What Do The Critics Say?

"Swank's purity of essence is nicely paired with Rockwell, who is more arch and complicated and would look guilty doing mission work in Mumbai. It's a special quality Rockwell has." Mick LaSalle SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLES "Inspired by the story of a sister’s unwavering devotion to her jailbird brother, Tony Goldwyn’s film condenses an extraordinary eighteen year quest for justice into a lean one hundred and seven minute courtroom thriller that confirms one (wo)man can make a difference. Conviction is a remarkable true story that provides Swank with a meaty central role that wrings tears and fury in equal measure." Catherine Jones LIVERPOOL ECHO "The most interesting characters for me was the Melissa Leo character. The arresting officer. Her motivation is really interesting to me and that's never ever gone into. Goldwyn isn't an amazing director, but there are pretty good performers in this film. I'm giving it three and a half stars." Margaret Pomeranz ABC AT THE MOVIES "Conviction is humane, moving and, even though you can probably predict the outcome, it manages to find surprise after surprise along the way. Gutsy, street-smart and makeup-less, true-life heroine Waters is a classic Hilary Swank role. There are so many inspiring elements in Waters' story." Chris Hewitt ST PAUL PIONEER PRESS

"Solidly directed and superbly acted, this is an enjoyable true life drama that packs a powerful emotional punch. Goldwyn's direction is solid and efficient throughout. Swank is excellent as the doggedly devoted Betty Anne. There's also superb support from the always excellent Gallagher." Matthew Turner VIEW LONDON "Conviction wins you over thanks to Swank's convincing performance as a woman who stops living her own life in her dogged pursuit of justice for her brother. Swank gives a terrific performance." Lori Hoffman ATLANTIC CITY WEEKLY "Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell, the latter portraying Kenny as an uncontrollable force of nature, and also Melissa Leo, who is quietly powerful as the arresting officer, are all excellent. Three stars." David Stratton ABC AT THE MOVIES "While the story is certainly an inspirational one and there’s no shortage of nearly unbelievable 'truth is stranger than fiction' moments, the real driving force behind the picture is the strong showing from a cast well-heeled in these emotionally hefty, dogged-determination films. The fascination comes from Bettye Anne’s tireless dedication as she hatches a plan that’ll take nearly two decades to bear fruit." Frank Wilkins REEL TALK MOVIE REVIEWS

The Inside Story "Conviction" is the incredible true story of Betty Anne Waters, a seemingly ordinary, working-class woman who embarked on an extraordinary eighteen year quest to achieve the impossible when her brother Kenny was accused of a heinous murder he swore he didn't commit. Betty Anne was an unemployed high school dropout and a struggling single mom with none of the resources needed to fight a long legal battle. But that didn't stop her. In an act of unwavering faith and devotion, she dedicated her entire life: sacrificing everything else; to freeing Kenny. Putting her fears and doubts aside, she first earned her high school diploma then her college degree. Finally she went to law school and passed the bar exam in two states, focused on representing the brother she had promised in their rough and tumble childhood she’d never abandon. As Kenny tried to hang on in prison in his increasingly dark world, Betty Anne doggedly followed the shoddy evidence that had put him behind bars, following up on every clue that might possibly hold a key to proving his innocence. Those who heard Betty Anne and Kenneth's story when it first made the news in the Spring of 2001 could not help but be moved by the unbreakable bond and steadfast refusal to give up that led to a man being saved against all the odds. Among those people was director Tony Goldwyn, whose wife saw the story on TV and urged him to investigate the incredible tale further. Goldwyn: acclaimed for his portrait of a woman and a nation on the cusp of change in 1999's "A Walk On The Moon" (starring Diane Lane, Viggo Mortensen and Liev Schreiber); immediately saw in the Betty Anne’s battle something quintessentially cinematic, a story that would break the mold of the typical courtroom drama to become an emotional detective story about family loyalty and determination. "Betty Anne was a woman who gave up so much for her deep faith and belief in her brother, who could just as easily have been guilty. The questions for me were: What is that bond about? What is it that allows us to grasp onto impossible hope with those we love?" These pivotal questions would lead Goldwyn (who played Carl Bruner in the 1990 smash hit "Ghost") on a nine year journey of his own to capture Betty Anne's dedication to Kenny on film. Goldwyn's mission began with seeking the rights to the story, which had been acquired by New York-based filmmaker Andrew S. Karsch, who would come on board as the film’s producer along with Andrew Sugerman. Goldwyn then dove into research, travelling to the Waters home town in Rhode Island, researching who Betty Anne and Kenny really were and how they forged the bond that held them together through such an epic struggle. Although they were often separated in different foster homes as children, they always held onto their love for one another. Goldwyn knew the basic facts of the case. In 1980, Massachusetts diner waitress Katharina Brow was found murdered in her trailer home, stabbed multiple times and robbed of eighteen hundred dollars. Early on, Kenny Waters, who lived near Brow and had a reputation as a troublesome kid, was questioned, and unequivocally said he was not involved. But two years later the confessions of two ex-girlfriends: who each claimed he admitted to the crime; helped to seal his conviction for murder, despite the lack of concrete evidence, and he received a life sentence without parole. Driven now to get him out of jail, and clear his name of the accusations that made no sense to her, Betty Anne made a daring leap for a woman with no job and two kids: convinced he was innocent she hung on to her determination and pursued a law degree. Later when Goldwyn returned to the Waters home with screenwriter Pamela Gray (Wes Craven's "Music of the Heart"), Betty told them what she had said to her brother and about his belief in her. "You promise that you'll stay alive and I will go to law school," she told Kenny. "It took a long time and Kenny got extremely depressed. But he always felt that somehow I would find a way. He had so much faith in me. I still can't believe how much faith he had." Goldwyn and Gray were rapt hearing Betty Anne recount her roller coaster journey, during which she never once thought of giving up. "Betty Anne is a great storyteller. She was so passionate and humble and you could see that what she did came from love. She pursued the impossible and no matter how many times she was afraid she would fail, she just kept going," says Gray. "To some degree, I think we functioned as her therapist," Goldwyn confessed. "We recorded everything she told us and then at night Pam and I would go back to the hotel and try to figure out how we were going to tell all of this truly incredible stuff that happened over a period of fourty years into one movie." They began to hammer out a structure for the screenplay that turned the story into a kind of personal detective tale, weaving all the strands of the brother and sister’s lives. Gray also began to pore through the mountains and mountains of court transcripts, which she says were riveting. "There were people lying and in conflict and it was fascinating to piece together what happened in the courtroom with the stories Betty Anne shared with us." As she worked, Gray felt a personal responsibility to both Waters siblings. "I wanted to really honor what Betty Anne had accomplished and to honor the brother who lost nearly half his life to a terrible injustice." As with all true stories that become movies, Gray ("A Walk on the Moon") had to find the line between authenticity and strong storytelling. "It was a process of taking the truth and then figuring out how to shape it dramatically with elements of fiction storytelling. Three themes are interwoven through everything: the theme of brother/sister love, the theme of a courageous woman up against impossible odds and the theme of a legal system that can sometimes be corrupt and destroy people." When the script was finished, dual Academy Award® winning actress Hilary Swank (who would ultimately join with a tight-knit ensemble cast in the role of Betty Anne), signed on as executive producer. "We all wanted to tell this extraordinary story," says Swank ("Boys Don't Cry" & "Million Dollar Baby"), "and it was a long time coming. I've always been drawn to true stories because life is stranger than fiction and this story amazed, moved and inspired me. I was really stirred by the script and by this bond between a brother and sister." "Tony was the magnet who attracted all the talent to this film and his passion for the project was unparalleled," says producer Andrew S Karsch ("The Emperor's Club"). "Tony was all about the emotion and bringing out the essence of the humanity that's in this story," producer Andrew Sugerman ("Shopgirl") adds. "He was very precise in the casting and every other element of the film: which allowed all that feeling to come through." The storytelling may have come together beautifully but the rest of the process wasn't quite as smooth as Golwyn explained. "The Screen Actors Guild was threatening a strike, the whole business was going through a change, and studio productions had ground to a halt. But after a long process, we then we received a waiver from SAG to make this as an independent movie. It gave us the traction needed to make this film in a crazy time, and we just drove it through." In casting the film, Goldwyn put equal emphasis on all the characters and roles, aiming to forge a diverse ensemble that would allow the audience to really feel the relationships: some strengthening and others destructive; that lay behind this story of a brother and sister’s quest for justice. Joining Swank are Sam Rockwell ("13 Moons" & "Moon"), Minnie Driver, Juliette Lewis and Melissa Leo. "Together, a group of extraordinary performances give this film its power," says Karsch. "We had a cast of consummate actors, yet nobody was in a position to steal the show, because they each make their roles shine as real people, "Sugerman adds. "There was no ego, no attitude about this. Everyone felt strongly about bringing this story to life in a way that feels true." It began of course with the role of Betty Anne, which Goldwyn always knew would require an actress capable of revealing the contours of inner strength. For Goldwyn, the key was that Swank was so much like Betty Anne under the skin. "Both Hilary and Betty Anne are similar in their core. They have this intelligence, this steely strength and determinations. Hilary grew up in a trailer and came to L.A. with her mom when she was fifteen to try and become an actress. They lived in a car. She may not have had the same struggles as Betty Anne but Hilary has fought incredibly hard to realize her dreams." Swank (Erin Gruwell in "Freedom Writers") was especially drawn to the film’s exploration of the bonds that can tie family. "It’s a rare kind of love that Betty Anne and Kenny have, where one would do anything for the other. It’s something I think we all strive for in our lives, whether it’s with a brother, a child, a parent or a best friend. And I think for Betty Anne, her whole life was about helping her family, and she felt it was natural to go to the ends of the earth for someone you love like that." Rockwell won Karsch's vote for the role of Kenny Waters after the producer saw him playing the misunderstood outsider Trent in "Lawn Dogs" (1998). "I saw the incredible possibilities of what he could bring to Kenny." "Sam has all the qualities of Kenny, the ability to be tough, wild, a little crazy, but also to be empathetic. The way Sam plays him, you wouldn’t want to get on his wrong side, but he also has a real warmth and tenderness. Sam brought Kenny to life as such a vibrant personality, and with such emotional depth, that it went beyond what we ever imagined," Sugerman notes. Minnie Driver ("Good Will Hunting") was tapped for the key role of Abra Rice, who becomes Betty Anne’s best friend in law school. "I was focused on inhabiting the spirit of Abra. She's a very wry, very funny person, but she’s also very driven. She came to law later in her life like Betty Anne, and today Abra has more cases than any public defender working in Connecticut." Melissa Leo joined the cast after she was tapped for the role of Police Officer Nancy Taylor. "I think she was an extremely ambitious and bright woman. Everyone believes in themselves in one way or another and that's true of Nancy. I think my Nancy is somebody who hangs her hat on her own truth. She's never had a side to be on." Juliette Lewis (Iron Maven in "Whip It") plays one of Kenny's ex-girlfriends, Roseanna Perry. "I really like trying different things. I went about this much the same way I always go about a part. To me it’s like a pallet and using different colors for all these different emotions. A great character is all in the writing and this story is very rich and the scenes are really alive. It was a real challenge for me." Swank ("Insomnia") was impressed with the energy Lewis brought to the part. "I have always been a fan of Juliette and I think she has some scenes that almost steal the show." What's It All About?

Betty Anne was an unemployed high school dropout and a struggling single mom with none of the resources needed to fight a long legal battle. Until her older brother Kenny is arrested for murder and sentenced to life in prison in 1983. It was then, that Betty Anne, a Massachusetts wife and mother of two, dedicated her life to overturning his murder conviction. Convinced that her brother is innocent, Betty Anne puts herself through high school, college and, finally, law school in an eighteen year quest to free Kenny. With the help of best friend Abra Rice, Betty Anne pores through suspicious evidence mounted by small town cop Nancy Taylor, meticulously retracing the steps that led to Kenny's arrest. An absolute belief in her brother and her own quest for the truth, pushes Betty Anne and her support team to uncover the facts and utilize DNA evidence in the hope that finally, Kenny will be exonerated.

The Verdict "Playing Betty Anne Waters is a role that's tailor made for two time Oscar® winning actress Hilary Swank (2000 & '05), after all, Swank's own life story of pursuing an acting career, required most of the qualities that drove Waters to doggedly stick by her brother Kenny. Determination, courage, faith, sticking by your kin, despite the many obstacles life may throw in your path, can become powerful ingredients for a film, as is the case with "Conviction". Based on the true story of Betty Anne and her brother Kenny, this inspirational film tells the tale of an eighteen year quest to right a wrong, that required the mother of two, to go back to school, work her way through college, law school and then pass bar exams in two states. Now that may sound undeblievable to some, but it is a fact. Unlike many 'critics' I applaud director/producerTony Goldwyn for the restraint he has shown while helming the film. In a lesser directors hands, this could have become 'Erin Brockovich 2'. But thankfully, it didn't. Rockwell has to be admired for his performance as Kenny, who in real life is a much bigger guy. And cudos too, to three supporting actresses who play an important part in this gutsy tale: Minnie Driver, Melissa Leo and Juliette Lewis. "Conviction" holds your interest to the very end. SOLID 3 1/2 STARS." The Production Team

Director Written by Producers Original Music Cinematography Film Editor Casting Production Design Art Direction Set Decoration Costume Design

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Tony Goldwyn Pamela Gray Tony Goldwyn/Andrew S Karsch/Andrew Sugerman Paul Cantelon Adriano Goldman Jay Cassidy Kerry Barden/Carrie Ray/Paul Schnee Mark Ricker Stephanie Gilliam Rena DeAngelo Wendy Chuck

Who Is Playing Who?

Hilary Swank Sam Rockwell Minnie Driver Melissa Leo Thomas Mahard Owen Campbell Conor Donovan Rusty Mewha Marc Macaulay Bailee Madison Tobias Campbell Paul Burt Talia Balsam

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Betty Anne Waters Kenny Waters Abra Rice Nancy Taylor Law Professor Ben Richard Desk Sergeant Officer Boisseau Young Betty Anne Young Kenny Prison Guard 'Stash' Prosecuting Attorney

Run Time 107 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2011 - Fox Searchlight Films - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2011 - The Movie Pages & Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved. Protected by Australian & International Copyright, Trademark Laws & Intellectual Property Rights.