Convicted (2004)

Charlotte Cory (Connie Nielsen) is a convicted murderer spending her final days on Death Row. Her hopes and dreams are as lifeless as the grey walls that imprison her, until the letters of a stranger, Frank Nitzche (Aiden Quinn), awakens passion in her she thought had died long ago. While her attorney (Kelly Preston) desperately tries to appeal the verdict, Frank realizes he has fallen in love with Charlotte, and discovers that there are untold secrets behind the tragic circumstances of her imprisonment. Her life is in his hands as Frank races to find the truth that can save Charlotte before it's too late.

Conviction

Aidan Quinn is great as a washed out attorney that now sells death row inmate letters to the media. He corresponds with inmates to get their last letter to sell for a great deal of money. When he meets a woman on death row, played by Connie Nielsen, his attitude changes and we see there is more to him than first thought. This has a good cast and excellent acting. The drama becomes a thriller as the clock ticks down till her execution. When Quinn finds evidence that she in fact is not guilty of kidnapping or murdering a little girl. It may not have lots of scenery but it makes up for it in drama. I highly recommend you at least rent it. I think there is a good chance you will want to buy it. Not appropriate for young children. If you enjoy this be sure to catch "Perfect Witness". September 7, 2007

Truly excellent on many levels.

The performances are outstanding and the chemistry does sizzle -- but also wonderful are the scenes with the blind. There were haunting moments, poetic moments. The story itself is rather beside the point, but still interesting. This film is all about the visuals, the acting, the mood. An unexpected delight that I saw on Lifetime, of all places, this weekend. Now I want to buy it for friends. August 14, 2006

Quiet Tone Poem in Muskogee

Back in 1984, the hit at the Canne Film Festival was another quiet and cerebral film called Paris, Texas - directed by the German director Wim Wenders (but that was then, and this is now). Here, we get the Danish director Billy August creating a hypnotic imaging of desolate Oklahoma small towns, an innocent woman on death row, and the various players around her story in the last days leading up to her execution. As always, Aidan Quinn is just right for his part as a complex lawyer turned tabloid huckster and alcoholic, who finally finds redemption in the last motel on the rain slick streets. But the real standout here is the always underrated Connie Nielsen, who smolders in this performance and the chemistry between her and Quinn is what great movies (and their moments) are made of. I guess in this age of mindless reality TV, films of this quiet beauty, intelligence, and grace are just too slow, pondering, and challenging for today's audiences. Too bad - this film is a keeper and a real gem! November 9, 2005

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