Conviction - Film Review

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Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell

Directed by Tony Goldwyn (2010)

Conviction is based on the true story of how Betty Anne Waters cleared her brother Kenny Waters of a wrongful murder conviction. Directed by Tony Goldwyn, Conviction has a great cast and an extraordinary story but doesn’t quite manage to reach spectacular heights.

Betty Anne (Hilary Swank) is a mother who lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two children. When her brother Kenny (Sam Rockwell) is convicted of murder and sentenced to life in jail in 1983, Betty Anne embarks on a mission to devote nearly two decades of her life to proving his innocence. She puts herself through law school while working as a waitress and raising her kids, although loses her husband along the way. With the help of law school friend Abra (Minnie Driver) and the non-profit organization “Innocence Project”, Betty Anne clears Kenny’s name by tracking down samples taken from the crime scene, that are verified through DNA testing. In March 2001, after 18 years in jail, Kenny was set free.

Hilary Swank puts in another captivating performance as Betty Anne, an inspiring woman with an unbreakable willpower and loyalty. Sam Rockwell is excellent as Kenny and he really makes the most of his magnetic screen charisma. His remarkable versatility as an actor has been increasingly drawing him attention in Hollywood. The talented Minnie Driver is solid in her portrayal of Betty Anne’s supportive friend Abra. Melissa Leo (Academy Award Winner for Best Actress in 2011) gives a sharp performance as the malicious, corrupt cop Nancy Taylor, who’s responsible for setting up the evidence to blame the crime on Kenny. It’s been a pleasant surprise to see Juliette Lewis coming back on the scene lately; she makes a brief but gripping appearance in the film as Kenny’s alcoholic ex-girlfriend.

The film moves forward through events in a stepping-stone style, which makes it feel like it’s lacking a certain substance. It rolls from dramatic point to point in a way that’s not completely dissimilar to a television biopic. The inserted flashbacks of Betty Anne and Kenny in their childhood are included to establish the foundation of the brother-sister relationship; however, it’s not entirely convincing and is overly sentimental at times. Even with the fine efforts of the cast, the film feels somewhat restrained and the emotional drama seems over-simplified. This would point to weaknesses in the script, where underdeveloped characters default to stereotypes, often making them appear flat; such as Betty Anne’s irresponsible mother to blame, vindictive bad cop Nancy Taylor and Kenny the hooligan with a heart of gold. Essentially, the plot is emotionally hinged on the relationship between Betty Anne and Kenny, but the film doesn’t quite succeed in completely drawing you into their world, even though you really want it to. Because of the lack of subtleties and the lean towards cliché, it somehow prevents the viewer from unbridled emotional investment in the characters.

An important aspect of the film is the subject of DNA testing and the story brings to light the complex issues of dealing with wrongly convicted prisoners. To think that Kenny Waters spent 18 years of his life in prison for a crime he didn’t commit is horrifying. The film reveals the struggle of the justice system in trying work out how to resolve such errors and the complex problem of who should be held accountable.

Ultimately, even though there’s a lack of depth and emotional resonance, the film is driven by the incredible reality of the story. Betty Anne Waters' phenomenal real life determination and unfaltering faith in her brother is truly amazing; this alone is enough to keep the film interesting. Conviction is a fairly good film, upheld by strong performances and an inspiring story; but it could have been better if it had pushed the boundaries a bit more.