MovieChat Forums > Conviction (2010) Discussion > So many things bugged me about this flic...

So many things bugged me about this flick

posted 13 years ago by jonieblon
4 replies | jump to latest

But first off...why the hell did she need law school? To simply go after a box of evidence? If in fact she used her law degree to any avail for her brother, this movie failed miserably to show it. She did not write one motion, or brief, or went before any judge and did not represent her brother at all before a court..she and her sassy law school friend simply uncovered a long ago box of evidence...any person with investigatory schools could do that..then get a lawyer if need be to have access to it. I really liked the premise of this movie and was really hoping to show how an single mother, blue collar from less than dubious background goes back to college and gets into law school and passes the Mass state bar and in the process of helping her wrongfully convicted brother..becomes an educated woman..but no...in fact in reality..she does all this...gets a box of evidence and to this day does not practice law. I think State of Mass should sue her for any financial aid she got.

Secondly..way too much time spent on the (way creepy) adolescent relationship between brother and sister. More time should've been spent on BettyAnn's struggle through school...and why her marriage failed? Seemed like a decent guy in the movie and all of a sudden he voices a concern she is sacrificing not on her life, but her family's life for her brother..and bam..he's gone.

Why have the magnificent Melissa Leo if you are not even going to use her? What was the motivation behind her framing him (which really probably wasn't a and out and out frame of a man they new was innocent..but more unfortunately cops get focused on one suspect and make the evidence "work" in their favor).

And finally..I agree with the fellow bar patron...who the hell brings a baby into a bar?? This was not the 60s...it was the 80s..a time when smoking, alcohol, and loud noises (don't care how much the baby dug the band) is not a place for a baby.

All in all...very compelling story...not very well told. Too much creepy back story of kids and not enough of the conspiracy and uncovering the truth that actually freed this man.

You pipple mek my ass twitch

[–] irish201 13 years ago

I agree that they spent to much on focusing on their brother/sister relationship, but I don't think all she did was get a box. I think that's all the film showed her doing. In real life she did a lot more then that. And while she doesn't practice law professionally she still does volunteer work as a lawyer for the innocence project.

I also would have liked to see more on the conspiracy of the whole thing with the police. An interesting piece of information is the woman that got him convicted, Nancy Taylor, made headlines with another of her convictions when DNA evidence proved a man innocent who she put a case together against in a rape. There was also questions in that case if she coerced statements. I read that in the Waters case Betty Ann later sued her in a civil trial on which she admitted there were fingerprints that proved Kenny Waters was not the killer and then hid or destroyed them or something basically to fit her other evidence together. She also made statements that she does not believe in DNA and it's not real science.

[–] jonieblon 13 years ago

You just made more of my points! They have Melissa Leo in the part...show the conspiracy! would have been a much more compelling movie. The strong bond that is between Betty Ann and her brother could have been shown quickly to explain why she was so ready to give up her entire life (and her marriage..and let's face it..kind of neglect her family) to free her brother.

And I do see she volunteers for the innocence projects and I certanly do not begrudge this woman living the life she chooses...but again..why did she have to go to law school??? If there are actual reasons for it in the freeing of her brother..the film did not show it.

You pipple mek my ass twitch

[–] PenTheater 12 years ago

they spent to (sic) much on focusing on their brother/sister relationship

really? that was the story as much as his and her "conviction". That was an amazing way as a direction in a movie to develop the characters and tell how they got to where there were. The editing of those stories alone deserves a nod.

sometimes you have to know the past to understand the situation. The story would not have worked without it.

[–] baconbit 12 years ago

Well then...why don't you become a director and make a remake ofthismovie! Let's see how well that does.

Because surely viewers want to watch someone go to law school! How EXCITING!

also love how you just sort of gloss oer her getting the box of evidence as not a big deal evne though it was the BIGGEST thing to happen in the case..and something she would not have been able to do without being his lawyer.