As much sibling devotion as personal convictionBy John DeSando, "It's Movie Time," "Cinema Classics," and "On the Marquee
"I will never accept it!" Betty Anne
Conviction could have been a TV special that, alas, is nothing special on the screen. The true story is unquestionably compelling: Betty Anne Waters (Hilary Swank) goes to law school to become her brother, Kenny's (Sam Rockwell) lawyer for the purpose of proving him innocent of a murder for which he is spending his life.
The translation to the screen is formulaic and documentary-like in its series of predictable scenes leading to Kenny's release. Granted, life is not as exciting as drama, but the artists on this film, especially writer Pamela Gray and director Tony Goldwyn, craft a serviceable plot with little inspirational dialogue or action that could reveal depths of sister and brother and even close friend Abra Rice (Minnie Driver), who attends law school with Betty Anne and helps with the defense.
Because we all know the result before seeing the film, the burden is on keeping the momentum going with interesting characters and events. Unfortunately, Swank's perpetual crying and her authentic regional accent and Rockwell's goofy antics are not enough to give heft to an interesting premise. Juliette Lewis as Roseanna Perry, a key witness, is so much the trailer trash Lewis has always done well that the film's biographical integrity could be questioned.
The last third of the film saves it from the abyss because unforeseen complications keep Kenny from leaving prison, and the ensuing investigation is more dynamic than the circumstances of his conviction. As for that, Betty Anne's conviction on behalf of her brother is daunting, a testimony to love that surpasses any romantic notions our fairy tales can conjure.
Compromising the authenticity once again are the ending titles, which tell about Betty Anne's subsequent life as a waitress and public advocate but do not mention that Kenny 6 months later in 2001 fell and died in a freak accident. Not to mine those ironic implications is dramatically unforgivable unless the filmmakers don't want Betty Anne's beatification to be compromised by something as messy as fate.
In the end, Conviction is the real deal of sibling fidelity and an embarrassment to any of us who might not step up if one of our siblings were so convincingly convicted.
John DeSando co-hosts It's Movie Time, Cinema Classics, and On the Marquee for WCBE 90.5. The shows can be heard streaming at http://publicbroadcasting.net/wcbe/ppr/index.shtml and on demand at http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wcbe/arts.artsmain Contact him at JDeSando@Columbus.RR.com