A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Erin Brockovitch

Date Viewed: 3/26/00

Details:

Julia Roberts

Albert Finney

Aaron Eckhart

Peter Coyote

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Score: +

The Review: Julia Roberts, as single mother Erin Brockovich and erstwhile legal assistant to Albert Finney, stumbles onto and doggedly pursues a case with a rich vein of personal interaction, thorny medical issues, and "big bad business doing the wrong thing." The formula was used for A Civil Action, but it is much more satisfying here: the plaintiffs are more interesting as people, and Roberts and Finney really click. Finney is wonderful as a soft-hearted lawyer with a grumpy exterior (an Irish imp, truth be told) trying to deal with a very unconventional, almost unemployable, very attractive, and (as it turns out) highly motivated and persistent Roberts. As the case proceeds, both the plaintiffs and Finney develop increasing trust and respect for Roberts, her skills, and her instincts. A side plot involves her complicated private life, and the budding relationship with biker Eckhart.

Even though this particular set of characters do not appear to permit it, Roberts and Finney must star together again, soon.

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