This 2001 Oscar-nominated film tells the story of Erin Brockovich, a real-life legal assistant who fought a David vs. Goliath battle against a powerful corporation, PG&E, for contaminating a town's water supply. Julia Roberts delivered a career-defining performance as the determined, flawed, and ultimately heroic Erin Brockovich, proving she could tackle a role far removed from her typical 'America's Sweetheart' persona.
If you've had enough of the stranglehold that giant corporations have on all of us and are looking for a bit of catharsis this January, look no further than Erin Brockovich . The 2001 Best Picture nominee from director Steven Soderbergh introduced the world to the real-life story of the legal battle between the Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the residents of Hinkley, California. It also introduced a different side of its star, Julia Roberts .
Gone are the doe eyes from Steel Magnolias and the easy, megawatt smile from Pretty Woman. In Erin Brockovich, Roberts—who won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of the titular Brockovich—leaves her charming Hollywood starlet typecast behind to play the haggard but woefully determined legal assistant. It's 1993, and Erin Brockovich is nearing rock bottom. Recently unemployed and supporting three young children on her own, Erin loses a personal injury lawsuit after a freak car accident. Things start looking up when she convinces her lawyer, Ed Masry (Albert Finney), to give her a job at his law firm. While reviewing files in a real estate case, Erin finds medical records that seem out of place. Following up on the records, she learns that the residents of Hinkley, California, a town next to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company—PG&E—compressor station, have been suffering from serious but unexplained medical conditions. Erin takes it upon herself to investigate and soon uncovers the shocking truth: PG&E had been knowingly contaminating the local water supply with hexavalent chromium, a toxic chemical known to cause cancer, despite assuring the residents of Hinkley that the water was safe to drink. Moved by the suffering of the Hinkley residents, Erin—along with Ed—builds a massive class-action lawsuit against PG&E. Despite the fact that PG&E is a multibillion-dollar corporation that retains high-powered lawyers, Erin’s genuine care for the families in Hinkley drives her to seek justice for those affected. 'Erin Brockovich' Is Widely Considered Julia Roberts’ Best Performance The role was a departure for Roberts, who had an America's Sweetheart-esque reputation in films, often playing women with wholesome, girl-next-door, or manic pixie dream girl-like qualities. The movie posters for almost every film she starred in prior to 2000 feature her iconic smile, but the poster for Erin Brockovich features a grimacing Roberts. As Erin Brockovich, Roberts is not always likable—at least not by Hollywood standards—not by half. Erin is angry, stubborn, loud, and abrasive; she can be demanding and selfish. Despite fighting for a good cause, even Brockovich has her flaws: she tends to take her boyfriend for granted and pours herself into her job, at times neglecting her children. One of the character's most iconic lines—'Bite my ass, Krispy Kreme!'—is a testament to how less-than-amiable Erin can be. But it is this violently realistic portrayal of a woman possessed, a woman who was never before considered important or helpful or noteworthy, that grounds Roberts' brilliant performance of a real-life woman who fought a real-life battle. Erin has a chip on her shoulder; she’s been dealt a raw hand in many respects, and the way Roberts hones in on this frustration and harnesses it is masterful. 'Erin Brockovich' has a David and Goliath-like quality to it: one woman going up against a multibillion-dollar corporation. Roberts tackles this role with grim determination, never once letting her foot off the gas for the entirety of her performance. The film has so many iconic scenes surrounding Erin—a vulnerable scene opposite Aaron Eckhart and her brutal takedown of a condescending lawyer come to mind—in large part due to the Academy Award-nominated screenplay, but also because of the way Roberts absolutely sinks her teeth into the powerful character of Erin Brockovich. Roberts swept the 2001 awards season with her performance, and it’s easy to see why. In a time when likability was key for women in Hollywood, Julia Roberts was more than willing to play someone unkempt and rough around the edges in order to tell a story of vital importance. Erin Brockovich is available to stream on Netflix in the U.S.
Erin Brockovich Julia Roberts Legal Drama Class Action Lawsuit Environmental Pollution PG&E Steven Soderbergh
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