Erin Brockovich

Drama | English | 130 minutes

Info

In 1993, a struggling mother, Erin Brockovich, wangles a job in Ed Masry’s law office. She’s asked to help with the purchase of Donna Jensen’s home by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) in Hinkley, California. Erin visits Donna and discovers she’s had several tumors removed, her husband was diagnosed with lymphoma, and many other residents in Hinckley suffered similar illnesses. Erin is shocked when she is told that Hinkley’s water is contaminated with the carcinogenic hexavalent chromium. Meanwhile, PG&E has been telling Hinkley residents that they use a safer form of chromium. During her investigation, Charles Embry a former employee of PG&E, provides Erin with a memo proving that PG&E headquarters knew the water was contaminated with hexavalent chromium, did nothing about it, and advised their Hinkley office to keep it secret. In a class action trial, the judge orders PG&E to pay $333 million to be distributed to the plaintiffs. Ed Masry, who at one time wanted to fire Erin, gives her a well-deserved bonus.

Cast

Julia Roberts (Erin Brockovich)/ Albert Finney (Edward Masry) / Marg Helgenberger (Donna Jensen) / Tracey Walter (Charles Embry)

Why Stream This Film?

You would think that a heart-wrenching film like this would be a wake-up call to corporations and cities who dare risk the health of their residents. And then you have the 2019 case of the city of Detroit knowingly contaminating the drinking water of the residents of Flint, Michigan residents. Company management is advised to make a cash settlement, which to them is just another business expense.

Rotten Tomatoes Score (Critics Consensus): 84%
Metacritic Score: 73

Accolades

Academy Awards: Winner, Best Actress in a Leading Role (Julia Roberts); Nominated: Best Picture; Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Albert Finney); Best Director (Steven Soderbergh).
Golden Globe Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Julia Roberts)
BAFTA Awards: Best Actress in a Leading Role (Julia Roberts)
Screen Actors Guild Awards: Winner, Outstanding performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Julia Roberts); Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Albert Finney)
AFI Awards: Winner, Movie of the Year