Conviction

4 Stars

Truth can be stranger than fiction.

Rating: 14A
Stars: Hilary Swank, Minnie Driver, Sam Rockwell, Melissa Leo, Juliette Lewis, Peter Gallagher

What’s the story?
Kenny Waters (Rockwell), a rowdy, middle-aged Massachusettsan, is falsely convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life. All cards are against Waters – witnesses testify against him and blood samples of the murderer match his. Kenny’s sister, Betty Anne (Swank), is the only one who believes in his innocence and sets out on a long, difficult journey to become his lawyer. Working part-time, attending law school and caring for her two boys, Betty sacrifices her own life to save her brother’s. Her only chance of exonerating Kenny depends on what newly introduced DNA tests can reveal from evidence of the murder scene. With the support of her best friend and the Innocence Project, a real organization which helps to acquit the unjustly convicted, Betty goes on a determined quest to seek justice for her brother.

Why see it?
The fact that this movie is based on a true story makes it all the more heartwarming. Siblings who don’t get along with each other should watch Conviction and hopefully become motivated to develop a more positive relationship with their brother or sister. Hilary Swank shows off her acting chops as a two-time Academy award winner. When she cries, the audience cries with her.

Problems?
The storyline may seem dull since there isn’t a specific climax or any kind of heart-stopping excitement. The sequence of events can also seem random and the boundaries of the past and the present may be unclear and confusing for some viewers.

All in all:
A touching tale of the strength of family love.