Plot: Kenny Waters (Sam Rockwell) is a low-life in rural Massachusetts, and he is accused of a terrible murder and convicted. His sister Betty Ann (Hillary Swank) is certain he is innocent. She gets her GED, her BA, and her JD -- then goes to work as Kenny's attorney to clear his name. The rest of the movie, which is based on a true story, is fairly predictable.
Review: This movie is a predictable drama, and about average in entertainment value. The story was engaging enough, but a few more plot twists would have helped.
Betty Ann Waters is a sympathetic character, but Kenny Waters is unlikeable. I could see why the police would want to lock him up. The characters get into a rut where they are always angry at each other or at the police. Anger was probably the proper emotion, but the audience gets worn out by it. The subplot with Betty Ann's kids helps broaden the story out. Swank is a good actress, but the range of emotion required in Conviction was not-so great.
In summary, a non-enthusiastic recommendation. A good drama for a rainy afternoon.
Cast: Hillary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Minnie Driver
Directed by: Tony Goldwyn
Written by: Pamela Gray, based on a true story
Rating: 2.0 stars
More: The film fails to mention that Kenny Water's died in a fall six months after being released from prison. His estate received $3.4 million from the state for wrongful conviction. It would have been gutsier to have ended the movie with the fall.
Even more: The sound editing during the dinner scene was awful. I never heard such gross-sounding Mac and Cheese. My wife and I both thought the sound of the spoon scooping the Mac and Cheese sounded like something vile from a Halloween funhouse -- like a bowl of gooey eyeballs or a tub of guts.
1 comment:
You're not kidding about that mac and cheese sound. It was completely distracting and amusing at the same time. I personally like your idea for a different ending but it totally wouldn't go over well with the crowd it is intended for.
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