Erin Brockovich (2000)
Film details
Drama · Steven Soderbergh · 2h 11min
Synopsis
A twice-divorced mother of three who sees an injustice, takes on the bad guy and wins -- with a little help from her push-up bra. Erin goes to work for an attorney and comes across medical records describing illnesses clustered in one nearby town. She starts investigating and soon exposes a monumental cover-up.
Verdict
Justice drama with strong adult language and occasional provocative attire.
In-depth analysis
Erin Brockovich is a biographical drama that celebrates perseverance, justice, and the defense of the most vulnerable. The film effectively narrates how a single mother without legal training manages to unmask a corporate pollution scandal that affected hundreds of families. The screenplay avoids cheap sentimentality and constructs a solid narrative about human dignity and service to one's neighbor. Julia Roberts embodies with conviction a woman who refuses to surrender in the face of institutional indifference. The challenge for families lies in the language: the protagonist uses frequent profanity and crude vocabulary as part of her direct and unconventional personality. This adult language was a determining factor for the R certification and renders the work unsuitable for minors. Furthermore, there is occasional provocative attire and a secondary romance handled with discretion but present. Absent these formal elements, it would be an exemplary story of civic values and the pursuit of truth. Parents ought to consider the maturity of the viewer before watching it as a family.