The Wasteland Reviewer

Sing Sing (2024) Written Review

What impact can art truly have on a human being? Art is a deeply personal and rich manifestation of everything within a person. Their ideas, experiences, connections, emotions, and dreams converge to create something. More importantly, art creates worth because it has value and is meaningful to someone. Artistic creation is the sum of all things a human being puts into it. This can be such an impactful experience for someone who is lost and cut-off. There is a fight across the United States to expand arts programs in prisons to help rehabilitate. Those incarcerated can find something more meaningful through their art to help redefine themselves instead of being defined by what they did to get placed in prison. That is the story behind A24’s latest drama, Sing Sing. 

How does Sing Sing stand out compared to other prison films? There is an intimacy and tenderness in the way that director Greg Kwedar crafts this picture. The way the camera moves feels like we, the audience, are in every scene with these incarcerated men. There are plenty of close-ups and intimate shots where we feel every emotion in the characters in those pivotal moments (with added pressure on the actors to sell those emotions). The final sequence of the film which represents the freedom that can be achieved through “the process” introduced in the film is shot so gorgeously with the world outside feeling near idyllic. The score from composer Bryce Dessner is pregnant with emotion and feeling that elevates the atmosphere of the film. Few films (especially those that take place in prisons) show such tenderness and care in presenting the budding connections between these men and the freedom and worth they find in their artistic expression. 

Can the story reach the same level of compelling energy as the atmosphere that Kwedar created? At the core of the film, we follow the journey of a wrongfully imprisoned man played by Colman Domingo. He has found great solace in the arms of his fellow men in this acting troupe. They come together and put on a show every six months and they are working on an ambitious comedy set throughout time with famous figures left and right. There is tension along the way, as there would be with any production, which parallels the frustrations of the men who hope to be released. Domingo’s journey is full of new connections (especially with Clarence Maclin’s new member of the troop), setbacks, loss, and most importantly resilience. The film always comes back to trusting “the process” because it is not a quick fix or an easy journey.  This story of brotherhood is full of creativity, humanity, and artistic expression. 

What might be the strongest aspects of an already stellar film? The performances. Domingo is coming for an Oscar, and it will be hard to deny him. There is something unique about how he expresses his emotions on screen that just makes his performances feel dynamic and unique. There are multiple scenes that stand out as “the one” that will most certainly get him attention this awards season. His final scene is a complex explosion of joy and confusion. There is one explosive scene on stage that shows his commanding presence that is powerful enough to deliver some of the films’ best conflicts. Domingo balances humor, rage, and tenderness to create a complex and layered man. Maclin delivers an equally dynamic yet quietly powerful performance. His chemistry with Domingo is off the charts. Paul Raci is a strong anchor for many ensemble scenes. But the most significant contributions come from the group of men who are actual former incarcerated men. They bring a level of authenticity to the film that is something special. 

Why is Sing Sing one of the best films of the year so far? There is a raw authenticity to this film that allows the audience to be lost in the journey of our characters. The film can balance overarching themes and storytelling while still delivering plenty of memorable scenes that stand on their own merit. Resilience. Humanity. Self-worth. They are all there in spades. The performers embody the work so well that you never see the seams between the work and the reality of the story. This is not only a deeply moving and poignant experience, but it is also an important story to tell in today’s harsh societal landscape.