Based upon an incredible true story, Conviction stars Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby) as Betty Anne Waters; an unemployed single mother who was so convinced that her brother’s conviction for murder was unfounded, that she studied for a decade, in order to represent him in court, and attempt to secure his freedom.
Sam Rockwell (Iron Man 2) stars as Betty’s brother Kenny; who was convicted in 1983 for the murder of Katharina Brow; and is joined by Minnie Driver (The Riches), and Peter Gallagher (The O.C.), as friends of Betty, who are instrumental in helping her mount an appeal for Kenny’s innocence.
Conviction chronicles Betty’s struggles as the quest to save her brother tore apart relationships, and was made constantly harder thanks to raising children on her own, and having no formal background in the law; a hurdle which caused her to study for a GED, before moving on to a bachelor’s, and a master’s in education, and eventually acquiring her law degree.
Conviction had its U.S. release in mid-October, and has received generally (although not astoundingly) positive reviews since it hit theatres (largely for the solid performances given by Swank and Rockwell), but has been slow to cross the pond, and won’t be reaching U.K. audiences until January 14th, 2011.
