Conviction
As children, Betty Anne Waters (Hilary Swank) and her brother, Kenny (Sam Rockwell), survived bad parenting and poverty by leaning on each other for support. Kenny grows up to be something of a troublemaker, eventually being convicted for a murder he swears he didn't commit. His sister believes him and, without even a high-school diploma, sets about going to law school in order to figure out a way to free him. She gets a GED, then graduates law school with the help of her only friend (Minnie Driver). She eventually gets the attention of O.J. Simpson defense attorney Barry Scheck (Peter Gallagher), who runs an organization devoted to overturning wrongful convictions by analyzing DNA evidence with tests that were unavailable at the time the cases were tried. When he agrees to help her -- if she can find the old blood evidence -- Betty plows her way through the legal complications that stand between her brother and his freedom. Tony Goldwyn directs this drama inspired by a true story. more..
Director: Tony Goldwyn
Starring: Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Minnie Driver, Melissa Leo, Peter Gallagher
Emerges as a potent inspirational story on the strength of its two lead performances.
The ever-magnetic Sam Rockwell is Kenny, Minnie Driver is full of beans as Betty Anne's best friend, Melissa Leo is wicked good as an ornery cop, and, in her two chewy scenes, Juliette Lewis reminds fans why we want her to run free forever.
In Hilary Swank, the film finds the right actress to embody gritty tenacity.
It's an amazing story, one that would seem too far-fetched if it weren't true.
Sam Rockwell has yet to find a movie as good as he is (Moon comes closest). He's still looking.
Best Actor
Boston Film Festival (2010)
Best Supporting Actress
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards (2010)
Best Supporting Actor
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards (2011)
Melissa Leo
Capri, Hollywood (2010)
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
Image Awards (2011)
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