'Conviction'

'Conviction' (R) (3 stars)

Writer: Pamela Gray
Director: Tony Goldwyn
Starring: Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Melissa Leo, Juliette Lewis, Minnie Driver, Ari Graynor, Peter Gallagher, Clea Duvall, Owen Campbell, Loren Dean, Conor Donovan, Bailee Madison

"Conviction" is an inspiring true life story of Betty Anne Waters who went to law school and passed the bar just so she could free her wrongly imprisoned brother. Hilary Swank excels in this type of role as a Midwestern, middle class women fighting the system. Who am I kidding, Hilary Swank excels in any role. Here she proves she is one of our finest and greatest actors we have. Her brother is played by Sam Rockwell who I have tried to promote heavily for awhile now and if you see this movie you will know why. This is an actor who is as great as Robert Deniro and Al Pacino and so many other greats were like at the start of their careers. Kenny Waters was arrested and put in prison for killing an older woman. He has a history of having a temper, getting in fights and getting booked for minor things. At first when the murder occurs he is let go but two years later he is arrested by cop Melissa Leo. We see in flashbacks how close Kenny and Betty Anne are as brother and sister. Kenny says he is innocent and Betty knows it too because she loves her brother very much and just knows it. Betty takes law classes just so she can become a lawyer and get her brother out. She becomes friends with the other older student in her class played by Minnie Driver who is funny and very well done by Driver. This story documents her struggle to get her brother out and it is admirable.

This is a very inspiring story and the movie tells it's story well. I don't think it is a great movie because it plays like a Lifetime cable movie sometimes. What I can't deny is that Swank is solid and amazingly great as she always is. She has it down perfectly now how to make us believe she could be any character with great ease and grace. Also Sam Rockwell will hopefully get the recognition he deserves and not only by more casting agents. I would love to see Rockwell finally get his Oscar nomination that was denied him when he was in "Snow Angels". This movie will definitely appeal to people who love stories about little people who fight the system and win. Tony Goldwyn knows what he is doing in telling this compelling story solidly. He is a very good actor (Ghost) and he knows how to get great performances because of his acting skills. There are also great supporting turns by Driver, Juliette Lewis, Melissa Leo and Ari Graynor. This is also a very touching and beautiful story of the love between a brother and sister. I do have a crush on Hilary Swank but I do believe she may be the best at what she does right now in Hollywood.