Erin Brockovich
Short description
Erin Brockovich is a single mother of three who is struggling to get by after a car accident she did not cause leaves her with medical bills and no income. When her lawyer, Ed Masry, loses her case, she pressures him into giving her a job at his small law office. Her blunt manner and unconventional appearance make for a difficult start, but she proves capable, and while going through files she notices medical records from a nearby community where residents are suffering from similar illnesses. She begins asking questions and uncovers a long-running contamination of the local water supply by a large utility company. Although the case is far larger than the firm usually handles, she persuades Masry to pursue it, wins over the sceptical residents, and pushes the matter toward court.
Steven Soderbergh directed this drama, the sixth of the thirty-five films he has directed in chronological order, following The Limey and preceding Traffic. Susannah Grant wrote the screenplay, produced by Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher. Julia Roberts plays Erin, with Albert Finney as Ed Masry, Aaron Eckhart as George, and Marg Helgenberger, Cherry Jones and Veanne Cox among the credited cast of fifty-six. Against a budget of 52 million US dollars, the film took about 256 million worldwide. On IMDb it holds 7.5 from around 244,000 votes, on TMDB 7.4 from roughly 3,766 votes, and critics gave it 7.8 from 193 reviews, placing it slightly above the audience scores.
What's left behind the scenes
- The real Erin Brockovich-Ellis, on whose story the film is based, appears in a cameo as a waitress named Julia in one of the scenes in a restaurant. In the same restaurant, and close to Julia Roberts with her children in the frame, you can also spot the lawyer Ed Masry himself, whose role in the film was played by Albert Finney.
- Since Erin Brockovich-Ellis is right-handed, while Julia Roberts is not, the actress had to make a certain effort to sign all the documents with her right hand instead of her usual left.
- The car accident scene at the beginning of the film was filmed by superimposing two shots: one of Julia Roberts driving away in a car, and another of a remote-controlled car moving, which was hit by a stunt driver.
- Julia Roberts' fee was an unprecedented $20 million at the time, making her the first actress to exceed the $20 million mark.
- Erin Brockovich-Ellis sold the rights to adapt her story to Universal Studios for a modest sum by Hollywood standards, $100,000.
- The filming locations for the office and Julia Roberts' character's home have been preserved and are used by the Institute of Photography in Ventura, California.
- Richard LaGravenese was brought in to work on script editing, but was never credited in the film's titles.
- The maroon t-shirt with gold lettering reading “Oakton Cougars” worn by Julia Roberts in the film was found in a small second-hand store. After purchasing it, the costume designers discovered through an online search that it had been issued by a school in the state of Virginia, and immediately contacted the school administration to obtain permission to use the garment in the film's shooting.
- Filming period: May 5 – August 5, 1999.
- A poster for Steven Spielberg's film “Jurassic Park” can be noticed in the children's room.
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