AceShowbiz - Eric Roberts has never held back his opinions, especially when it comes to family. In his newly released memoir, "Runaway Train: Or the Story of My Life So Far," Eric critiques Julia Roberts' performance in the 1989 dramedy "Steel Magnolias."

He states, "Julia was good in 'Mystic Pizza,' great in 'Pretty Woman,' but not so much in 'Steel Magnolias,' in my opinion, even though it brought Julia her first Academy Award nomination."

Despite the nomination, Eric argues that his sister's portrayal didn't hold up. "When I saw her in 'Steel Magnolias,' I thought, 'Okay. Good. She's almost a good actor, and one day she's gonna be one,' " he said.

He didn't just stop at evaluating Julia; he also believed that the entire star-studded cast overacted. "In fact, I think all those brilliant women - Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Olympia Dukakis, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah - overacted their asses off in 'Steel Magnolias,'" he wrote. "They all chewed a lot of scenery, and we know that if an actor cries on film, they go to the top of the class."

Interestingly, Eric attributes part of Julia's success in "Steel Magnolias" to her Southern charm and real-life roots. "I also think another reason she got an Oscar nod for 'Steel Magnolias' was her authenticity as a sweet, small-town Southern girl," he adds. He believes her down-home manner, along with her "boffo good looks and killer smile," made her appealing and relatable to audiences.

Addressing their sibling rivalry, Eric reflects on how Julia's skyrocketing fame affected him. He admits that he wasn't jealous but was unprepared for the public scrutiny. "When suddenly this rare and rarefied thing occurred, this worldwide phenomenon of Julia's stardom, it shoved me into the public eye in a different way," he wrote.

The pressure led to inappropriate speculation, including rumors of incest, which Eric rebuffs as mean-spirited attacks on their Southern heritage.

Eric does, however, offer an apology for any perceived dismissiveness of his sister's achievements. "I hope Julia will accept this public apology," he writes, calling his earlier remarks about paving the way for Julia and his actress daughter Emma Roberts "asinine."

Despite his critiques, Eric affirms that he's proud of Julia's journey and acknowledges that her trajectory was nothing short of spectacular. "What a trajectory!" he muses, while underscoring their difference in careers. "Julia is a movie star and I'm an actor. There's a difference, and I'm fine with that."