USA: PREMIERE OF JULIA ROBERT'S LATEST FILM "ERIN BROCKOVICH" BASED ON THE WOMAN WHO REVEALED INDUSTRIAL COVER-UP ABOUT WATER POLLUTION

Record ID: 389430

  • Title: USA: PREMIERE OF JULIA ROBERT'S LATEST FILM "ERIN BROCKOVICH" BASED ON THE WOMAN WHO REVEALED INDUSTRIAL COVER-UP ABOUT WATER POLLUTION
  • Date: 5th February 2000
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 5) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) JULIA ROBERTS SAYING " Well, I think it empowers people to watch it. It makes you realize that the cliche of one person can make a difference is alive and well in Erin Brockovich. So, i think it makes you feel really empowered and really inspired and that all these big lettered companies t
  • Embargoed: 20th February 2000 12:00
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  • Location: REUTERS / VNR-UNIVERSAL PICTURES
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVACJHJ7M8XPFAO1Q44H0233XBRJ
  • Story Text: In the heat of this year's Oscar race, Julia Roberts is already being talked about as a sure-fire bet for an Oscar nomination next year for her performance in the new film "Erin Brockovich," which has celebrated its World Premiere in Los Angeles.
    Based on a true story, "Erin Brockovich" shows how a twice-divorced unemployed single mother of three with no legal education or training almost single-handedly won the largest legal settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit in American history.
    Roberts plays the title character who is desperate for a job after a car accident and a subsequent damages trial that nets her absolutely no financial settlement whatsoever.She turns to the small time lawyer who represented her, Ed Masry, played by Albert Finney, and begs him for a job as a file clerk.
    But soon, she finds herself researching a cover-up involving contaminated water in a California desert community which is casuing devastating illnesses among its residents.
    She convinces a reluctant Masry to take on the case and together they bring legal action against Pacific Gas and Electric, one of the largest and most powerful utility companies in the United States.
    What Brockovich lacks in legal expertise, she more than makes up for in her ability to connect with the local residents of the community and secure their cooperation in the case.Her persistence and the personal interest she takes in their lives makes them listen.
    Also working in her favor is her physical appearance as a tall, staturesque, well-endowed woman who tends to dress in outrageous, revealing and, some would say, inappropriate outfits.
    Of course, this fits the actress just fine, who is quite comfortable showing off her on-screen beauty.However, Roberts says the real Brockovich, who is still working for the real Ed Masry on a number of liability lawsuits to this day, actually dressed even more provocatively than is depicted in the film.
    One of the most important elements of "Erin Brockovich"
    for director Steven Soderbergh was staying true to the real life 1996 case on which the film is based.To this end, he and his crew worked extensively with the real Brockovich and Masry to ensure the film closely tracked with the original events.
    In fact, the real Brockovich even has a cameo in the film as a diner waitress who serves coffee to Roberts.
    Roberts says working opposite her real-life counterpart was an incredibly nerve-wreaking experience.
    After early previews of the film by Universal Studios, critics and other Hollywood insiders are already talking about Roberts as strong Oscar candidate for next year.She's just coming off one of the most successful years in her career, with two films that grossed over 100 million dollars in the United States alone, "Notting Hill" and "Runaway Bride."
    "Erin Brockovich" opens in theaters throughout the United States on Friday, March 17.
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