CONVICTION (15): On General Release From Friday 14th January

Don’t you just love Oscar-bait movies? You know the type: the lead actress is often playing against her looks, working with an accent and playing a ballsy, real-life character (see The Hours, The Blind Side, Erin Brockovich etc). And since it the Oscars are right around the corner, February 27th, it was only a matter of time before the next sassy, take-no-prisoners female lead movie reared it’s frizzy-haired head. Cue Hilary Swank playing a convict’s sister-turned-lawyer in Conviction.

Although your first instinct might be to dismiss this one as a made-for-TV movie and you wouldn’t be too far off the mark but somehow Swank and co are able to make the best of a fairly mediocre script and boring direction. Do It!