I got on Hilary Swank's case a while back for sticking with the same romantic comedy nonsense she handled in P.S. I Love You, and an anti-fat message in at the same time, when she decided to adapt French Women Don't Get Fat as a movie. But now I'm almost as annoyed that she's getting back on that blatant gunning-for-Oscar track, playing yet another hard-boiled woman with a job to get done in Betty Anne Waters.
The true story-- naturally-- is about a high school dropout who works her way through college in order to represent her brother, who she believes was unfairly convicted of murder. You can't deny the movie's similarities to Erin Brockovich-- working-class female character, legal drama, character's name as title-- which isn't exactly a bad thing. But doesn't it feel a little tired?
Variety writes that Tony Goldwyn will direct, and while he's mostly been doing TV episodes in the last few years, he directed a movie I love, 1999's A Walk on the Moon. And hey, if you're going to make a woman about a tough chick, you may as well go with the woman who's practically copyrighted the role.
