Conviction
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Conviction
Director: Tony Goldwyn
Stars: Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell and Melissa Leo
Betty-Anne Waters : "A contract is a promise or a set of promises that the law in some way recognizes as a duty, and when it's breached, the law provides a remedy."
Based on a true story, unusual but registering good intentions and convinces enough. "Conviction" requires a certain amount of emotional looseness in order to differentiate it from a TV court drama. Carefully, it follows the tradition of the genre, delves into melodrama and embraces hope inside the high walls of prison.
In 1980, Kenny Waters (Sam Rockwell) is accused for the brutal murder of Katharina Brow but he is humorously released by the local cops to the annoyance of the vengeful , hard-boiled, Nancy Taylor (Melissa Leo). Two years later, he is arrested again with the same accusations, trialed and sentenced on unreliable evidence. He never pleads for innocence and Betty Anne (Hilary Swank) never questions his integrity.
Convicting Kenny to life in prison was an act that convicted his sister, Betty Anne Waters, to a life of sacrifice. She cages herself in the solitude of her unshakeable belief. Inspirationally persistent, she gets through college, law school and bar exams in order to be able to re-open her brother's case.
The only people she lets in are her children and her new classmate, Abra Rice(Minnie Driver). Breaking the barriers of the stereotypical sidekick, Abra crusades against the odds and sets an uplifting mood.
Dexter's Tony Goldwyn, structures a case of dedication and the immorality of an incomplete system,shedding light on the importance of the DNA test that helped to prevent further justice travesties but his role as director seems to be leaking discomfort. He illustrates the situations based on a calculated narration, purposefully aiming to wring out tears from the star actors. While his bet pays him back big time, you can't help but wonder what could happen if someone more adept had the same screenplay in his hands.
Hilary Swank's performance exonerates the script from its melodramatic tendencies, elevating the story to a universal scope. Swank, like always, seems to understand what's at stake, tenacious and devoted to her character she puts herself in line for another Oscar.
Rockwell depicts a sentimental portrayal of a carefree man whose reality is stuck in a feckless limbo, with ease and emotional authenticity his whole body movement imprisons the viewer.
Banking on one of her most memorable acting moments, Juliette Lewis enacts a trailer dweller, deviant and off-balance, her own personal, overwhelming five minutes or so, amidst the catatonic walls of chronicling two decades, uncontrollably concealed under the tapestry of a bland sense of pace.
Betty Anne's contract was a promise or a set of promises that Tony Goldwyn in some way recognized as a duty, and when it was breached, the actors provided the necessary remedy.
