Review of Conviction (2010) by Jack F — 14 Mar 2011

"Conviction" has the kind of premise that is so outrageous and far-fetched, you'd laugh at the implausibility of it all...if it weren't a true story. In the early '80's, a man named Kenny Waters is convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. His sister, Betty Anne, spends the next 18 years of her life putting herself through high school, college, and law school so that she can represent Kenny as his lawyer and get the case re-opened. If that's not sibling love, I don't know what is. This is the kind of true story that screams for a Hollywood adaptation, and "Conviction" is a good one.

Even if you've never heard of this movie, based on my short synopsis above, surely you must have figured that Hilary Swank played Betty Anne. Is there really any other option? She can play fierce determination in her sleep, and if there's one role out there that requires an insane amount of fierce determination, it's that of Betty Anne Waters. No matter how big the setback is, she refuses to give in. No matter how you feel about the movie, you at least have to admire the real Betty Anne's dedication. And Swank is on her A-game, as usual.

The other key role is that of Kenny the brother, played by the unheralded Sam Rockwell. For the better part of the last decade or so, this gifted actor has left an indelible mark on pretty much every picture he's been in, a resume that includes "The Green Mile," "Matchstick Men," "Iron Man 2," and "Moon," for which I still maintain he should have received a Best Actor nomination back in 2009. Not surprisingly, he's great here. He plays Kenny as a bit of a lout, but he's not without his charms. Most of his run-ins with the law seem to be of the alcohol-fueled, immature fratboy-style variety, which is part of the reason why Betty Anne feels so strongly that he's been wrongfully convicted in this murder case. There's also the fact that Kenny was basically all she had growing up, and she knows him better than anyone.

As is often the case with these types of films, there are times when things feel a bit too manipulative, like when the movie tries on a couple occasions to cast doubt over Kenny's guilt or innocence. This feels especially unnecessary when much of the audience knows where the film is headed, as it's based on truth. There are a couple instances in which the manipulation even brings the movie dangerously close to "Lifetime" territory; this is especially true in some of the opening scenes, when dramatic effect nearly turns into melodramatic effect, and trust me, there's a difference. Thankfully the film never gets TOO soapy, and Swank, Rockwell, and the solid supporting cast--including Minnie Driver, Juliette Lewis, and recent Oscar winner Melissa Leo--keep things in check.

"Conviction" is an inspiring story, a shining example of what one can do if he/she puts his/her mind to it and doesn't give up. There are many sacrifices along the way, as Betty Anne discovers, but in the end, determination usually pays off greatly. Hopefully people can learn from Betty Anne's compelling story. It's a worthy rental.