FILM REVIEW: Conviction starring Hilary Swank

Jan 14 2011 by Catherine Jones, Liverpool Echo

HILARY Swank has got under the skin of some challenging characters during her Hollywood career – and taken home a brace of Oscars in the process.

She collected her first a decade ago for her portrayal of murdered transgender teenager Brandon Teena in Boys Don’t Cry.

Five years later, she was back making an acceptance speech for her performance as a gutsy boxer in Clint Eastwood’s tear-jerker, Million Dollar Baby.

She famously celebrated by tucking into a hamburger and fries at a fast food joint, with her statuette on the table.

Now the actress gets beneath the skin of another crusading real-life heroine in Conviction.

Inspired by the story of a sister’s unwavering devotion to her jailbird brother, Tony Goldwyn’s film condenses an extraordinary 18-year quest for justice into a lean 107-minute courtroom thriller that confirms one (wo)man can make a difference.

Betty Anne Waters (Swank) is a wife and mother-of-two in Massachusetts, who has always defended her troublemaker older brother, Kenny (Sam Rockwell).

In 1980, Kenny is questioned about the murder of diner waitress Katharina Brow but is released, to the annoyance of local cop Nancy Taylor (Melissa Leo).