Mark Ruffalo is starting to become known as a crusader. He crusaded against a serial killer in Zodiac, child molesting priests in Spotlight, and now takes on a polluting chemical company in Dark Waters. Coincidentally, this is Ruffalo’s second cinematic encounter with DuPont; he played a wrestler involved in a deadly relationship with John du Pont in Foxcatcher. Perhaps this is his revenge.

Todd Haynes’ film chronicles how a West Virginia farmer introduces lawyer Rob Bilott (Ruffalo) to big-time corporate pollution in 1998. Bilott doesn’t want the case; he works for a firm representing DuPont. But the evidence convinces him that animals — and people — are suffering due to criminal malfeasance and nobody else will do anything about it. Years pass as the legal standoff prevents settlement, or medical care. Bilott’s own health and marriage suffers, but he never quits. Never.

Like Erin Brockovich, this movie follows an almost unbelievable formula of a community devastated without its even realizing how bad things have become. It takes an outsider to see, to demonstrate how the area’s biggest company is and has been corroding drinking water for years, and to stand up against the criminality. Even then, some people fear economic ruin and turn to violence. But the movie rightly celebrates the quiet heroism of the lawyer who just wants to get to the bottom of it all and help the people who cannot help themselves.

A great script helps explain things cogently and dramatically, and Haynes’ direction is low-key and non-sensationalistic. Actually, the film could use a bit more pizazz, and some closeups once in a while. It’s naturally lit, rather dry and a little too familiar at times. Yet this is a tremendous story that absolutely deserves cinematic treatment, and has received it, in largely excellent form. This isn’t as flashy as Erin Brockovich, but its impact is very similar. It’s really good. ☆ ☆ ☆. 16 December 2019.