The court shall now begin its assessment of the case "Jethro T. Cat V. Conviction." Jethro T. Cat shall act as all legal functions except executioner. You may precede, Jethro.
(OK, I admit, that was a silly way to start a review.)
The latest true life drama designed solely for Oscar credit is Conviction, which overall, has some good actors with a script that needs improving.
In 1983, Boston Housewife Betty Ann Waters' (Hillary Swank) brother Kenny (Sam Rockwell) was convicted of robbing and killing local woman Katharina Brow. Betty Ann's gut instinct tells her that he's innocent, and she decides to prove it. First, she'll get her GED, and then go to college to be a lawyer. And then, with help, she'll find the smoking gun that'll clear her brother.
The script that needs improving is by Pamela Gray, who wrote the Meryl Streep vehicle Music of the Heart. The script, for example, presents Betty Ann as too much a stock determined type with little motivation. Minnie Driver, as Betty Ann’s sidekick Abra, is much like many other sidekicks in this type of film. And then the only thing that seems to properly indicate the passage of years is how much older Kenny gets throughout the film (the makeup for which is actually a strong-point).
Rockwell, as Kenny, actually makes for a good character. In his earlier years, he’s quite a likable wild guy. And then, as the legal system decides to mess with him further, he’s quite convincingly despondent. And Juliette Lewis, as a key witness in the trial, is also quite memorable even if the film forgets about her until the end. In fact, they’re probably the best characters the film has to offer.
Its director is Tony Goldwyn, who’s had far more of a career on-screen than off (such as the villain of Ghost). My verdict on the final result is that if Goldwyn, because much of the film rests on the director, spent the time getting to the inevitable result, a bit more compelling, than the film would definitely feel less like stock Oscar material.
The Defense and Prosecution both rest!
About Me
- Jethrotcat
- This is the blog where I talk about the latest movies I've seen. These are my two Schnauzers, Rufus (left) and Marley (right, RIP). As of now, the Double Hollywood Strikes are officially over. May the next strikes not last as long as these ones did.
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