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at a i Tl eo Pe a "WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2000 - 9 Julia Roberts' performance deserves a nod from Oscar NM By John Foote ERIN BROCKOVICH (Sevedesy) Directed by Steven Soderberg Now on video and DVD With the movie year in its eighth month, there is but one clear-cut Gscar contender already creating a buzz within the Academy's nominating committee. Julia Roberts, in a performance that redefines her career and reputation, seems a lock for a best actress nomination for her ballsy performance as Erin Brockovich in director Soderbergh's fine biography. In fact, | am going out on a limb here, predicting Roberts will not only be nomi- nated for the Oscar, but will win the damn thing. And you know what? She should. I am saying this without having viewed many of the other performances coming from actresses this year, but | cannot imag- ine a better piece of acting this year from any major actress with the exception of Meryl Streep, who does not have a film in release. In the past, | have been critical of the choices made by Roberts, including the cute comedy Notting Hill (1999) and the dreadful Runaway Bride (1999), because | feel she can do more than just smile and be winsome. Her early films suggest a real movie star appeal merged with a gritty realism that she can indeed bring to her work. Remember the absolute transformation that took place in Pretty Woman (1990), a terrific romantic comedy that would not have existed without her performance? She was equally fine as the battered wife in Sleeping with the Enemy (1991), but audiences did not want to see the pretty woman in anything other than romantic comedies. : Dying Young (1991) was a dud, and somehow the actress began to fall out of favour with her audience and critics, the peak of disaster being | Love Trouble (1993) with Nick Nolte. To her credit, she attempted to expand as an actress, taking a supporting role in Michael Collins (1996), and a lead in the woeful Mary Reilly (1996). Her extraordinary comeback over the last two years has placed Roberts at the top of Hollywood's A-list, and at the top of the moneymaking actresses. Still, critics such as myself have blasted her for taking no risks in her work, for choosing mainstream fare that was geared towards pleasing her audience, and only her audience. Her comeback began in the summer of 1997 with the vicious romantic comedy My Best Friend's Wedding (1997), followed by a trio of strong box office hits including Stepmom (1998), Notting Hill and Runaway Bride, which re-united her with Pretty Woman co-star Richard Gere. With Erin Brockovich, Roberts seemed to find a character that allowed her to bring her best qualities to the role, as well as taxing her as an actress. This is not a character we readily embrace because she is spiky, full of anger and rage at her situation in life. Brutally honest, foul-mouthed and straight forward, Erin does not have the time to exchange pleasantries with anyone about anything, but she is incredibly like- able. What we admire about Erin is the manner in which she takes charge of her life, taking a risk in her battle to bring down a major corporation guilty of poi- soning water that brought about cancer in several people living nearby. Broke and desperate, she bullies her way into a job at a law firm, offending the other women in the office with the manner in which she dresses, but convincing the law firm's boss there is substance behind the bimbo look. She likes the way she looks and dresses to display her attributes, daring people to see her for anything less than what she is. Slowly, working virtually on her own with no legal training, she gains the trust of the people injured by the poisoning of the water with her up- front, unsettling honesty. Her boss, nicely portrayed by the great Albert Finney, senses something unique about Erin and gives her a chance, which we now know resulted in making Brockovich a very famous woman. : What | admired about the Roberts per- formance was the authenticity of the acting; perhaps the role was so strong for Roberts she was liberated by the oppor- tunity offered her, responding with a bold, profoundly moving performance. While her character is tough, there is also the vulnerability that sneaks through every so often, and the fierce, sometimes irrespon- sible love she has for her children. Erin is so dedicated to finding a better way of life for them, free of the cockroach-infested home they live in, she throws herself into the case. Roberts captures the tenacity of the character to utter perfection, but also - and what is most important - she makes every line reading her own, every though it seems as if it were the first time such things were being explored, and every move is perfect. There is real, substantial growth within this character, and the audi- ence is invited to share in that experience. Director Soderbergh is usually associ- ated only with independent works that play well on the festival circuits. His break- through film sex, lies and videotape (1989) won best picture at Cannes, but in recent years the boy wonder has had a hard time getting audiences in to to see his films. The Limey (1999), his sensational film of last year, was among the best movies of the year, but sadly never found an audi- ence despite a smashing performance from Terrence Stamp. Erin Brockovich marks his biggest box office hit. In a year so far devoid of good films, Erin Brockovich is a breath of fresh air. A major Oscar contender, watch for Roberts' name in the best actress category, and on Oscar night, she just might nab the award itself. In a superb, blindingly realistic per- formance of great power and substance, Julia Roberts silences every single critic who ever doubted her talent or her dedi- cation to her craft. And yes, that includes me. SATURDAY ONLY, COMMENCING 4:00 P.M. RE-ADMISSION $2.00 TRACTOR PULL $8.00 Lg FRIDAY, SEPT. 1st, 2000 3:30 p.m. Exhibits to Home Craft Buildings 5:30 p.m. Home (raft Buildings Closes for Judging SATURDAY, SEPT. 2nd, 2000 8:00 a.m. Gates Open 9:30 a.m. English Hunter Show & Gymkhana Home Craft Buildings Opens 10:000m. Midway Colouring Contest Opens - 3 yrs. - 12 yrs. Children's Face Painting 10:30 a.m. Beach Volleyball Tournament 11:00 a.m. Beer Tent Opens 11:30am. Pet Show 12:00 Noon South Ontario 4H Dairy Club 1:00pm. Colouring Contest Closes Port Perry 4H Dairy Club Fire Dept. auto Extrication Demo Family Rodeo Registration Opens 2:00 p.m. Family Rodeo 4:00 p.m. Peach Pie Auction Face Painting Closes 4:30 p.m. Milking Demonstration 6:00 p.m. Milking Demonstration Closes 6:30 p.m. Home Craft Buildings Closes 7:00 p.m. Tractor & Truck Pull Beer Tent 9:00 p.m. Gates Close PARI-MUTUEL BETTING » ENTERTAINMENT « Karate Demonstrations Stele Iale Rel AI [eM MiTch (see schedule at ey # Entertainment Shelter) x SUNDAY, SEPT. 3rd, 2000 8:00 a.m. Gates Open 9:30 a.m. Home Craft Building Opens 10:00am. Durham West 4H Beef Club Colouring Contest Opens -3yrs.'- 12 yrs. Midway Children's Face Painting (raft & Agric. Demonstrations (infield) Commercial Beef Class Registered Beef Show Colouring Contest Closes Beer Tent Opens + Harness Horse Racing & Pari- * Mutuel Betting Fire Dept. Auto Extrication Dero Colouring Contest Closes Beef Auction Face Painting Closes (raft Demonstrations Closes Milking Demonstrations Demolition Derby Home Craft Building Closes HARNESS HORSE RACING AND 11:00 0.m. + 12:00 Noon 1:00 p.m. y 4:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. / al. 1:00 p.m. x ENTERTAINMENT t eF inrenba 4 ™~ | Peaking LS OV]{sF: Tol WO lo]els! Wildlife *Karate Demonstrations ee schedule at Entertainment Shelter) To Ustridge Reg. Ad. No. © ' ' 2 Fananounol ! 4 I= | boo me -- | nchet ter Hey ia Pm i ; . I a os ADULTS ($15 & OVER): $6.00/DAY 3 DAY PASS: $12.00 CHILDREN (14 & under) $3.00/DAY PRE-SCHOOLERS: FREE PARKING $3.00/DAY MONDAY, SEPT. 4th, 2000 8:00 a.m. Gates Open 9:30 a.m. Home Craft Building Opens 10:00 a.m. Midway Baby Show Children's Face Painting Colouring Contest Opens - 3 yrs. - 12 yrs. 10:30 a.m. Fun and Games Horse Show 10:45 a.m. Ontario County Holstein Show 11:00 a.m. Heavy Horse Show (raft & Agric. Demonstrations Beer Tent Opens 12:30 p.m. Family Rodeo Registrations Open 1:00 p.m. Fiddle Contest Fire Dept. Auto Extrication Demo Colouring Contest Closes Family Rodeo Horse Pull Raffle Draws - Walter Compbell Picture Gates Close Home Croft Building Closes Face Pointing Closes 5:00 p.m. Home Craft Exhibits to be picked up 1:30 p.m. 2.30 p.m. 3.00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. (SEN EES SANE VIE SEN |