SYNOPSIS: Convinced that her brother is innocent, Betty Anne puts herself through high school, college and, finally, law school in an 18 year quest to free Kenny. With the help of best friend Abra Rice (Academy Award nominee Minnie Driver), Betty Anne pores through suspicious evidence mounted by small town cop Nancy Taylor (Academy Award nominee Melissa Leo), meticulously retracing the steps that led to Kenny's arrest. Belief in her brother – and her quest for the truth - pushes Betty Anne and her team to uncover the facts and utilize DNA evidence with the hope of exonerating Kenny. 

REVIEW: There is something about dramatic movies based on actual events that just get to me, in a good way. Movies like Angelina Jolie’s Changeling and Daniel Craig’s Defiance really left an impression on me. Now I can add this one to that list. As I watch these movies, I am amazed at the fact that something very similar actually happened. It just blows me away. If you feel the same way about movies based on true stories, then I highly recommend this moving story about a man convicted of a crime he did not commit and how far his sister went to prove that fact. I think I’m becoming more emotional as I age because I was teary eyed a few times during this film. The crime was gruesome, the framing was diabolical, the tribulation was devastating, the punishment for someone who was innocent was unbearable, the determination to resolve this injustice was steadfast, and the outcome was miraculous. What a range of emotions these people experienced and you will share those emotions with them as you watch this movie. The crime took place in 1980 in Massachusetts. Unfortunately for Kenny Waters (Sam Rockwell), because of his tainted history and criminal record, local law enforcement decided to pin this one on him. There was a strong case for the prosecution, but it was built mostly of lies. These were barely middle class Americans just trying to get by. Their lack of funds for a proper defense and the lack of DNA technology at the time really did him in. But when it seemed that all was lost, his sister Betty Anne (Hilary Swank) decided to take matters into her own hands. Both of the Waters siblings lived a troubled youth with practically non-existent parents. They basically raised each other and thus the unbreakable bond was formed. It is because of this bond that Betty Anne was so determined to free her brother that it literally became an obsession. 

There is no doubt that Hilary Swank is one of the best actresses of our time. She reinforced that statement with her performance in this movie. Will she get nominated for an Oscar for this role? Maybe. Is her performance Oscar-worthy? You better believe it. Sam Rockwell is no slouch either. Even though he hasn’t won an Oscar yet, he is still an excellent actor. I really like his acting style. These two paired up as the Waters siblings was right on. They were very natural with their roles, right down to the Massachusetts accent. The third piece of the puzzle was Minnie Driver as Abra Rice, Betty Anne’s co-counsel and friend. Together they are quite the dynamic duo and nothing will stop them. Minnie is the icing on this cake as she also delivers a strong performance in her supporting role. She has the ability to add some spark to whatever scene she is in. A smaller but still potent piece to the puzzle is contributed by Juliette Lewis as she plays Roseanna Perry, one of the witnesses for the prosecution. Even with the short amount of time on screen, she manages to leave a lasting impression. As you can tell, other than the incredible story, the best aspect of this film is the talented cast and they deliver. Director Tony Goldwyn also delivers on this production. This is easily his best major motion picture direction yet.