Conviction

The unjustly convicted prisoner has been the basis for a ton of Hollywood dramas. Generally the stories provide ready-made conflict and plenty of pathos. It is, however, a sub-genre that is a bit familiar, bordering on completely overdone. These stories need something to set them apart, a fresh angle. I thought that "Conviction" had a stand-out premise. Turns out the recipe for this true story isn't that unique and the film is as familiar as a TV Dinner.
We start out pretty well. Hillary Swank and her brother (Sam Rockwell) have a tight bond forged by a less-than-picturesque upbringing in a small Massachusetts town. He's not an angel but a local murder is pinned on him with flimsy evidence. With no cash for a decent lawyer, he gets life without parole. No lawyer, no justice. Solution? Become a lawyer, which is exactly what Hillary Swank's character does. Impressive considering the first step is for her to get a GED.
Well, the good start ends up being squandered, as scene after standard scene unfolds to an inevitable conclusion. It's all really....ummm...okay in a predictable sort of way. Director Tony Goldwyn does a competent job and Swank is good, as is Minnie Driver in a supporting role. Fine. Good. Competent. Blah. The script fixates on Swank's negatives, her losses and obsession. Her triumphs are given short shrift. How the hell did she get through law school anyway? This film is a dish with no spice---with one notable exception.
Sam Rockwell provides a rapid pulse to an otherwise cadaver of a movie with a brave, almost arrogant portrayal of the unjustly convicted. Rockwell is always really good but here he's even better as he navigates the roller coaster of a justice system determined to take him for a ride. He's terrific and I suspect that you may hear his name announced in one of those nomination ceremonies. It's possible anyway. But for the rest of the movie...sigh....shrug.