Sing Sing: Film Review
Colman Domingo has been consistently delivering stunning performances for years so it’s no surprise that he does so again in the beautiful drama Sing Sing.
The film is set in Sing Sing, a maximum-security prison in New York state, and tells the story of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) programme, which gives inmates the opportunity to express themselves creatively through acting. Domingo stars as John ‘Divine G’ Whitfield, an RTA veteran who often writes the plays they stage inside the facility. However, this year, newcomer Clarence ‘Divine Eye’ Maclin (played by himself) suggests putting on a comedy so their leader Brent Buell (Paul Raci) conjures up a time-travelling musical comedy called Breakin’ the Mummy’s Code.
Whitfield is typically given the most meaty dramatic part, but Maclin is given that role for this production. The kind-hearted Whitfield helps Maclin get to grips with his Shakespearean monologue and slowly forms a friendship with the tough drug seller.
Sing Sing is a profound, beautiful film that depicts the prisoners as well-rounded, three-dimensional people. More often than not, these characters are shown as stereotypes on screen and this film proves there is more to them. More than 85% of the cast were formerly incarcerated at Sing Sing and part of RTA during their time there, with many playing versions of themselves. This makes the film feel very grounded and authentic because we are watching real people. Only Raci and Domingo (plus a few others) are professionals (they play real people too).
As someone who used to take part in amateur theatre, I love how this film shows the transformative power of the arts. Being involved in RTA gives the inmates a sense of purpose and responsibility, forces them to work as a team, allows them to form friendships and helps them freely express their feelings through acting. It’s also a lot of fun, as we can see for ourselves as we watch them bring to life this absurd, nonsensical comedy.
Domingo was nominated for an Oscar for Rustin this year and I believe he can do so again with this. He gives quite a subtle performance for the majority of the film and works as a member of the ensemble but there are moments when the system gets on top of Whitfield and his calm demeanour cracks. Those scenes floored me emotionally. He forms a heartwarming on-screen friendship with Maclin, who is remarkable in his first-ever screen role.
Sing Sing is a beautiful film that offers a refreshing counterpoint to the typical on-screen depiction of prison life.
In cinemas from Friday 30th August
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