Entertain Me

By Enid Spitz -- Staff Writer, Megan Osborn -- Opinions Editor

 

GO SEE ... CONVICTION

"Conviction," starring Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell, promises from the beginning to be intense and emotional, and it delivers. The whole plot — an innocent man convicted of murder and his sister's long struggle to liberate him — is filled with family drama, blood, sweat and tears.

But it is by no means an action-packed movie. About halfway through, I must admit, I got tired of the emotional roller coaster. I kind of wanted to get off the ride before we even got to the one big drop. I guess that means the filmmakers did their job by making me feel the same frustration that Betty Anne Waters felt while trying to free her brother. There are only so many jail visitation scenes I can watch in one movie before I start to feel pretty trapped myself.

However, Hilary Swank's acting doesn't fail to impress. From her heavy Massachusetts accent to convincing emotional outbreaks, Swank is undoubtedly the star of this film.

Rockwell is also compelling in the difficult role of an innocent man whose questionable character makes you almost hate to love him. Minnie Driver, filling the token best friend role, brings a bit of fun and liveliness to an otherwise bleak film.

Of course, there's very little doubt that a film like this will end with the inevitable uplifting scene. Throughout all those jail visitations I found myself wondering just how long until that scene came. Based on a true story, I appreciated the fact that the ending wasn't way too sappy. Like most films of this genre, it praises the incredible achievements of its characters' real-life counterparts. If you're looking for a tense emotional drama, "Conviction" is for you.

– Enid Spitz

WATCH ... THE TOWN

"The Town" has all the makings of a triumph with a heart-wrenching storyline and breath-taking action sequence. It would be an all-time great film if it didn't so tragically evoke the memory of the multi-Oscar award winning film, "The Departed."

There are some differences, but the main idea is the same. Affleck plays the main character, a smart and likeable guy, trapped in organized crime, also in a tumultuous and twisted relationship with a woman who doesn't exactly know who he is… This echoes loudly of "The Departed," or at least its essential themes.

The problem, mainly, is that every scene that hearkens back to these themes was done better in "The Departed."

Affleck, who is both the star and the director of the film, illustrates a great deal of growth as an actor but still has signs of immaturity as a director. Much of the movie is shoot-em-up drama, coupled with some intense bank-robbing scenes which are captivating with their detail. What is missing, however, are longer scenes in which characters can be established and actors can show their true talent. It seems that there were many good actors in this movie, however, due to the director's apparent eagerness to fill time with shoot-outs, the audience barely gets to see the true caliber of the cast.

"The Town" will not disappoint for those going for an intense crime action-thriller. But it definitely tries, and fails, to be more than that. Unfortunately for Affleck, it's almost impossible to compete with Scorsese, even if you grew up in Boston.

– Megan Osborn