As reported in Variety, Melissa Leo, Frozen River star and recent first-time Oscar nominee, has signed on to the indie film Betty Ann Waters, joining Sam Rockwell, Hilary Swank and Minnie Driver. Longtime character actor Tony Goldwyn is set to direct the film – he has previously directed the Zach Braff-helmed The Last Kiss and a handful of Dexter episodes. He also directed the underrated Ashley/Hugh Jackman rom-com Someone Like You nearly a decade ago.
Here’s a rundown of the plot, courtesy of Variety reporter Dave McNary: ” ”Betty Ann Waters’ centers on an unemployed single mother who saw her brother begin serving a life sentence in 1983 for murder and robbery. Convinced that he was innocent, she earned a law degree and challenged the conviction with DNA evidence, resulting in her brother being freed in 2001.”
Swank is set to play the lead with Leo playing the solitary police officer bent on proving the man’s guilt. It’ll be interesting to see her as the antagonist.
I have always liked Goldwyn and feel he is a confident director capable of taken on this serious (and potentially Oscar-baiting) subject. Leo’s running hot right now and Swank can pretty much do no wrong all the time with the Academy (save The Reaping). And the more Sam Rockwell the better as far as I’m concerned.
What do you think? Does this film interest you?