My ★★★★½ review of Sing Sing
“I knew this would be emotional, but it knocked the wind out of me.”
Wow. I knew this would be emotional, but it knocked the wind out of me. Sing Sing follows a group of very real men who formed a theater group in their prison. It’s centered on about three people who serve as the heads of it, but the ensemble makes the movie. There’s something so beautiful about the central idea around theater and performance being first an escape. But for these people in that prison, it was a place to feel like people again. The movie doesn’t delve too much into the failings of the prison or the idea of the prison itself, but it doesn’t need to. There's an innate sense of constriction when they’re in their cells, the cafeteria, or the yard, but their worlds are as vast as they used to be when the lights are off in that theater.
The performances in this movie are unbelievable. Most of the incredible central performances are played by actual theater group members. Colman Domingo is as great as he always is, but Clarence Maclin (playing HIMSELF!) is a revelation—a spectacular presence within the movie. I felt like I was watching life, seeing performances like his. The cinematography added to this realism, often giving the film a more documentary feel. The dialogue will probably stick with me for months. My only complaint is that some aspects of the last twenty feel sudden and out of place. Nevertheless, it’s as close to perfect as you could imagine.
This film is honestly a masterful expression of life. I felt very connected to all of the people presented in the movie. It’s one of my favorites of the year and, honestly, the decade. Sing Sing sees acting and performances as a way to use all the excess energy wasted behind locked doors for good. I saw those men pull from deep within themselves for their performances. I am still trying to wipe tears away from my eyes. Phenomenal fucking work.