Last Saturday, at Maine Film Center in Waterville, I think I just might have seen the best movie of 2024. A bold statement, I know, as many movies have yet to be released. But Sing Sing was such a good movie that it would take something really special to surpass it.
As the title suggests, Sing Sing takes place in the well-known prison on the banks of the Hudson River in New York. The story revolves around Divine G, played by the great and good Coleman Domingo, who has been imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. Along with other inmates, he belongs to a theater troupe that provides creativity and meaning in a place where these qualities are in short supply. The plot of this movie is based on the real-life story of theater in prison, made possible by a program called Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA).
A younger inmate, Divine Eye (Clarence Maclin), joins the group and challenges the authority of the men who are seasoned members of the troupe. With only a bit of grumbling, the other men give way to Divine Eye and his desire for comedy rather than the drama the men usually perform. Hence Breakin’ the Mummy’s Code is born. It soon becomes clear that the troupe members are doing this out of generosity, hoping that Divine Eye, a sullen young man and a drug dealer, will be nurtured by art the way they have.
As the movie progresses, a friendship develops between Divine G and Divine Eye. They talk about where they came from, the roles they were given, and how they were boxed in by them. Acting allows the two men to see that there might be different roles for them that were not clear (or available) when they were younger.
Unlike most prison films, there are no scenes of brutality in Sing Sing. Instead, there are scenes of everyday incarceration where the men’s cells are searched, and there are security checks.
Even more surprising, in Sing Sing there are moments of pure joy as the men rehearse and become friends with one another.
In the wrong hands, Sing Sing could have been a horribly sentimental movie with swelling music as the inmates are redeemed through art. However, the directing, the script, and the acting are so tight that the film never becomes maudlin. At the same time, Sing Sing has heart, and I was rooting for both of the Divines in this film.
As the credits roll, viewers learn that most of the actors in Sing Sing are men who were formerly incarcerated and members of the RTA program. This provides a note of poignancy and authenticity to this fine film.
Readers, if you have a chance, go see Sing Sing if it comes to a theater near you. If it doesn’t come to a theater near you, be sure to see it when it is available through streaming.
Notes From the Hinterland 
Thank you for sharing this Laurie, it sounds like a wonderful film 🧡
It certainly is!
Thanks. I hadn’t heard of this film until your post.
Certainly worth checking out.
As you know, I’m not a film buff, or even a movie watcher for all that. But this is an interesting premise, and I’m going to pass it on to a friend who watches films regularly, goes to TIFF, and writes reviews. She’ll be interested in your review and probably the film.
A movie for a film buff, that’s for sure.
Thank you for the film review, Laurie. It does sound like an inspirational movie.
And so well done!
This movie sounds wonderful, it is always good to see a movie that is uplifting these days.
It certainly is.
Thanks for the great review, I will look for it. 🙏🏼
My pleasure! A wonderful movie.
Thank you for this recommendation, Laurie. I will look out for this film when it comes out our way! ❤
Such a good dilm!
Whoops! Should be “film.”
Thanks for this encouraging review, Laurie. Like the others, I hadn’t heard of it.
Very much worth seeing.
I heard Coleman Domingo’s interview about this movie on NPR, so I am now doubly intrigued. As the widow of the dedicated theater person, I think I would appreciate a movie about the redemption that can be found in the arts. Did you see him in “Rustin”? He is a remarkable actor.
I was thinking about you as I wrote this review. Yes, I saw Coleman Domingo in Rustin. What an actor! One of our best.
Thanks – I’ll keep my eyes open for it.
So worth seeing.
Quite an accolade
A movie like Sing Sing only comes along every so often.
Sounds interesting; I’ll watch out for it.
Such a good movie!
I will definitely look for this one Laurie! Thanks for the review.
So worth seeing.
Good to hear about this film. I’ll definitely look it up!
It’s impressive that they ahve put their money where their mouth is and made the film using people who have benefitted from the RTA programme.
Thank you for the wonderful movie review and recommendation!! I’ve added it to my list and even though I don’t have a date yet, it said it’s coming soon to Apple TV.🙂
My pleasure! I will certainly be interested in reading what you think about the movie.
Really interesting to read about your response to this film as I’ve seen the trailer a couple of times during recent cinema visits to the BFI in London, and it does look very compelling. I’m glad to hear it eschews sentimentality in favour of a more appropriate tone – as you say, that could been an issue in the hands of a different director.
Absolutely! In the hands of a different director, Sing Sing could have been completely over the top.
It sounds like a movie I would enjoy, Laurie. Thank you for the review!
An excellent movie!
I must see this! Usually I avoid this sort of movie because of the sappiness and melodrama. It sounds like this one let the story do the talking!
It certainly does! A wonderful movie.
It sounds like an amazing film, made all the more engaging knowing you’re watching ex-felons. Thanks for the great review, Laurie. I’m relieved to hear the viewer isn’t subjected to violence. That is often a deal-breaker for me.
Such a good movie. Well worth putting on your TBW list. And you won’t have to worry about excessive violence.
I’m not a movie buff but I am interested in the roles we are given in life and how hard it can be to change them. I can see that acting could allow individuals to try out being a different kind of person and maybe empower them to become someone else in real life. What a worthwhile way to work in the prison system.
Yes,yes! Sing Sing explores this issue in a way that is moving but never over-the-top. A movie worth watching.