if you are looking for a rags to riches story, a story about the undying will of the human spirit, a story about how people aren't what they seem at first glance, a story with heart and zeal, then there is no better choice than erin brockovich. i hadn't really seen this since i saw it upon theatrical release back in '00 and i loved it then and i loved it this time. there are a couple things that make this one hell of a good movie and pretty much nothing that makes it a bad movie. the cast for one is fantastic. this is the movie that proved aaron eckhart to be a great actor; he is fantastic here. albert finney is just amazing and for me is pretty much the american brian cox, as in he is awesome in everything he is in and i love to watch him perform. but of course this movie is owned by julia roberts who is amazing here in a career high performance that will never be topped. i don't think she is the greatest actress ever but sometimes even okay actresses when working with the right director can surprise you. she blew all my expectations of her out of the window here. of course this movie is so good because it was directed by steven soderbergh who at the time was at a career high. coming off of the one two punch of excellent films out of sight and the limey and to be followed by traffic, soderbergh could do no wrong. his sense of editing, cinematography, pacing, performance, mise-en-scene and filmmaking in general is so good that he took what could of been a generic feel good film and made it a classic that will stand the test of time. i love this movie and i love soderbergh and i am having a blast watching his films. i look forward to the amazing traffic next and everything that comes after that (well except for ocean's thirteen...). production design: 9 out of 10 cinematography: 9 out of 10 re-playability: 9 out of 10 originality: 9 out of 10 costumes: 10 out of 10 directing: 10 out of 10 editing: 10 out of 10 acting: 9 out of 10 music: 9 out of 10 script: 10 out of 10 94/100