Conviction

At first I had to get used to the fact that the actors not only act like rednecks, but also look like them. Hilary Swank looks as if she hasn’t seen make-up in years and it doesn’t bother me at all. On the contrary, it brings them closer to regular people. Although I have to admit that this is a bit extreme. Considering the movie, I have to say it really pleased me. I did not expect it, but it is filmed really well. If the movie wasn’t filmed in such a great quality, you could say that essentially, the premise looks as if it was written by Rosamunde Pilcher, but the quality is here. Plus the movie has a message and nowadays that is not that common either. (28.08.2013)

The film is pulled upwards mainly by the duo of great, yet much underrated actors Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell. Rockwell is wrongly sentenced to life in prison and his sister will do anything to get him out. The premise may not be that original and there are no thrilling court battles, rather, the film is more about finding evidence and sibling love, but the emotions worked a lot for me in the finale and the actors make the film fun to watch. Decent. Story****, Action>No, Humor>No, Violence>No, Entertainment****, Music***, Visual****, Atmosphere****, Suspense***. 7/10. (20.05.2020)

A quality drama with, in my opinion, an unexpected ending. Rockwell is excellent, Hillary Swank is also fine, apart from her awful accent. Only life can write stories like these. So many coincidences, so much bad luck. I must persuade my sister to study law: the system is a bitch. (24.09.2011)

As is often the case with Hilary Swank, the film relies primarily on her captivating performance. Her portrayal of a tough and determined sister is compelling, endearing, and convincingly raw in a way that viewers can't help but appreciate. Surprisingly, even Sam Rockwell, an otherwise average actor, is excelled in his role as a prisoner. I wouldn't dare categorize Conviction as a classic courtroom drama, it doesn't quite reach the quality of, for example, Paul Haggis' The Next Three Days, which is more mature and sophisticated in its portrayal of prison life and the planning of the escape plan, but Conviction is still a good film. It is very down-to-earth, subtly conservative, and Hilary is an incredibly impulsive “great woman”. (05.03.2013)

Is this a film about how things can go wrong when the wrong guy gets arrested? No, not really. This is a film about the strong bond between brother and sister, a bond that seems stronger than anything else. The past shapes us and shapes our relationships. This is the strength of the film, which unfortunately doesn't work so well as a legal drama. (18.10.2016)