. If it wasn't for the money won at the end, the movie would not have been made. And that is the saddest truth we learn from it. It is not compelling to watch someone who gets $20 million a movie console someone trying to get money because they got cancer from a corporate giant. The paradox is too evident. The film has a moment where they argue about the necessity for a trial, because it will make the bad guys admit what they did was wrong in court. But we never actually see this. Only a settlement was actually reached. This kills any moral drive the movie has. So what is the movie trying to focus on? The trial, her life, the outcome, the money. Who knows? Julia is a fine actress, I have enjoyed her since Mystic Pizza, thru Flatliners, and Pretty Woman. It's great that she does entertaining funny "date movies." But she did not deserve the Academy Award.