Writer/Director: Greg Kwedar
Starring: Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin and Paul Raci
‘A Powerful Prison Drama’
Wrongful conviction is a painful problem which impacts inmates in prison. America has made an image of being a nation where inmates that experience wrongful conviction rarely achieve redemption. An unfortunate reality in America, wrongful conviction often causes prisoners to endure a dilemma. American prisons have long had a habit of incarcerating inmates for crimes they did not commit. In a downtrodden criminal justice system where people are mistreated, it is common for prisoners to be incarcerated for crimes which they have not committed. A grim issue causing prisoners to experience painful tension, wrongful conviction has become a sad reality in U.S. prison. No matter how hard they often try, the chances of prisoners getting out of wrongful conviction are rarely high. It’s often easier said than done for inmates to cope with the challenges of wrongful conviction causing tension. Due to the sensitive nature of an issue that causes resentment, wrongful conviction is rarely portrayed with accuracy in the medium of entertainment.
Few films I’ve seen have captured frightening consequences of wrongful imprisonment as powerfully as “Sing Sing”. Released in 2023, Greg Kwedar’s Oscar-nominated movie offers an authentic portrait of prisoners wrongfully convicted of crimes they haven’t committed. Packed with breathtaking production design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best prison dramas ever made. At the centre of it all is a strong performance by Colman Domingo, who portrays a prisoner that faces wrongful conviction causing sorrow. Although “Sing Sing” is a mesmerizing prison drama, it isn’t a flawless film. It suffers from uneven pacing which tests viewers’ patience. Nevertheless, it offers moving entertainment which fans of prison dramas would be able to resist.
Based on true events, “Sing Sing” tells a story of an inmate wrongfully accused of committing crimes in prisons that are frightening. Colman Domingo plays Divine G, an African-American man wrongfully accused of crimes he hasn’t committed in prisons facing a decline. Divine G is a righteous man that is determined to prove his innocence. Divine G has all but lost hope in a prison where inmates often experience grim wrongful conviction. However, Divine G’s life forever changes when he discovers the power of theatre. Just when hope appears to be lost, Divine G finds solace in performing. Divine G finds staging a play to be an effective way of dealing with prison life that comes with a grim price to pay. As all odds are stacked against his favour, Divine G begins to wonder whether it’s truly possible to recover from a prison that causes disaster. Finding joy in the process of acting, Divine G wonders whether it’s possible to achieve redemption in a grim prison which is frightening.
Greg Kwedar is a newcomer towards stories of prison. Before he directed “Sing Sing”, Kwedar has never crafted a movie about prison in his career before. It marked the filmmakers’s first directorial debut and foray into the struggle of prisons in America. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the barriers experienced by prisoners that face wrongful conviction but he succeeded tremendously. Through captivating cinematography, Kwedar captures the tension that prisoners in a corrupt institution are often facing. Kwedar successfully uses breaking the fourth wall shots to capture prisons auditioning for a theatre play. For instance, the fourth wall breaks elevate the audition scene. During this unforgettable scene, Divine G and his inmates audition for a theatrical play. One appreciates fourth wall shots capturing the experiences of prisoners facing tensions. Breaking the fourth wall is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street” demonstrated, fourth wall shots enhance commemorated Wall Street biopics. Nevertheless, it works well in this film. Through breathtaking visuals, the filmmaker captures tensions commemorated prisoners which face wrongful conviction in prisons are often facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Sing Sing” that merits appreciation is the production design. From a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well made. Kwedar’s decisions to shoot the movie in real American prisons is risky but works tremendously. Inspired with Frank Darabont’s iconic film “The Shawshank Redemption”, Kwedar expertly uses settings of real-life prisons to capture inmates seeking redemption. For instance, the location of the real prison elevates the argument scene. In this memorable scene, Divine G has a tense argument with his fellow prisoner Divine Eye that doesn’t want to participate in a theatre group. One appreciates locations of prisons capturing tensions inmates facing wrongful conviction are experiencing. Real-life prisons are tricky settings to use in movies. However, it works immensely in this movie. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Bryce Dessner’s music is key towards the success of the movie. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that prisoners bear. Through powerful production design, Kwedar captures lives of prisoners that face wrongful conviction causing a decline.
Storytelling is one of the reasons why “Sing Sing” is a captivating prison drama which is compelling. The movie is beautifully written, and effectively uses dramatic monologues to capture the lives of prisoners reflecting on their past lives. Inspired by Frank Darabont’s “The Green Mile”, Kwedar successfully uses dramatic monologues capturing the lives of prisoners facing wrongful conviction which is hostile. For instance, dramatic monologues elevate the group therapy scene. During this unforgettable scene, Divine G and his fellow inmates share personal stories about joyous lives they once lived before prison sentences. Through bold dramatic monologues, Kwedar creates compelling prisoners that audiences can easily relate to. Dramatic monologues are complex techniques to use in movies. As Tom Hooper’s “Les Miserables” claimed, dramatic monologues elevate Broadway musical stage adaptations. Kenneth Branagh’s “Murder on the Orient Express” suggested, monologues elevate classic literature adaptations. That being said, it works immensely in this movie. Using stunning storytelling, Kwedar captures prisoners using art to cope with prisons that are frightening.
One appreciate amazing performances.
Colman Domingo delivers one of his greatest career performances as Divine G. Domingo first achieved stardom for playing musicians in Broadway adaptations. With “Sing Sing”, however, he took on his most emotional role. It isn’t simple to portray an African American prisoner facing wrongful conviction but he succeeded tremendously. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most iconic role. It’s a role that gave the actor a chance to showcase rare emotional range that he hadn’t shown in his career before. With mesmerizing expressions, he captures angst, desperation and grief of a prisoner which faced wrongful conviction. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most commemorated actors in the industry today.
The supporting cast is spectacular and also worthy of appreciation. Clarence Maclin is captivating, bringing charisma to a prisoner frustrated with his prison sentence which causes a traumatic experience. Paul Raci is phenomenal, capturing the authority of a theatre director which assists prisoners to cope with adversity. Lastly, Sean San Jose merits appreciation. As a depressed prisoner, he brings heartbreaking emotions toward the movie.
Finally, “Sing Sing” will earn the appreciation of everyone for capturing the tensions which wrongfully accused inmates are facing. Unlike most movies about prison, it tackles strong themes that everyone would relate to. The film tackles strong themes including identity, justice and trauma which would resonate with everyone. It delivers a strong message about wrongful conviction which would definitely resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Sing Sing” is one of those rare commemorated prison movies everyone would adore.
Although “Sing Sing” is a captivating prison drama, it isn’t a flawless movie. If there’s a drawback to the movie, it suffers from an uneven pacing. Kwedar’s decision to integrate subplots about deaths into the film is bold but doesn’t entirely succeed. Therefore, scenes focusing on the death of inmates aren’t as engaging as Divine G’s journey to discover his identity. Therefore, “Sing Sing” can’t quite capture the hardships that commemorated prisoners which are wrongfully accused of crimes in America are often facing.
Nevertheless, fans of Colman Domingo would appreciate “Sing Sing” and so will audiences seeking meaningful entertainment. A riveting masterpiece about prisons, it honours lives of inmates facing wrongful conviction.
A powerful portrait of wrongful conviction impacting the lives of inmates in American jails whose lives are declining, it’s a riveting reminder that stories of individuals that are wrongfully accused of crimes they didn’t commit by an unjust legal system raising thought-provoking questions about justice are definitely without a doubt worth telling in movies that can raise awareness of a pertinent problem modern prisons are facing.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 