DARK WATERS *

"Dark Waters" may not seem the most likely subject matter for Todd Haynes. We're in "Erin Brokovitch" territory here rather than "Far From Heaven" for this is another fact-based, crusading problem picture and it's a good one...up to a point. It's based on an actual case where a young lawyer, (Mark Ruffalo, looking glum as well he might), working for a prestigious Cincinnati law firm who sued DuPont on behalf of a farmer, (Bill Camp, excellent), who claimed DuPont were poisoning his cattle and that was just the tip of the iceberg. It was a classic David versus Goliath scenario and Hayes, working with his usual cameraman Ed Lachman and a very good cast, (Tim Robbins, Anne Hathaway, Mare Winnigham, Bill Pullman, Victor Garber), has made a serious picture rather than a thriller. Unfortunately, as a piece of cinematic journalism, it's not in the same class as "All the President's Men" or "Spotlight" perhaps because we've seen it all before in one form or another. It's intelligent and well acted but it's more of a civics lesson than a real movie. Sometimes having your heart in the right place just isn't enough..