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8 the currentNovember 2010entertainment‘Conviction’ actors will turn headsby Timothy Long“Conviction” can be seen in different ways, from abrother’s legal conviction of murder, to a sister’s convictionthat her brother is innocent. Hilary Swank andSam Rockwell tug at heartstrings with Oscar-worthyperformances, and the well-written screenplay succeedsas an “incredible true story.”In 1980, the town of Ayer, Massachusetts finds itselfin the midst of a brutal murder. A woman namedKatharina Brow is found in her home with more than30 stab wounds. Kenneth “Muddy” Waters (Rockwell),a small-time troublemaker, is the usual suspect formany small crimes in the city, but this time is different.Kenneth is convicted swiftly of first degree murder andarmed robbery with circumstantial evidence, and hissister Betty Ann(Swank) takes it upon herself to fightfor her brother, sacrificing her life for him, in an attemptto free Kenny from his life sentence.A waitress and high-school dropout, she puts herlife on hold to get a law degree, starting with a GED.Betty Ann’s conviction, dedication, and undying loyaltyto Kenneth, no matter the circumstances, place astrain on her marriage and the relationship with hertwo children. Swank, two-time Academy Award win-‘Paranormal Activity 2’ out-frightens its predecessorby Louis KemnerThe domestic horror roars back to theaters in“Paranormal Activity 2,” a prequel to the 2009 flick“Paranormal Activity” (written and directed by OrenPeli).“PA2”captures all the atmospheric horror of thefirst film, and manages to tie in the first movie’s plotwhile providing an utterly terrifying hour and a halfof film.The first movie starred the young California coupleMicah (Micah Sloat) and Katie (Katie Featherston),who had to endure repeated haunting in theirsuburban home. Like the first movie, “ParanormalActivity 2” is presented entirely in the form of footagetaken by the family’s camera and security cams, afilmmaking technique that “PA2” masterfully executesner for Best Actress, is no stranger to playing a truestoryrole. From “Freedom Writers” to “Amelia,” Swankhas portrayed real people with resounding success.Sam Rockwell(“Green Mile”), is superb as Kenneth.This role escalates Rockwell to a new level, as he captivateswith his effective show of emotion. Over threedifferent time lines-–childhood, the time of the murderand conviction, and years later as Betty Ann worksto make the horror utterly convincing. Theaudience watches grainy night-vision feedsof doors slamming themselves open andshut, the family dog being attacked by theinvisible marauder, and even the toddlergetting dragged out of his crib by the unseenbeast.The acting is absolutely convincing andemotional, adding credibility to the wholefilm. This movie stars the neighbors of theoriginal couple, with a full family includinga toddler named Hunter, who has a significantrole in the movie, despite his age.The movie begins with the family memberstrying out their new camcorder duringan outdoor party, and when they goback inside they find their house trashed,making a break-in seem likely. The family goes onto install a number of monitor cameras throughoutthe house to prevent further break-ins, but they’reup against something entirely different from whatthey expect. A demonic presence has established itself,and during the nighttime hours of the next fewweeks, there are mysterious thumps throughout thehouse, doors slam closed on their own, and peopleand the family dog are dragged around by an invisibleforce that’s hell-bent on tormenting them constantly.The family members are terrified, but theycurrent@mcckc.eduMCT Campusto save her brother–-Rockwelland Swank create a palpablebrother and sister relationship.Supporting actor MinnieDriver, invisibly quietafter her Oscar-nominatedrole in “Good Will Hunting”in 1997, plays spectacularlyalongside Swank,displaying a charismatic attitudein the role.While there is melodramaticwriting at times,screenwriter Pamela Gray,along with the direction ofTony Goldwyn (“The LastKiss”), is effective in showing of Kenneth as a fun-loving,well-liked person.It is with the emotional gripping story, with rivetingperformances by the main cast that assure Convictionwill more than make back its $12.5 million budget andturn heads among Oscar voters for Sam Rockwell andHilary Swank.MCT Campusare helpless to identify or stop the culprit.The ending of the original “Paranormal Activity”left some questions lingering, but all of those questionsand more are answered in “PA2”.The teenage daughter, Ali (Molly Ephraim), andher friend believe that the culprit is a demon that desiresthe child Hunter as repayment for a deal that oneof Ali’s ancestors had made with the demon. Despitethat knowledge, the haunts intensify, and by the end,“Paranormal Activity 2”’s events tie in directly withthe first film. It’s a horror film not to be missed.