Director: Greg Kwedar
Cast: Coleman Domingo, Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin, Sean San Jose,
Paul Raci, David “Dap” Giraudy, Patrick “Preme” Griffin, Sean “Dino” Johnson,
Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez
Screenplay: Greg Kwedar, Clint Bentley
Running Length: 1:47
MPAA Classification: R (Language)
U.S Release Date: 1-17-25 (Wide)
Genre: Drama
There have been many critically acclaimed prison dramas — from TV shows like "Oz," "Prison Break," and "Orange is the New Black" to films like "The Shawshank Redemption," and "Cool Hand Luke" (to name a few), but I've never seen one quite like Sing Sing. Instead of focusing on the harsh realities of prison life and the violence that's typically associated with it, Sing Sing attempts to tell a different, more intimate story — one that blends factual accounts of the men who were part of the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility with fictional details.
What makes the film unique, however, is that only Coleman Domingo (who plays the lead character, John "Divine G" Whitfield), Sean San Jose (playing Mike Mike), and Paul Raci (playing the director Brent Buell) are professional actors. The rest of the cast consists of men who were actually part of the Sing Sing RTA program, giving the film an almost documentary-like feel. On top of that, one of the men, Clarence "Divine Eye" Maclin, contributed to the screenplay to incorporate his own story, lending an air of authenticity to the proceedings.
The main focus of the story is on Divine G, a man who was wrongfully incarcerated for a crime he did not commit. He finds a purpose in participating in the RTA program, where he works closely with fellow inmate Mike Mike and theater director Brent Buell. As the group starts preparing for the next production, they recruit a new inmate named Divine Eye who is initially resistant. At first, both him and Divine G clash over what the next production should be, but eventually they work out their differences and begin to form a bond. Just when things seem to be looking up, two events cause Divine G's world to crumble and almost derail the production.
A lot of praise has been heaped upon Coleman Domingo's performance (he was rightfully nominated for Best Actor), and deservedly so. The way he captures his character's eagerness and passion for the program in the beginning, to his eventual descent into depression and anger is nothing short of astounding. Arguably, his best moment comes during his character's clemency hearing, where he slowly begins to realize that he might never walk again as a free man. His expression is heartbreaking. As phenomenal as Domingo is, however, what surprised me the most was how natural the performances from all the former real-life inmates felt. Had they not been as good as they are, it would have limited the effectiveness of the film and ruined the illusion, but it's to their credit that it all works.
It's unfortunate the way A24 has handled the release of this film. It originally premiered back at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023 before being accorded a limited release nearly a year later in July 2024, where it reached less than 200 theaters during its run (and quickly faded away). It never reached streaming and hung in limbo so that A24 could position it in conjunction with the Oscar nominations announcements, hoping that it would give the film a boost for when it was rereleased on January 17th. It's truly a shame because this film deserves to be seen. In a time when it seems like the world is heading in the wrong direction, and we're constantly being bombarded with so much negativity, it's nice to come across something as uplifting and hopeful as Sing Sing. Those expecting something more gritty might be disappointed, but that's not the goal here. By focusing on the program and the way it has changed the lives of those involved, director Greg Kwedar and his crew have crafted something special. This is a singularly powerful motion picture and unquestionably one of the year's best.
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