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Sing Sing (2023 film)

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Sing Sing
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGreg Kwedar
Screenplay by
  • Clint Bentley
  • Greg Kwedar
Story by
Based on
  • "The Sing Sing Follies"
    by John H. Richardson
  • Breakin' the Mummy's Code
    by Brent Buell
Produced by
  • Clint Bentley
  • Greg Kwedar
  • Monique Walton
Starring
CinematographyPat Scola
Edited byParker Laramie
Music byBryce Dessner
Production
companies
Distributed byA24
Release dates
  • September 10, 2023 (2023-09-10) (TIFF)
  • July 12, 2024 (2024-07-12) (United States)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$3.1 million[1][2]

Sing Sing is a 2023 American drama film directed by Greg Kwedar, who co-wrote the screenplay and co-produced with Clint Bentley.[3] Based on the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison, the film centers on a group of incarcerated men involved in the creation of theatrical stage shows through the program.[4] It stars professional actors Colman Domingo and Paul Raci, alongside many real-life formerly incarcerated men who were themselves alumni of the program during their incarceration, including Clarence "Divine Eye" Maclin and Jon-Adrian "JJ" Velazquez.[4][5][6]

The film premiered in the Special Presentations program at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.[7] It was released by A24 in the United States on July 12, 2024. It received positive reviews from critics. It was named one of the top ten films of 2024 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute.[8]

Plot

Divine G, incarcerated at Sing Sing Correctional Facility for a crime he did not commit, discovers a sense of purpose through participation in a small theater group made up of fellow inmates. Together, they attempt to stage an original production titled Breakin' the Mummy's Code. These inmates are part of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program, which aims to use theater as a form of rehabilitation. Under the guidance of theater director Brent Buell, Divine G emerges as the star playwright and performer, highly respected for his emotional depth and acting talent. While pursuing his passion for theater, Divine G is also determined to prove his innocence and regain his freedom.

As the group prepares for their new production, Divine G takes part in recruiting new members, including a gruff and aggressive inmate named Divine Eye with a difficult personality. Initially, Divine Eye is dismissive of acting and performance, considering it a pointless and disingenuous pursuit. In contrast, Divine G views theater as a transformative and therapeutic process that helps individuals connect with their inner selves. The two men clash further when they disagree on the genre for their next play. Divine G advocates for another drama to challenge his acting abilities, while Divine Eye pushes for a lighthearted comedy, a choice supported by the majority of the inmates. Their rivalry intensifies when Divine Eye auditions for the only dramatic role in the comedy, frustrating Divine G, who sees it as hypocritical and is puzzled by this decision from Divine Eye.

Over the following weeks, the inmates engage in acting exercises led by Buell, designed to help them tap into their emotions. Divine G excels effortlessly at all the acting exercises, demonstrating vulnerability and inspiring his peers, while Divine Eye struggles, unable to connect with his emotions or the art of acting. However, after a heart-to-heart conversation where the two open up about their personal lives, Divine Eye begins to open up and take the program more seriously. His acting skills gradually improve, earning the respect of the group, including Divine G and Buell.

The RTA group eventually performs a sample of the play for the prison's board of executives to gain approval for their production. Despite a chaotic and mixed performance, the board approves the play to the surprise of the RTA group.

Divine G's world is shaken with grief and sadness when a fellow inmate, Mike Mike, with whom he had bonded, passes away. At his next parole hearing, Divine G delivers a passionate speech about how acting has changed him for the better, only to be blindsided when the interviewer questions whether he is simply acting at the present moment that he is delivering this parole hearing. Divine G's parole is denied, while Divine Eye's hearing is approved and he is granted release.

Before a dress rehearsal, tensions rise as Divine G suffers a breakdown, criticizing the quality of the production and the lack of commitment from his fellow inmates. Frustrated and disillusioned, he attempts to fight Divine Eye and walks out of the performance, effectively exiling himself from the group.

In the following days, Divine G isolates himself. Divine Eye eventually reaches out and the two reconcile. Divine G apologizes for his outburst and Divine Eye reassures him that he is always welcome back in the group. Divine Eye is soon released from the facility and becomes a free man.

A year later, Divine G successfully passes his parole hearing and is released. Divine Eye waits outside to greet him and the two share an emotional reunion before driving away together, hopeful for the future. The film closes with real-life footage from the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at Sing Sing, featuring the real actors, who portrayed themselves in the film, performing in past productions when they were still inmates at the facility.

Cast

Production

Development

In 2022, it was reported that Colman Domingo, Paul Raci, and Sean San José were cast and that they would act alongside former incarcerated actors, including Clarence "Divine Eye" Maclin. Inspired by the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility in New York, the story was developed by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Maclin and John "Divine G" Whitfield, with the screenplay being written by Bentley and Kwedar.[10][11][12] The latter also came onboard to direct while Monique Walton joined as producer, alongside Bentley and Kwedar.[13][14][15]

Maclin started acting as an inmate in Sing Sing. According to Maclin, the experience of acting in the film, along with his time in the prison and the transformative theater program, changed the course of his life.[6] He revealed that it was his decision to star as a version of himself, explaining: "It was a choice that Greg and Clint had given me. They said, we can make up a character for you and give them a fictitious name, or you could just use your own name and be your own character, and I chose to use my own name. I guess it was my own arrogance."[16]

In exchange for a percentage of equity, variating based on level of overall production involvement, all cast and crew agreed to be paid the same daily salary, thus ensuring a lower budget with increased profitability potential. As a result, with only one month out from filmmaking, A24 and Black Bear Pictures agreed to fully finance the film.[17]

Filming

Sing Sing was filmed over the course of 19 shooting days in July 2022, across numerous decommissioned correctional facilities, which are reportedly tough environments to be in, logistically and for formerly incarcerated actors to return to, even with a counselor in tow. "It's all concrete and there's just no airflow", said Bentley, adding: "But whenever the alumni were filming together, they brought so much joy that it far surpassed any of the misery of filming in that place. Walking into the space they'd created was like walking into color in The Wizard of Oz."[18]

The three major filming locations were split between the decommissioned Downstate Correctional Facility and nearby Hudson Sports Complex, both of which doubled for different exteriors and interiors of the real Sing Sing prison, plus Beacon High School in Upstate New York, where the RTA theater productions were filmed.[19]

Cinematography

Cinematographer Pat Scola shot the film on 16 mm. "When we scouted the Downstate Correctional Facility, one of the things I found both impressive and oppressive, was the number of windows and the natural daylight coming through them", Scola recalled. "Beyond the confines of the prison walls and the razor wire, you can see trees and forests in the distance. That element of tragedy – that you can see the world out there, but can't actually go and touch it, that the place was actually light and warm, and not bleakly lit with fluorescents – was really striking. We made the decision to allow the spaces to light themselves naturalistically and speak to the visual story we were looking to tell." As for shooting on 16mm film, Scola said: "In this story, the human face was our landscape, often with very intimate close-ups. The taller nature of the 1.66:1 frame allowed us to create that kind of intimate portraiture, and we used the 25mm a great deal during production ... The Ultra 16 lenses are small, simple and fast, typically T1.3, and give great optical performance on 16mm film."[19][20][21]

Music

Bryce Dessner composed the film's score, which was released by Milan Records on July 12, 2024.[22]

Elaborating on the process of the biggest dramatic considerations he took while composing, Dessner explained: "The film itself has elements of documentary. It has real-life characters who were in the program, it has a play within the film, and it has a sense of creative freedom or finding your horizon. These characters are finding their humanity, rebuilding themselves through the arts, and dreaming beyond the walls of where they're confined. The music kind of felt in that space. It was the horizon, or the poetry, of the whole thing. I was relating to that. I wasn't really scoring tension or drama or the little bits of conflict that happen. There are some darker cues, but in general, the music feels like this sort of river running under the film."[23]

Sing Sing: Original Soundtrack
No.TitleLength
1."Lysander"1:27
2."Sing Sing"2:04
3."Auditions"4:43
4."Portal to Portal"4:16
5."Blades"3:06
6."Perfect Place"2:14
7."Escape"2:53
8."Song & Dance"2:31
9."Miguelito"1:16
10."Slow Time"2:24
11."Backstage"5:14
12."The Void"3:31
13."Circles"0:35
14."Come Home"2:11
15."Homeward"1:01
16."Seven Years of Curtain Calls"2:05
17."The Gate"1:25
Total length:40:56

Marketing

To promote the film, A24 offered free screenings hosted by Common, Stephanie Hsu, Liza Koshy, Natasha Lyonne, Bette Midler, the Brooklyn Nets and Gabrielle Union, in participating AMC Theatres from August 22 to 28. Variety said that while "A24 is looking to position Sing Sing as a major awards player ... [its] campaign is uniquely audience-facing, as opposed to targeting Oscar voters later in the awards season".[24]

Release

The film premiered in the Special Presentations program at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, where it was acquired by A24.[25]

It was released in the United States in a limited release on July 12, 2024, before expanding to a wide release on August 2.[26] It is expected to be re-released in theaters on January 17, 2025.[27]

Reception

Box office

As of October 3, 2024, Sing Sing has grossed $3.1 million.[1][2] In the United States, the film made $137,119 from four theaters (located in Los Angeles and New York) in its opening weekend (July 12–14), for a per-screen-average of $34,279.[28] IndieWire noted: "In an unusual move, it is expected to not expand until August in order to build expected word of mouth and avoid competing with the juggernauts the next two weeks."[29] In its fourth weekend (August 2–4), the film expanded to 18 theaters and made $164,565.[30][31] It peaked at 191 theaters before returning to 149 screens in its eighth weekend.[32]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 98% of 165 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "A moving celebration of art's redemptive power, Sing Sing draws its estimable emotional resonance from a never better Colman Domingo and equally impressive ensemble players."[33] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 84 out of 100, based on 41 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[34]

ABC News' Peter Travers declared the acting of Domingo as "simply stupendous" and highly praised the film in his review, writing: "Sing Sing is one of the best and most powerful movies you'll see this year. Despite the grim surroundings, it has a heart full to bursting and a spirit that soars."[35] Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times called the film "gloriously lionhearted and brilliantly rendered", and considered Domingo's performance as "award-worthy work", concluding that the film "will be remembered for the amazing, multilayered, complex and shining work by Domingo and the entire ensemble".[36] Though she believed the film "shoulders some heavy-duty ideas about forgiveness and redemption", Stephanie Zacharek of Time believed that it recognized the value and delight of pure play, writing: "It's easy, and comfortable, to pass judgment [about incarcerated individuals]. But Greg Kwedar's true-to-life prison drama Sing Sing asks more of us: 'If we believe in our own capacity for growth and change, how can we not extend that good faith to other individuals who have made mistakes?'"[37]

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards January 11, 2025 Best Actor Colman Domingo Pending [38]
Best Supporting Actor Clarence Maclin Pending
Best Ensemble Sing Sing Pending
Astra Film Awards December 8, 2024 Best Picture Pending [39]
Best Adapted Screenplay Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar Pending
Best Actor Colman Domingo Pending
Best Supporting Actor Clarence Maclin Pending
Cinema Eye Honors January 9, 2025 Heterodox Award Sing Sing Pending [40]
Deauville American Film Festival September 15, 2024 Grand Special Prize Nominated [41]
Golden Trailer Awards May 30, 2024 Best Independent Trailer Reality Trailer, A24, and Mark Woollen & Associates Nominated [42]
Gotham Awards December 2, 2024 Outstanding Lead Performance Colman Domingo Won [43]
Outstanding Supporting Performance Clarence Maclin Won
Social Justice Tribute Cast of Sing Sing Won [44]
Hamptons International Film Festival October 14, 2024 Breakthrough Performer Award Clarence Maclin Won [45]
Miami Film Festival April 14, 2024 Impact Award Greg Kwedar Won [46]
Middleburg Film Festival October 20, 2024 Colman Domingo and Clarence Maclin Won [47]
Palm Springs International Film Festival January 3, 2025 Spotlight Award Colman Domingo Won [48]
Santa Barbara International Film Festival February 9, 2025 Virtuoso Award Clarence Maclin Won [49]
SCAD Savannah Film Festival November 2, 2024 Spotlight Award Colman Domingo Won [50]
Seattle International Film Festival May 27, 2024 Golden Space Needle Award: Best Film Sing Sing Won [51]
Southwest Film & TV Festival March 16, 2024 Audience Award: Festival Favorite Won [52]

References

  1. ^ a b "Sing Sing". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved October 3, 2024.Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ a b "Sing Sing". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  3. ^ Jackson, Angelique (November 15, 2023). "CAA Signs 'Sing Sing' Filmmakers Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley". Variety. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Galuppo, Mia (September 8, 2023). "Toronto: How the Formerly Incarcerated Cast of 'Sing Sing' Found Shooting the Prison Drama 'Cathartic'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  5. ^ Richardson, Kalia (August 1, 2024). "How the Cast of 'Sing Sing' Broke Free from Prison to the Big Screen". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Iscoe, Adam (July 30, 2024). "How Clarence Maclin Went from Sing Sing to 'Sing Sing'". The New Yorker. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  7. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 24, 2023). "TIFF Lineup Unveiled Amid Strikes: Awards Contenders 'Dumb Money', 'The Holdovers', 'Rustin'; Starry Pics for Sale with Scarlett Johansson, Kate Winslet, Michael Keaton, Viggo Mortensen & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  8. ^ https://variety.com/2024/film/awards/afi-awards-top-10-wicked-anora-dune-2-1236236697/
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h "'Sing Sing': A Film by A24 and Rehabilitation Through the Arts". Rehabilitation Through the Arts. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  10. ^ Canfield, David (June 20, 2024). "Inside 'Sing Sing', the Colman Domingo Prison Drama That Will Break Your Heart". Vanity Fair. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  11. ^ Sherman, Rachel (July 12, 2024). "For This Drama, Some Actors Returned to Prison by Choice". The New York Times. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  12. ^ Ryan, Patrick (August 15, 2024). "How 'Sing Sing's' cast of formerly incarcerated men inspired Colman Domingo". USA Today. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  13. ^ Daniels, Robert (July 6, 2024). "High Noon: Greg Kwedar and Monique Walton on 'Sing Sing'". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  14. ^ Everette, Phyllis (August 13, 2024). "'Sing Sing': Austin's Producer Monique Walton Answers the Call". Soulciti. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  15. ^ Christine (August 20, 2024). "Director Greg Kwedar, Producer Monique Walton & Writer Clint Bentley Talk About the Transformative Power of Art, Theater in 'Sing Sing'". AMFM Magazine. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  16. ^ Cremona, Patrick (September 5, 2024). "'Sing Sing' star opens up on power of art and playing himself in prison drama". Radio Times. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  17. ^ Galuppo, Mia (July 12, 2024). "'Sing Sing' Filmmakers Paid Everyone on Set the Same and Now Their New Company Wants to Do It Again". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  18. ^ Lee, Ashley (July 12, 2024). "How the prison-set 'Sing Sing' captures the magic of acting". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "DP Pat Scola harnessed the glow of KODAK 16mm film to bring warmth and honesty to director Greg Kwedar's affecting drama 'Sing Sing'". Kodak. August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  20. ^ Blair, Iain (August 1, 2024). "Cinematographer Spotlight – DP Pat Scola". Cinematography World. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  21. ^ James, Daron (July 18, 2024). "'Sing Sing' Cinematographer Pat Scola on Capturing a Raw, Moving Portrait of Humanity". Motion Picture Association. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  22. ^ "'Sing Sing' Soundtrack Album Details". Film Music Reporter. July 8, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  23. ^ Danoff, Owen (August 20, 2024). "'Sing Sing' Composer Bryce Dessner Talks Scoring A24's Beautiful Prison Drama". Screen Rant. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  24. ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (August 22, 2024). "A24 Offering Free Screenings of 'Sing Sing' at AMC, Hosted by Natasha Lyonne, Bette Midler and Brooklyn Nets (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  25. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 15, 2023). "A24 Lands U.S. Rights on Toronto Buzz Title 'Sing Sing' starring Colman Domingo". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  26. ^ Hall, Gerrad (May 9, 2024). "Colman Domingo on his emotional prison drama 'Sing Sing' and its arts rehabilitation program". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  27. ^ Lang, Bret (December 3, 2024). "A24 Re-Releasing 'Sing Sing' in Theaters in January Following Big Gotham Awards Night (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  28. ^ "Domestic 2024 Weekend 28". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  29. ^ Brueggemann, Tom (July 14, 2024). "Neon's 'Longlegs' Shocks with $22 Million+ Opening; 'Sing Sing' Has Strong Platform Debut". IndieWire. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  30. ^ "Domestic 2024 Weekend 31". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  31. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (August 4, 2024). "'Kneecap' is Jamming, 'Didi', 'Sing Sing' & 'CatVideoFest' Buoy Varied Arthouse Market – Specialty Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  32. ^ "Theater counts: 'Deadpool & Wolverine' claw their way back to widest release". The Numbers. August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  33. ^ "Sing Sing". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 22, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  34. ^ "Sing Sing". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  35. ^ Travers, Peter (July 12, 2024). "Review: Colman Domingo is simply stupendous in 'Sing Sing'". ABC News. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  36. ^ Roeper, Richard (July 30, 2024). "'Sing Sing': Making theater gives incarcerated men a sense of freedom in one of the year's best films". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  37. ^ Zacharek, Stephanie (July 12, 2024). "The Imagination Flies Free in 'Sing Sing's' Maximum-Security Prison". Time. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  38. ^ Lewis, Hilary (November 20, 2024). "Movies for Grownups Awards: 'Conclave' Leads With 6 Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  39. ^ Pond, Steve (November 25, 2024). "'Wicked' Leads Nominations for Astra Film Awards". TheWrao. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  40. ^ Hipes, Patrick (October 24, 2024). "Cinema Eye Honors: 'Girls State', 'Ren Faire' Lead Broadcast Nominees; Audience Choice Award Longlist Revealed". Deadline. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  41. ^ Leffler, Rebecca (August 8, 2024). "Deauville American Film Festival Unveils 50th Anniversary Competition Line-Up". Screen Daily. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  42. ^ "The GTA24 Nominees" (PDF). Golden Trailer Awards. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  43. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (October 29, 2024). "Gotham Awards Nominations: 'Anora' Leads Pack, 'Challengers' & 'Nickel Boys' Among Group Up For Best Feature". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  44. ^ "AwardsWatch - Cast of 'Sing Sing' to Receive Social Justice Tribute at 2024 Gotham Awards". AwardsWatch. October 30, 2024. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  45. ^ Anderson, Erik (September 11, 2024). "32nd Hamptons International Film Festival Lineup Announced, Clarence Maclin ('Sing Sing') to Receive Breakthrough Performer Award". AwardsWatch. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  46. ^ Earl, William (March 6, 2024). "Miami Film Festival Sets Lineup with 'Thelma' Opening and 'Ezra' as Closing Night Screening". Variety. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  47. ^ Feinberg, Scott (September 26, 2024). "Middleburg Film Fest: 'Blitz' to Open, 'Nickel Boys' to Close, 'Sing Sing' Stars Among Honorees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  48. ^ Verhoeven, Beatrice (November 4, 2024). "Colman Domingo to Receive Actor Spotlight Award at Palm Springs International Film Festival (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  49. ^ Feinberg, Scott (November 19, 2024). "Santa Barbara Film Fest: Mikey Madison, Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez Among Eight Tapped for Virtuoso Award". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  50. ^ Feinberg, Scott (September 26, 2024). "SCAD Savannah Film Fest: 'Blitz' to Open, 'Emilia Pérez' and 'Anora' Stars Among 11 Honorees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  51. ^ Carson, Lexi (May 19, 2024). "Seattle International Film Festival Awards Top Honors to 'Sing Sing', 'Gloria!'". Variety. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  52. ^ Zee, Michaela (March 13, 2024). "'Bob Trevino Likes It', 'Monkey Man' Lead SXSW Film & TV Festival Audience Awards". Variety. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
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