BEING ERIN BROCKOVICH - The Bad
by Rolando Recometa

Julia Roberts is back with the big hair and the big mouth. In her latest film, she's a mini-skirted, spike-heeled, gum-chewing, foul-mouthed, shoot-from-the-hip, single mother of three. She can't keep a job, she can't keep a husband, and she can't keep her mouth shut. She also can't keep herself from being Julia Roberts. When she's not dishing out the attitude with sassy one-liners, she's dissing aptitude with plunging necklines. There's something else about Julia, though. It's called boobs!

Some actresses get better with age. Others simply get better cleavage. Julia Roberts is Wonder Bra Woman in Erin Brockovich, a film that wants us to believe that big boobs can make a difference in this world.

Director Steven Soderbergh is dealing in all-too-familiar territory. As written by Susannah Grant, Erin Brockovich is a hodgepodge of plot and thematic elements from Norma Rae, Silkwood, The Sweet Hereafter, The Insider, and the film it depressingly resembles the most, John Travolta's A Civil Action. Both are about small law firms taking on big corporations. Both involve ground water contamination causing widespread disease and suffering. Both feature protagonists who are cleft-driven. Neither character cuts deep, however. Travolta and Roberts are stars, first and foremost. They can't dip into themselves to bring out characters; they're love objects in constant need of hugs. As Erin Brockovich, Julia Roberts dips into her blouse to bring out audiences. Instead of a fully realized character, hers is a well-endowed character trait.

But we've come to expect a lot from Steven Soderbergh. He's a skilled filmmaker who knows how and where to point a camera in order to capture an unexpected angle or nuance. He's reworked timeworn genres with great success before in such films as King of the Hill (coming-of-age) and Out of Sight (crime). Here he seems booby-trapped (no pun intended, really). Just as Erin Brockovich forces her way into a job, Julia Roberts flaunts her charisma into the lens. There's nothing Soderbergh can do but ogle. We keep waiting for him to take an unconventional turn, but he keeps turning to Julia's incredible physical assets. And when the camera finally glances away from her killer rack, it's only to show her supporting cast (Albert Finney as her crusty boss and Aaron Eckhart as her babysitting Harley hunk) ogling. Those expecting to meet the real Erin Brockovich will be disappointed to find out that she's only onscreen for a few seconds playing a waitress. Erin Brockovich is mostly about Julia Roberts and her uplifting bra-vado.

Erin Brockovich is based on a true story. So just believe it. And don't look closer.