Two firm reasons for admiring Julia's stand-out performance

Rating: Null/10 (21 September 2000)

Expect at least an Academy nomination for Julia Roberts as the Best Supported Actress in a Lead Role for this uplifted performance. "Erin Brockovitch" certainly establishes her as a leading cleavage of her generation, standing up firmly among hot competition, showing greater depth than many young pretenders. Ms. Roberts leans and lifts, stretches her range from push-up to maidenform, flirts with lycra and beaded fringes, and quite early in the story bravely takes on a very tacky cardigan. She thrusts her talent into prominence, in a performance which must certainly be a Golden Globes contender.
Don't expect more from this movie than Sports Illustrated with a social conscience, and you won't be disappointed. It's well-made, underlining director Soderbergh's talent, and the two hours running time never flags. Sadly nothing in either the script or main character really demands big screen attention. It's an issue-of-the-week TV movie raised mysteriously beyond its slender substance into an A-list star vehicle. If you remember Michael J. Fox's comic turn in "The Hard Way", you might take a guess at the behind the scenes story of a popcorn movie megastar who wanted to play a "real" person.
To be fair, the story does touch on some genuine issues for working single mothers, although I'm not sure many would agree swearing like a trouper really gets to the heart of their situation. There are some effective, emotionally affecting moments, and worse ways to spend a Sunday afternoon, but the film is basically a vanity project for the Pretty Woman star.