By: Karyn Cook
Based on true events and accounts, SING SING is sizzling story telling at its best about a theater troupe of incarcerated inmates in one of America’s most dangerous maximum security prisons as they produce a theatrical stage show about life in prison. Their dynamic, creative and collective effort results in a profound, potentially life enhancing measure of relief that helps inmates to transcend the harsh realities of prison life. The plot and the narrative also, in subtle but resonating ways, offers a lot for audiences in the way they face the day to day challenges of to their freedom in their un-incarcerated lives.
The film is based on a real-life rehabilitation program and features a cast that includes formerly incarcerated actors involved in the project and stars professional actors Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin, Sean San Jose.
SING SING is directed by Greg Kwedar, who co-wrote the screenplay and co-produced it with Clint Bentley based on the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at SING SING Maximum Security Prison.
107 Minutes; R rate. Drama
Director: Greg Kwedar
Writers: John H. Richardson, Brent Buell and Clint Bentley
Stars: Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin, Sean San Jose
Producers: Clint Bentley | Greg Kwedar | Monique Walton
Composer: Bryce Dessner
Cinematographer: Pat Scola
Editor: Parker Laramie
Production Designer: Ruta Kiskyte
IN THEATERS NYC
Angelika Film Center & Café 18 W. Houston St.
AMC Lincoln Square, 1998 Broadway
Colman Domingo’s winning streak continues with his co-starring role in A24’s SING SING. He plays John “Divine G” Whitfield, thus Divide G, incarcerated in one of American’s most notorious maximum security prisons for a murder he didn't commit. Divine G, like his comrades in incarceration, finds purpose and salvation performing in the theatre group, telling this story of resilience, humanity and the transformative power of art.
Divine G’s foe-turned-friend Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin, played by Clarence Maclin, is arguably the breakout star of the film with him, one the one hand, a a seemingly incorrigible thug who, on the other hand, has the heart and soul of someone who really wants a better life for himself.
The journey of Divine G and Divine Eye to their next parole hearing, discussing their journeys in the theater production held at the jail has breath-taking moments. The director of that theater program is Brent Buell played by actor Paul Raci.
All of the inmates except Coleman Domnigo’s “Divine G” are played by formerly incarcerated men who were involved in the real-life project. One segment of the film features inmates auditioning for roles and in a scene of them discussing their previous acting experiences, one replies, “I’ve been playing a role my whole life.”
The film is superbets at developing and showing multiple sides of the characters, while also producing platonic male friendships.
The film’s authenticity about the cruel, horrifically scary and harsh realities of life in a maximum prison is spot on. SING SING also, however, with equal panache and sizzling mesmerizing effectiveness, says a lot about the potential of humanity in the face of arduous challenges.
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