Written by Alex Sukhoy for Film Slate Magazine. Thursday, 28 October 2010.

Biographies rarely fall neatly into three acts. While some true-life stories succeed when translated into motion pictures, others fail, mostly because while the tale itself may have been newsworthy, it lacked the character arc and structure to be a real film. “Conviction,” based on Betty Anne Waters’ fight to save her brother Kenny Waters from serving a life sentence for a crime he didn’t commit, could have easily filled a basic cable channel time slot. Instead, thanks to the performances of A-list actors, the film rises beyond expectation, taking the movie theater audience with it.

Hilary Swank, who plays the lead, has won two Oscars. The first was for playing an outsider in “Boys Don’t Cry,” and the second for playing a fighter in “Million Dollar Baby.” In “Conviction,” she plays both. Perfectly cast as a young wife and parent of two sons, her loyalty towards her hoodlum brother Kenny, played flawlessly by the always entertaining Sam Rockwell, is revealed through a series of flashbacks about the duo’s upbringing, first with their mother and, later, when separated into a foster home system. By the time Kenny’s arrested for the homicide, during their father’s funeral, Betty realizes that life will never be the same and that she has to do something before her brother, a father of a small girl, does serious damage to himself.

This is where Betty’s real journey begins. In any great story, once the main character has a goal, she has to make choices and give up valuable things or people in order to indicate how much she really wants the prize. Starting with earning her GED, with eyes set on college and, ultimately, law school, Betty pushes forward, relentless in her pursuit of the truth. Along the way, she makes a friend, fellow law student Abra Rice (Minnie Driver), an advocate, DNA rights lawyer Barry Scheck (Peter Gallagher) and a witness in the original trial, Roseanna Perry (Juliette Lewis).

Each actor delivers the role with a delicate balance of authenticity, humor and pain. Yet, never once does the movie force any level of sappy emotion or predictable reaction. “Conviction” isn’t a soap opera. Instead, the acting elevates the story about a group of people, all tough as nails, yet simultaneously vulnerable, making a series of choices and decisions that drive destiny towards a desired outcome. Even Betty’s sons, Ben (Owen Campbell, “Bitter Feast”) and Richard (Conor Donovan, “The Departed”), play their roles with the allegiance of two brothers who believe in their mom’s cause, even if it comes at a cost to them.

Written by Pamela Gray (“Once and Again”) and directed by actor, and grandson of that Samuel Goldwyn, Tony Goldwyn (“Ghost”), “Conviction” has great heart, surprising obstacles and credible performances by some of the best actors in the business. As a result, the audience gazes at the screen anxiously, focused solely on what happens next, and roots for the main character to succeed. Refreshing? Yes. Convincing? Absolutely.

DIRECTOR: Tony Goldwyn SCREENWRITER: Pamela Gray PRODUCERS: Markus Barmettler, Anthony Callie, Alwyn Kushner CAST: Hillary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Minnie Driver, Juliette Lewis MPAA RATING: R