While legal thrillers were highly popular in the 1990s, the genre has gradually faded away in the last few decades as Hollywood continues to show less interest in making mid-budget films aimed at mature viewers. Given the sheer amount of legal dramas that have emerged as prestige television shows, it can be harder for original films set within the American justice system to not feel derivative. However, the powerful drama Conviction from director Tony Goldwyn set itself apart because it told an incredible true story about two siblings who had to fight against the system in order to achieve justice. While the story itself was so powerful that it seemed destined to become cinematic, Conviction is a powerful legal drama due to the amazing performances by Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell.
What Is ‘Conviction’ About?
Conviction was inspired by the true story of Kenny and Betty Anne Waters, two siblings from Massachusetts that were forced to fend for themselves as they dealt with an incompetent and inconsiderate mother. Swank stars as an older version of Betty Anne, who years later is raising a family with her husband. Rockwell co-stars as the older Kenny, who has been falsely accused of the murder of a next-door neighbor when they were children; although Kenny was released after an initial trial, the emergence of new evidence results in a retrial, which dictates that he spend a life behind bars. Betty Anne recognizes that all the evidence was circumstantial, and decides to personally take on her brother’s case as she makes her way through law school. While the rigors of getting the proper education are challenging enough in their own right, Betty Anne discovers she is facing a particularly nuanced case; many of the original witnesses that testified against Kenny were lying, and would have to perjure themselves in order for her to win the case.
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“The way I see it, you have people who own lawns and people who mow them.”
Conviction is beautifully structured to show the development of a familial relationship overtime, as the flashbacks to Kenny and Betty Annes’ childhood examine how their mutual respect and affection for each other allowed them to stay close within very challenging circumstances. Given the fact that Kenny has always felt an obligation to protect Betty Anne, as he gave himself the responsibility of doing what their parents could not, there is a great burden placed on Betty Anne to do the same thing by fighting for him in court. The film is equally balanced between the two, showing how the case affects both of their personal lives; Betty Anne’s relationship with her husband and children begins to crumble as she dedicates so much time to her studies, and Kenny becomes so burdened by the weight of his imprisonment that he contemplates suicide. This allows the film to have more urgency as it reaches its final courtroom scenes, even though it takes place over the course of many years.
‘Conviction’ Shows the Complexity of the Legal System
Conviction examines the flaws within the legal system that make both Betty Anne and Kenny underdogs in their case, as they do not have the resources necessary to defend themselves. Betty Anne is faced with the financial burden of having to become legally prepared to do the case, which is exponentially more difficult considering that she is also having to run a family; Kenny is subjected to biases based on his background and is rarely given the opportunity to explain the complex situation in which he grew up in. While many legal thrillers are dedicated to the lives of either an underdog lawyer or a wrongfully convicted defendant, Conviction is able to detail both with nuance.
Conviction is elevated by the fantastic performances, as the chemistry between Swank and Rockwell is so strong that they are instantly believable as real siblings. Swank captures the hardworking spirit of a woman who defied the odds in order to prove the system wrong, and Rockwell captures the defiant spirit of a man who never gave up on the truth. While the details about the flaws within the American justice system that are observed in Conviction are quite disturbing, the powerful story of a family that fought for each other is enough to make the film more heartwarming.
Conviction
- Release Date
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October 15, 2010
- Runtime
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107 Minutes
