Conviction

The first thing to say about Conviction is that the plot sounds like a classic TV movie outline if ever there was one. Working mother puts herself through law school in order to represent her brother who has been sent down for murder. Hmm, I wonder if you can guess what happens? However, the ho-hum attitude can be put on the back burner here as the tale is made more remarkable by the fact that it’s actually based on a true story. Tony Goldwyn’s film is an actor’s film if ever there was one. Hilary Swank as Betty Anne Waters can play this kind of part in her sleep, but it’s Sam Rockwell as her brother Kenny that takes the plaudits. Rockwell usually finds himself in fairly bonkers roles and it’s great to see his more serious range here, building on from his great work in Moon. Despite his predicament Rockwell doesn’t actually play Kenny as all that sympathetic a character and it certainly adds interest to the film which concentrates mainly on Betty’s relationship with her brother and the effect that this has on her own family. There aren’t many courtroom scenes here to get the blood pumping though Minnie Driver, as Betty’s sassy friend, provides a few welcome moments of relief during her short stints on screen. Goldwyn’s direction is fairly static, though I suppose the subject matter and rolling countryside hardly require any Bay-esque jump cuts. One thing that Goldwyn does do is that, even though you know the ending, he keeps it ambiguous for a long time as to whether Kenny is guilty or not. Though it’s doesn’t have a relative connection to the film itself, it’s still a bit surprising to note that there isn’t a mention of the unfortunate fate that befell Kenny in real life (dying due to an accident) just six months after he was released. A tragic tale, indeed.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict

Worth catching for Rockwell’s performance and the belief that maybe sometimes anything is possible if you put your mind to it. Rating: 7/10