Erin is NOT portrayed as a a Saint or an Angel
in this movie and I find it incredible that anyone would say so. Half the complaints are that she is portrayed as an Angel, and half the complaints are about her being rude. Which is it? In other words, the movie decidedly did NOT portray her as an angel. She is shown to have a short temper, and she reacts too emotionally to certain professional situations. She is shown losing precious time with her children and it is made clear the strain that puts on her, the kids, and George. But as a woman who was desperately trying to find a way to support her kids, she was doing what she thought she had to do to change their lives. Dual purpose, because she also did care about the plaintiffs. She's Erin Brochovich. The movie is not called "Mother Theresa."
That's one of the reasons I liked it. She doesn't enter into a room floating on a cloud playing a harp. She's just an assertive woman who had been given some tough breaks in life and had no patience for (what she perceived to be) more bullshyte, i.e. people slighting, disrespecting her or treating her like nothing, which she had been getting for years.
I am not a feminist at all, and I know it's said too often but in THIS case I think it's absolutely true: If Erin Brockovich were a MAN, these attitudes about her would be quite different.
Finally, I have read all the articles and obviously the real story is more complicated and nuanced than a Hollywood film would or even could make it out to be in 2 hours. I understand there were plaintiffs who were unhappy in the end, but I've had some experience in this area and TRUST... there is NO WAY that a pool of plaintiffs hitting 600+ is going to consist of 100% completely satisfied clients. NO WAY. Just doesn't happen no matter what the circumstances. And Erin Brochovich had no decision making power in who got what, or how much the firm kept. Newsflash: small law firms don't take cases like these for free. They take huge risks, dole out enormous expenses, and work like DOGS without any guarantee of a penny. Masry's firm were not Angels sent from God to save humanity. One has to wonder where the residents of these towns would be had the firm not gotten involved. Is it a shiney happy 100% perfect result with a glittering bow on top? Of course not. But the people being victimized would have gotten nothing, NOTHING, had Masry's firm not taken a chance, and had Erin not done a ton of work. And if you ask me, she deserved more than the bonus she received.