One of the big problems of movies that are based on real stories is that there is not as much suspense as is necessary to keep the motor of the viewer’s imagination running fast enough. It’s fun to think of alternate plot lines, to see a character in a different light, to keep involved in the action. When the story is true and the ending is assured, well, boredom comes easily, no matter how much writing and editing have been done to make the hero, or the heroine, more interesting.
Such is the case with “Conviction,”opening today. It’s built around the efforts of Betty Anne Waters (a very stubborn and dedicated Hilary Swank) to overturn a murder conviction of her brother, Kenny (first-rate work from Sam Rockwell). As children, portrayed excellently by Bailee Madison and Tobias Campbell, they are largely ignored by a strung-out, uncaring mother (Clea Du Val), and they spend a lot of time involved in serious mischief. They steal candy from stores, break into empty houses to eat it, for example. They fight as a team, and they are difficult to handle. Eventually, they are separated and sent to foster care.
But the bond remains extremely strong whenever they are together. Kenny’s hair-trigger temper, as shown in a barroom brawl, causes many problems, but Betty Anne has his back, both literally and figuratively. When he is convicted of murder, she goes to law school.
“Conviction” is a heart-warming story of friends and loyalty, of do-gooders who do lots of good. Minnie Driver is her friend, Abra, who puts up with a lot of nonsense from Betty Anne but who remains more loyal than Betty Anne deserves. Peter Gallagher is Barry Scheck, who leads the Innocence Project and helps free wrongly convicted people. And on the other side of the coin, Juliette Lewis is a delight as Kenny’s former girl friend and Melissa Leo is almost as stubborn as Betty Anne as a cop trying to get Kenny into prison. And then there’s Ari Graynor as Kenny’s daughter, carrying her own little sub-plot in a green and yellow basket.
It’s nice to see justice triumph, but it seems like a long and winding trail.
Conviction opens today at the Plaza Frontenac
—Joe