Dubious real-life situation lends itself poorly to the big screen

Rating: Null/10 (14 January 2003)

Let's say for a moment that Pacific Gas and Electric actually poisoned a community's water supply to "enhance shareholder value." Is there really anything inspirational about a film that chronicles such an event? I would join the chorus of just persons demanding that each victim receive a large monetary sum in addition to effective medical treatment, but not jump for joy at a film exploiting the tragedy. Especially when the star of the film is...Julia Roberts??? Her grossly irritating performance was enough to roil even Ms. Brockovich herself, and I can see why. Yet plenty of cinemagoers appreciate that level of acting, and if you're among them, then this will certainly tickle your fancy. Keep in mind, however, that numerous independent reports have refuted Ms. Brockovich's claims of environmental toxicity as total bogus. Yet she received a larger multimillion dollar settlement from PG&E than did a number of the supposedly afflicted litigants. There is no shortage of corporate villains in the USA who deserve to be chastised, but it seems this film furthered the blame of the wrong people.