In her most realistic and sympathetic role since, well, ever, Julia Roberts somehow makes you believe she is Erin, an unemployed doubly divorced mother of three, who, if it weren't for bad luck, would have no luck at all. When she's injured in an auto accident following yet another failed job interview and then loses the ensuing lawsuit, Erin's cause seems all but lost. Fresh out of options, but full of desperate determination, Brockovich manages to persuade her former lawyer Ed Masry (Albert Finney) to hire her at his office. Shortly thereafter, on a routine clerical assignment, Erin finds a number of medical records in a box of seemingly unrelated real estate files. Further digging uncovers an epidemic of devastating illnesses in an outlying town whose water supply may have been contaminated by the local power company. Soon, the chase is on to discover what happened, who's at fault and how the guilty can be brought to justice. Along the way Roberts trots around in an endless collection of halter tops, micro-mini skirts and high heels that make you wonder why the real Brockovich just didn't get a job in the porn industry and live happily ever after. Luckily, for the fine folks whose drinking water was being needlessly poisoned, Erin, who apparently really thought the Fredericks of Hollywood and JC Penney catalogues were interchangeable, was more looker than hooker and justice could be served, with a smile and a bunny dip.

Assisting Erin in her crusade is her bearded, tattooed biker neighbor George (Aaron Eckhart) who takes an almost unnatural interest in minding Brockovich's three kids while Erin is out gathering evidence, canvassing for signatures and shopping at Victoria's Secret. George plays cards and makes burgers for the kids, whom he relates to because they "keep things simple."

Albert Finney as Ed Masry and Julia Roberts as Erin Brockovich

George is also about the cleanest, well mannered, sober biker ever seen on film. It makes you wonder what he's really up to, but that's probably best left for another movie. Eventually Erin succeeds in rounding up a small army of plaintiffs and gets them to agree to a binding arbitration trial that will either bring them hundreds of millions in punitive damages and restitution or send them home defeated and with no chance of appeal.

Worthy of note is Albert Finney, as the gruff but gold-hearted attorney Ed Masry. Finney's acting credits go back more than 40 years and include Academy Award nominations, a Golden Globe victory and co-starring roles with such legends as Lawrence Olivier, Charles Laughton and the great Sharon Stone. Finney is a pleasure as ever to watch and fills the screen with a worn – but not worn out – blend of strength and humor. If only all lawyers were such teddy bears, the court calendars wouldn't be nearly as crowded.

As my closing argument, let me just say that Erin Brockovich is a worthwhile film in the noble tradition of The Insider, A Civil Acton and Silkwood. It's well acted, even by Julia Roberts standards, and diligently directed by Steven Soderbergh, whose most recently known for The Limey, best known for Out of Sight and coincidentally known for Sex, Lies & Videotape. Ultimately, Brockovich is a 35mm inspiration to all the Davey's in the world who think they got no shot against the corporate Goliaths. It's a picture that proves where there's a will and a Wonderbra, there's a way. Case closed.