Sing Sing

Rating: 8.7 Overall, a powerful movie that shows how inmates are still humans despite their mistakes as the movie uses alumni from Sing Sing's RTA program to deliver this strong message on redemption, all lead by a great performance from Colman Domingo.

Very Good Direction (The direction on a macroscale is very good as they really set the scene and the weight the setting has on the characters, especially how they are secluded from the free world; the direction on a microscale is great as you see all the performances elevated in the interpersonal scenes since this is where you see the trauma these characters are facing as they fight for their humanity; the storytelling is good as he lets the actors play and be storytellers (using their personal experiences to shape their characters); he builds tension very well as the whole movie is about building an emotional connection with these characters, and you are invested in what happens with their fight for their freedom), Very Good Acting (Great from Colman Domingo (A real commanding performance as he is the leader of the cast and brings out the best in everyone, showing a wide range of emotions to show how the characters are still human beings despite their mistakes), Good from the rest of the cast (The entire cast gives very grounded, multidimensional performances as they use their personal experiences in Sing Sing and RTA to create their characters and convey their messages/struggles)), Very Good Story (The concept is very unique as it is a semi-autobiographical take on finding a safe place in a traumatic environment, and the movie shows how the characters continue to fight for their freedom and humanity; the plot structure is laid out very well; flow between sequences is good; character writing is great as you care for these characters and their struggle, and by the end, you root for them to grow and earn their freedom), Very Good Screenplay (The dialogue is good for the most part (even though it is a bit overt at times) and emulates how people in a maximum security penitentiary would talk, and the dialogue is filled with a lot of emotion at times that invokes feelings out of the audience; the humor is used well to help lighten the mood and show multiple dimensions of the characters; the symbolism is heavily prevalent as the movie is a huge metaphor about finding humanity in a place that tries to take it from you, and it deals a lot with how humans may be flawed people, but there is still good in those who try to redeem themselves for the better; the foreshadowing is decently prevalent), Good Score (Helps with establishing the mood), Good to Very Good Cinematography (Filled with a lot of beautiful shots and shows the large distance between the penitentiary and the free world), Good Editing (Used well in the context of the movie), , , Very Good Production Design (They send a strong message by filming the movie at Sing Sing (and this most likely helps the cast as they convey the trauma they felt from being there)), Pacing is the right pace, Climax is very emotional as it is a key point in many of the characters' lives as they fight for their freedom as well as their peace, Tone is very emotional as the semi-biographical feel paints this drama as very grounded (but still has other flavors to holistically portray the characters), It is very powerful that they had the cast filled with alumni from the program as it made the performances feel very realistic; saw the US premiere at SXSW.

Caught this film last night at a blind preview at our local theater complex. Probably wouldn't have opted to see it if I'd have known what it was but I'm grateful I did. Moving, honest portrayals by some of the participants in the program it depicts (particularly Clarence Maclin and Sean Johnson) and the work of Colman Domingo are it's strengths. The cinematography and direction add to the sincerity of the performances by not overwhelming them and taking an approach that feels like the viewer is witnessing the conversations and events instead of consuming them. Thought provoking. Understated. Sincere. Not flawless but really well done.

When everything gets taken away from one's life, it must be nearly impossible to find something that provides a reason to carry on. So it is for the incarcerated, individuals faced with an uncertain future of indeterminate duration. And, under conditions as difficult as these, realistically speaking, one can't help but wonder whether rehabilitation will actually pan out as a viable option. But, for some, there's hope through a seemingly unlikely source - the arts, as chronicled in this fact-based drama about the participants in the inmate theater program at New York's Sing Sing maximum security prison. With a cast featuring both professional actors and current and former members of this gifted incarcerated troupe, viewers witness the highs and lows of these men as they strive to bring meaning - and hope - to their time behind bars. Director Greg Kwedar's second feature provides an up-close look at the lives of these aspiring actors, both in terms of their on-stage pursuits and their everyday lives under conditions most of us probably can't even begin to imagine. While the picture's narrative is admittedly a little thin and meandering at times, that's more than made up for in the film's superb performances, led by Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin, Paul Raci and Sean San Jose, who, like virtually everyone else in this fine ensemble, bring an unmatched depth to their characters and interpersonal relationships, easily among the best work in these areas that I've seen in quite some time. In doing so, this offering also takes audiences on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, from uplifting joys to heartfelt disappointments, revealing the tremendous strength of character driving these individuals. That's particularly poignant knowing that many of those in this production can relate to their circumstances from firsthand experience, thereby infusing this release with a level of unabridged authenticity seldom seen on the big screen. For its efforts, "Sing Sing" stands a good chance of being one of 2024's awards season contenders, especially in the acting categories, showing us what's possible when we allow our passions to surface for their own sake, especially when we have nothing to lose by doing so, a genuine source of inspiration from whom we might least likely expect it.

"We're here to become human again." Rehabilitation Through the Arts at Sing Sing Correctional Facility

Occasionally a movie comes on the scene, and not usually in the summer, so naturalistic and unadorned, so brimming with humanity and the restorative nature of the arts, that it cries out, "Don't forget me at Oscar time!" Such is Sing Sing, set in 2005, when John H, Richardson's Esquire article The Sing Sing Follies was published.

Notorious as the prison was, its theater activity, like the therapy program at Folsom prison, provided a ragtag group the chance to mount theater productions aimed at elevating their spirits and their very souls. The sterling docudrama, headed by Oscar-winning Colman Domingo as founder Divine G, and real-life Clarence "Divine Eye" Macklin as Divine Eye, is so authentic and artful, that nothing this year can quite compare. Most of the cast either are alumni or current residents of the prison, where "Kill or be Killed" was a disturbing mantra, changing now as: "To put on nice clothes and dance around. To enjoy the things that are not in our reality."

The troupe creates a bizarre production, Breakin' the Mummy's Cord, that includes among others Shakespeare, time travel, and Freddy Kreuger. The transformative element is best exemplified by Divine Eye, who discovers an artistic side that far eclipses any success he may have had as a covert art dealer.

Never during the film does even the muted violence of many other top-rated tales like Shawshank or Alcatraz appear, assuring the elevation of spirit that accompanies the arts. "Sing Sing" is itself a work of art crying out to be considered the best movie of the year so far and one of the finest prison movies ever offered on the screen.

"I don't write comedies. I write satires," Divine G.

While this new independent film distributed by A24 is set inside a prison in New York, it is less of a "prison movie" in the conventional sense and more of an emotionally impactful and inspiring drama about how art--particularly theater--can rehabilitate people in need of rehabilitation. The film's depiction of this issue is genuine and heartfelt, and forms the cornerstone to a generally engaging story. Colman Domingo plays the protagonist, who is incarcerated but helps lead the prison theatre group.

The film takes a bit of time to truly get going, but it still remains gripping and engaging. Domingo's performance is great, showing understated emotion in a way that makes a strong impact on the viewer, while also radiating a deep sense of compassion. The supporting actors are all excellent as well, and many of the supporting cast members apparently have been formerly incarcerated. The incorporation of the theatre program into the narrative creates comic relief, but also pathos and powerful bonding between the inmates and the program director. "Sing Sing" isn't perfect, as the character development of the supporting characters could have been improved, but its beating heart and thoughtful, humane tone is genuinely moving and memorable. Gladly recommended. 8/10.