Conviction (C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
'Conviction' (directed by Tony Goldwyn, the bad guy in Ghost) starts in 1980 with the brutal murder of Katharina Brow in Ayer, Massachusetts. Officer Nancy Taylor (Melissa Leo) 'decides' that the murderer is the town's rebel, Kenny Waters (Sam Rockwell). Though there's little evidence which would take him to trial in 1980 (DNA testing wasn't wholly established), the testimony of several eyewitnesses, which doesn't emerge until 1983, proves to be ill-fated for him. With Kenny wrongfully imprisoned, his sister, Betty Anne (Hilary Swank), takes it upon herself to go through all the harrowing schooling necessary to take the Bar & become a lawyer; to defend him. By 1999, and after having lost her husband & kids (living with their dad), Betty Anne finally achieves her goal.
Aided by Barry Scheck (Peter Gallagher) from the Innocence Project, as well as her good friend Abra (Minnie Driver), she meticulously retraces the steps that led to Kenny's arrest; and locates the supposedly "destroyed" evidence from the 1983 trial so she can utilize the proper DNA testing. She finds 'suspicious' evidence (from all those eyewitnesses), gets the DNA results back, & it appeared that her nearly 20 yr. quest to exonerate her beloved brother would not be in vain.
The true story at hand would make for a cracker jack cinematic experience if executed with a surer director & less-generic screenplay. I mean, look: you've got Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Melissa Leo, Minnie Driver, Juliette Lewis ... all acting their hearts out. Every commercial we've seen for this film describes it as 'inspirational and/or uplifting'. But I feel like 'Conviction' is a bit overacted (at times), and just didn't resonate as well as it should have, emotionally. There's nothing bad about the film. And it's actually better than I assumed. But it's far from spectacular. And given the source, it really should have been.
'Conviction' is watchable. It employs flashbacks which serve to establish relationships, provide narrative context, & accumulate sympathy for the main characters. As mentioned, the actors mostly impress. Hilary Swank (who is hit & miss with me) gives the best performance in the film. She's spunky, tenacious, & steadfast in her pursuit of justice for her brother. The portrayal offered enough nuance to keep me 'interested'. Still, it's not a complex, award-worthy performance. Sam Rockwell is very good as Kenny; a man who diminishes from 'short-tempered & cocky' to 'defeated'. I've seen him better, but it's stellar work, for sure. Melissa Leo is appropriately loathsome as the wicked police officer with a grudge. Juliette Lewis is great in her one fiery scene as Kenny's trashy ex. And Minnie Driver consistently made me laugh as Betty Anne's BFF. I'd even like to hang out with her. It's a shame the screenplay let-down the actors.
My major issue with 'Conviction' IS the screenplay. It's just too bland & predictable. I think the film wanted to be another fighting-the-system movie like Erin Brockovich, but it misses the mark far too often. You know, since 'Conviction' is based on a true story, and since we know the outcome - and even what happens to Kenny 6 months after his release from prison (SPOILER: he accidentally fell from a height & fatally fractured his skull. END.) – it is hard for a film to sustain interest & tension. And the best movies can make us forget, or at least care about the journey. This film didn't quite do that for me. 'Conviction' is noble, earnest, I appreciated the performances, but I was not shaken to the core (about the injustice), & the filmmaking lacked imagination. Fine, but unexceptional.
Aided by Barry Scheck (Peter Gallagher) from the Innocence Project, as well as her good friend Abra (Minnie Driver), she meticulously retraces the steps that led to Kenny's arrest; and locates the supposedly "destroyed" evidence from the 1983 trial so she can utilize the proper DNA testing. She finds 'suspicious' evidence (from all those eyewitnesses), gets the DNA results back, & it appeared that her nearly 20 yr. quest to exonerate her beloved brother would not be in vain.
The true story at hand would make for a cracker jack cinematic experience if executed with a surer director & less-generic screenplay. I mean, look: you've got Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Melissa Leo, Minnie Driver, Juliette Lewis ... all acting their hearts out. Every commercial we've seen for this film describes it as 'inspirational and/or uplifting'. But I feel like 'Conviction' is a bit overacted (at times), and just didn't resonate as well as it should have, emotionally. There's nothing bad about the film. And it's actually better than I assumed. But it's far from spectacular. And given the source, it really should have been.
'Conviction' is watchable. It employs flashbacks which serve to establish relationships, provide narrative context, & accumulate sympathy for the main characters. As mentioned, the actors mostly impress. Hilary Swank (who is hit & miss with me) gives the best performance in the film. She's spunky, tenacious, & steadfast in her pursuit of justice for her brother. The portrayal offered enough nuance to keep me 'interested'. Still, it's not a complex, award-worthy performance. Sam Rockwell is very good as Kenny; a man who diminishes from 'short-tempered & cocky' to 'defeated'. I've seen him better, but it's stellar work, for sure. Melissa Leo is appropriately loathsome as the wicked police officer with a grudge. Juliette Lewis is great in her one fiery scene as Kenny's trashy ex. And Minnie Driver consistently made me laugh as Betty Anne's BFF. I'd even like to hang out with her. It's a shame the screenplay let-down the actors.
My major issue with 'Conviction' IS the screenplay. It's just too bland & predictable. I think the film wanted to be another fighting-the-system movie like Erin Brockovich, but it misses the mark far too often. You know, since 'Conviction' is based on a true story, and since we know the outcome - and even what happens to Kenny 6 months after his release from prison (SPOILER: he accidentally fell from a height & fatally fractured his skull. END.) – it is hard for a film to sustain interest & tension. And the best movies can make us forget, or at least care about the journey. This film didn't quite do that for me. 'Conviction' is noble, earnest, I appreciated the performances, but I was not shaken to the core (about the injustice), & the filmmaking lacked imagination. Fine, but unexceptional.