They got me.

I had an inkling of an idea of what to expect in “Conviction,” a new drama from Fox Searchlight pictures about Kenny Waters (Sam Rockwell), a man convicted of murder and the desperate lengths his sister Betty Anne (Hillary Swank) goes to in order to free him.  These desperate lengths include Betty Anne, a high school drop out, finishing her GED and proceeding all the way through Law School to be his lawyer and fought for his freedom. 

The film is based on a true story, and fits squarely in the drama category of films – it does not try and reinvent the genre, change how dramas are told, or throw in any new 3D effects.  It just tells a good story.

As with all true stories, the audience becomes engrossed in one question – how much of this is true, and what has been altered for storytelling and dramatic effect?  Reason being, the basic heart of the story seems so remarkable.  However, leaving those reservations at the door can be a prerequisite to enjoying or being let down by films of this type.

Let’s talk about the good – “Conviction” is thankfully rated R.  “Thankfully” because the characters talk and behave like imperfect human beings.  The movie doesn’t make Kenny (played wonderfully by Sam Rockwell) look like a clearly innocent good guy, which makes us empathize all the more with her critics in the film.  He is a tarnished character with a short temper, and there are points in the film when we believe that Kenny committed the murder.  Rockwell is the perfect choice for this kind of a character – he is immediately likeable but has a complicated side to him as well.  You still root for the guy even if doubt lingers in your mind.  In one scene, Kenny gets into a little bit of a problem in a public setting, only to immediately win the public over with some hilarious behavior.  It’s a convincing scene.

Also good is the rest of the acting.  Hillary Swank may often choose terrible movies to be in, but she is seemingly reliable in all she does.  I forgot through most of the movie that I was watching her on screen, she was so immersed in the role.  Another positive is the multiple timelines being shown and cut together.  Wisely, the movie is not told in a linear fashion – we jump around through various timelines and it allows important information to be revealed as need be.

Last, while screenplay and direction are solid, the story – especially assuming it’s mostly true – is great…but complicated.  The emotions run deep – learning about Kenny and Betty Anne’s home life is painful (I’d reveal more, but it’s too much spoiler).  Aside from the fact that they are related, seeing what they endure helps us understand their deep bond and love for one another.  I cried several times during the film, but I don’t feel the filmmakers exploited it near as much as they could have.  No sweeping music and overlong crying scenes make their way into the film, which makes the emotional climaxes feel that much more authentic.  Speaking of music, I thought the music was outstanding – simple and nuanced, memorable and moving.

Where the film struggles is in its task – the story and the events take place over a period of 25 years.  Only so much of that story can only be told in 2 hours.  Characters have to be cut down to their essence.  We see Betty Anne’s husband, a man portrayed as caring ultimately loses patience.  Betty Anne’s kids are written and portrayed somewhat ideally, but the reality is that they had to endure some major sacrifices of their own in order for their Mother’s cause to be met.  Additionally, though we learn that Betty Anne and Kenny have 7 other siblings, not once do they show up as adults in the film.  The script does everything it can to portray the events of 25 years into 2 hours admirably, but certain details have to be assumed given its task.

The ugly of the film is how you will end up feeling about what Betty Anne does.  On the one hand, it’s beautiful.  The love she pours out for her brother Kenny is overwhelming and to know it is true makes it all the more potent.  It’s affirming to see love in the movies that isn’t based on sex.  It’s the love of family, perhaps the most resonant and indisputable of human loves.  But the ugly of it is that she put her kids and husband through everything in order to show that love.  It is hard to know what to do with that.  It doesn’t make the outcome easy, which is to the film’s credit.

So they got me.  I cried during several scenes and had to regain my composure.  It’s a complicated story, condensed into an unreasonable amount of time but it ultimately tells a great story.  It certainly highlights the love of a brother and sister, and that is an amazing love to see and feel.  This is a film I highly recommend seeing if you are in the mood for an uplifting drama with well acted characters and an at times complicated moral center.  It might get you too.

Also, try and avoid the trailer for Conviction.  It’s a tad schmaltzy for what the film actually is.