Erin Brockovich

Julia Roberts may have won the Oscar for her work here in 2001, but the rest of the cast is outstanding. Albert Finney was nominated, and maybe should have won given the competition that year. Everyone else from Aaron Eckhart to Peter Coyote to Marg Helgenberger is wonderful. Real California High Desert residents.

Even the real Erin Brockovich has a small role - can you spot her? Interestingly, her character is named Julia. The real Ed Masry is in the same scene. Mr. Tracey Walter, a veteran of big and small screen that all of us know by sight if not by name, has a pivotal role.

Can anyone however explain why this movie is so yellow? Agfa film maybe??

This is a good movie for older girls and young women to watch. Yes, it has an R-rating for language but the less to be learned is important. If you have not seen this movie since it came out, it's worth a watch again to see the familiar faces. If you have not, it's good to learn who this SoCal heroine is about.

Watch this with a single parent who is struggling.

All Roads Lead Home

If someone in your family loves animals, they should love this movie. If you have kids between the ages of 9 and maybe 15, especially daughters, they should enjoy this movie. If a parent has been lost, for whatever reason, this movie has a pretty good message.

Peter Coyote is the biggest name on the cast, but he is not the star. His roll is prominent, and and his character makes the needed evolution. Vivian Cardone, in her first feature since Beautiful Mind does an outstanding job here.

Another Peter makes his last big screen appearance in this film. Peter Boyle plays a delightful old hotel owner. His character should be familiar to anyone who has family of that generation.

This story leaves a few questions unanswered, but for the most part it meets it's overall goal of telling a worthy story as well as possible.

Watch this movie with the whole family.