Conventional Little Guy vs. Big Corporation Drama Plus Julia's Smile

Rating: 6/10 (21 December 2005)

"Erin Brockovich" is no "Norma Rae" -- including the tell-off-the-guy scene is no where as effective as Sally Field's challenge by the sink.
The first third or so of the movie is Julia movie star bright and snappy and captures us. (All of the other women in the movie are really bland so as not to challenge Julia's flash.)
In, the second third she doesn't smile and the movie fades.
The last third is a legal drama that's a little guy triumph over nasty corporation.
One can't even tell that the director is the same Steven Soderbergh whose two most recent movies "Out of Sight" and "The Limey" had brilliant directorial control that stylistically added to the basic story. This shows none of that, just a straightforward feel-good story.
(originally written 3/19/2000)