16 San Diego Uptown News | October 15-28, 2010


WHAT'S UP! SCOTT MARKS / FILM REVIEW ‘Conviction’ an A-lister slab of cold ham


“Conviction” Directed by Tony Goldwyn Written by Pamela Gray Starring: Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Minnie Driver, Juliette Lewis, Melissa Leo, Loren Dean, Clea Duvall and Loren Dean


Rating: 0 Each year when awards limp


around, a cry goes up that there aren’t enough juicy roles for ac- tresses. There is enough feminine star power (and Sam Rockwell) represented in “Conviction” to single-handedly dominate the act- ing categories. Two-time Academy Award- winning actress Hilary Swank teams with Academy Award-nom- inated actresses Juliette Lewis and Minnie Driver (and the never Academy Award-nominated Sam Rockwell) for another excru- ciatingly dull (but well acted), fact-based tale of a working class heroine (see “Erin Brockovich”) who triumphs over all odds to beat the system. The Lifetime Channel just called. They want their movie back.


After serving 12 years of a life sentence without parole for a crime he didn’t commit (stop me if you


tions by constantly calling Kenny’s innocence into question. Alas, “Conviction” is a film founded on foregone conclusions. When Kenny’s DNA tests come back negative about an hour into the 107-minute picture, the chances that complications are about to set in are as certain as Betty Anne’s strenuous schooling taking its toll on her home life. Tony Goldwyn, best remem-


bered for his performance as the heavy in “Ghost,” has spent the past 12 years trying his hand as a director. With two moderately successful chick flicks right out of the gate (“A Walk on the Moon” and “Someone Like You”) Goldwyn the auteur quickly reverted to the small screen, helming episodes of “The L Word,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Dexter.” His bland, unob- trusive touch is the best friend actress/producer Swank can have asked for.


Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell in "Conviction."


haven’t heard this one), Kenny Waters (Rockwell) is dealt a “get out of jail free” card in the form of his sister Betty Anne (Swank), an


unemployed homemaker. With all of Kenny’s chances to appeal his conviction dried up, Betty Anne puts herself through law school, hoping to exonerate her brother by sleuthing down the biological evidence needed in order to qualify for DNA testing. Peter Gallagher hides beneath a shaggy dog wig


to play wrongful conviction expert and future member of O.J. Simp- son’s “dream team,” prosecutor Barry Scheck. With all of the women chew- ing at the scenery, Sam Rockwell, the ever charming, wise-cracking powder keg, shrewdly does his best to upset audience expecta-


Swank, Minnie Driver, Clea Duvall and Melissa Leo all do their damndest to woo Oscar consideration, but it’s Juliette Lewis, clad in gussied down rags and shorn of makeup (unless you count a cracked prosthetic tooth), that comes off the most desper- ate. It’s been almost two decades since Marty gifted the young ac- tress with her first AA-nominated role, and it’s almost certain that her shameless “Hey everybody, watch me act!” performance is bound to draw the attention of a few voters whose appetite for cha- teaubriand can be just as easily satisfied by a slab of cold ham.u


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