[Soderbergh] allowed Roberts off the leash, transforming her from a movie star into an Oscar-winning actress.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 13, 2025

Triumphant as a biographical and historical account (the real Brockovich suggests that the majority of the film is factual) of an exceptionally unexceptional woman accomplishing the seemingly impossible.

| Original Score: 8/10 | Nov 8, 2024

Steven Soderbergh is really great at taking characters in real-life settings, making them relatable and giving them some depth.

| Original Score: A | Aug 16, 2024

Steven Soderbergh wields Julia Roberts’ star power to draw public attention to an environmental issue. It’s a shrewd tactic, but typical of the director using A-list actors to expose predatory corporate and capitalistic behaviors.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 27, 2023

[Erin Brokovich is] a real-life Wonder Woman...

| Jul 19, 2021

A relaxed but powerful American star-vehicle.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 16, 2021

Much like 2010's "Gasland" (environmental poisoning by fracking) and 2019's "Dark Waters" (poisoning by DuPont's Teflon), "Erin Brockovich" is about whistle-blowing on Pacific Gas and Electric's groundwater poisoning via hexavalent chromium.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 24, 2020

The script is well-written with a simplicity that makes it easy to understand despite the challenging topic.

| Original Score: 3.5/4.0 | Sep 7, 2020

In the title role, Roberts carries the film in the best sense, by taking us on a human journey of genuine discovery and growth.

| Feb 16, 2018

Julia Roberts is masterful.

| Sep 15, 2017

A shining example of everything promising about American moviemaking as it entered the 21st Century.

| Original Score: 9/10 | Nov 27, 2014

There's really no reason this kind of conventional David-and-Goliath tale (based on a true story) should make for such a compelling motion picture, but Soderbergh and Grant smartly mix plenty of humor and unflagging inspiration into the drama.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jun 14, 2012

smartly directed, with Soderbergh perfecting his style but not overdoing it

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Jun 8, 2012

establishes Roberts as a modern Kate Hepburn-one with inner strength and charm and sincerity

| Original Score: B | May 31, 2012

Julia Roberts winner. R mostly for language.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 24, 2010

Julia Roberts has never been more fragile or stunning. And by oncerning itself with truthful consequences of its characters' self-sacrifices, the film succeeds as a drama as much about the passion of personal investment as the pursuit of justice.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Sep 24, 2010

In this Oscar-winning fairytale, combining traits of Norma Rae and Karen Silkwood, Julia Roberts is at her most winning and sexiest as the lone-figher against the system; that it's inspired by an actual case makes it more fun to watch.

| Original Score: B | Feb 21, 2008

An example of Hollywood entertainment done with finesse and compassion, the way it always should be but so often isn't.

| Original Score: B+ | Jul 30, 2007

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 14, 2007

| Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 6, 2005