When I have taken to the page to write about films for The Echo, it has often been reviewing higher-profile releases such as Don’t Worry Darling and Argylle. Today, however, I am here to bang the drum for a smaller release, and that film is Sing Sing. This is a title that I am sure most people are not familiar with. In fact, Connor Padgett, a fellow SNU student with whom I had seen the movie, said that there was “almost no advertising for it that I know of.” In some cases, that little promotion can be a bad thing, but there are also gems showing between screenings of Deadpool and Wolverine and Inside Out 2 that people do not even know to look for. I hope that people will not only seek out this film, but it will also encourage them to seek out more small films.
Based on the actual Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program at the titular prison in New York, Sing Sing tells the story of a group of inmates within the program creating a brand new stage production as well as showcasing the inner lives of some of these men. What makes this film so remarkable is that, with the exception of a couple of actors, the entire cast of the film is made of people who either went through the program during their prison stint or people who are still inmates. That fact alone gives the film a level of authenticity that others may not have had, and beyond that, the rest of the film is wonderful as well.
First-time director, Greg Kwedar, and his co-writer, Clint Bentley, compose a beautifully written story of redemption and solace in the face of a reality in which these men may not see the outside world for a long time. Also, as someone who is a theater kid, and has done many plays and musicals throughout high school and college, this film’s understanding of the preparation and process that goes into these productions, as well as the friendships and inside jokes that develop throughout, is dead on. The cast is wonderful as well with the standouts being Domingo and Clarence Maclin. The latter, one of the many graduates of the RTA program, plays a prisoner making his living through drug deals but ends up finding unexpected kinship and solace through playing the character of Hamlet. Even if he is not cast in another film, I will always remember his character of Divine Eye, which he beautifully brings to life, pulling from his own experience and anger from a life of crime. Domingo, coming off an Oscar nomination for last year’s Rustin, is even better here as Divine G, the leader of the troupe, and a man who was wrongfully convicted, yet still has the utmost faith in the system that put him there.
I saw this film with Padgeett, and two other friends, Zach Moore and Mikey Butenhof, all of whom had no idea what the film was, and we all came out absolutely in love with it. Butenhof even went on to say that people should seek it out to “get a proper look at what it’s like inside our prison system.” As someone who loves movies, one of my favorite things to do is introduce people to ones that they may not have seen before, whether it be something new or an older classic. I want people to venture out and seek things that may not be the biggest films but are very interesting and fun all the same. You may have to go looking for some of these, but I can almost guarantee that you will enjoy them. Movies like Snack Shack, Rye Lane, and Confess, Fletch were seen by no one and yet they are fantastic. Moore even said that this film “was made with more heart and passion than most blockbusters nowadays.” I hope people venture out to watch Sing Sing, which is not in theaters anymore but will be having screenings at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art on September 6, 7, and 8, with discounted ticket prices for college students. In addition to that, I encourage you all to be adventurous with your next film and try something that you may not have been interested in before, as you may end up seeing something that you can keep with you for your entire life.
Photo by Umanoide on Unsplash