Colman Domingo Solidifies His Leading Man Status In A24’s Stirring Prison Drama

Every once in a while, a movie will come along that takes you completely by surprise, leaving you breathless and profoundly moved. That was my experience with Sing Sing, the new A24 drama from director Greg Kwedar. First screened last year at the Toronto International Film Festival, the indie film is just now making its way out into the world via a limited release that will expand in the coming weeks, and I sincerely hope many, many people get the chance to see it.

Sing Sing gets its title from the real-life maximum security prison it takes place in, though the opening scene briefly alters our expectations by introducing its main character, Colman Domingo’s Divine G, onstage. His back to us, lit by the bright spotlights, Divine G delivers a stirring Shakespearean monologue that gives the impression he’s a Broadway star, even despite his cheap yet creative costume and set. He’s good, and it’s clear he feels blissfully at ease on stage. Shortly thereafter, though, he and his cast members return to their cell block, bringing them back to reality.

Sing Sing Tackles An Important Story With Care

And there’s plenty of heart involved, too

Drawing from real life, Sing Sing follows the program Rehabilitation Through the Arts, a group meant to help people who are incarcerated work through their experience onstage. The movie itself hones in on one of RTA’s latest productions, which is notable for two reasons: It was borne from the RTA members’ own imaginations and spans numerous decades and genres, and it is the first production for Clarence “Divine Eyes” Maclin, who plays himself. An intimidating figure in the prison yard, Clarence seems ill-fitted for RTA, purely because he sneers when the other men engage in their drama club warm-up activities.

However, when Clarence scores the part of Hamlet over Divine G, we’re quietly told that this man possesses something special within him, and it sets the stage for an illuminating story. Shot with an intimate touch that keeps us firmly within the confines of Sing Sing, the movie tracks the play’s evolution alongside the burgeoning friendship between Divine G (whose full name is John Whitfield, who makes a cameo) and Divine Eyes. Showing the vital work RTA does is arguably the main goal of Sing Sing, but that life-saving friendship between the two men is its beating heart.

It would be easy to fall into a stereotypical trap, settling for a basic story with hollow platitudes. With Kwedar’s careful touch, though, Sing Sing becomes something special, no doubt aided by the fact that the screenplay, written by Kwedar and Clint Bentley, had input from Maclin and Whitfield themselves. The movie humanizes the men by rarely delving into what led to them entering Sing Sing, instead focusing on the moments when they’re joyful because they’re letting loose on stage. Sing Sing is the perfect example of how art can heal, and how a person may not be what they seem on the surface.

Sing Sing’s Cast Is Absolutely Perfect

And Colman Domingo is a true leading man

Adding to the overall impact of the movie is its cast, which is largely comprised of actual members of RTA playing themselves. Maclin is the most prominent, and the passion he shows in telling his own story is inspiring. His easy chemistry with Domingo makes the relationship between the Divines soar, and Clarence’s evolution is a genuine highlight. Every member of the Sing Sing cast is exemplary, but I was especially moved by Sean “Dino” Johnson, who is often found rehearsing his lines to himself. His quiet dedication to the program, and the way Johnson played it, hit hard.

Most of all, Sing Sing proves Domingo is a bona fide leading man. From the very first moment we see him to the very end (which I won’t spoil to preserve its impact), the Euphoria star gives a mesmerizing performance that brilliantly showcases his range. Divine G must be welcoming and level-headed, acting as a mentor to many around him, but as later plot developments destabilize his affable demeanor, Domingo gives himself over to his character’s raging emotions and, even when we wish he wasn’t behaving a certain way, we can’t help but stay on his side.

Sing Sing isn’t always an easy watch. Even amid humorous scenes where the men dance and do improv, the reality of prison is always present, and so are even broader concepts like mortality. It’s a testament to the care that went into this movie, the hard work of the cast and crew, and the power of the story itself that I left the theater both moved and inspired. This is a movie that will likely stick with me for some time, and I’m glad; I think it’s not one that should be forgotten.

Sing Sing is currently playing in New York City and Los Angeles, and will expand nationwide on Friday, August 2. It is 105 minutes long and rated R for language throughout.

Based on actual events, Sing Sing is a drama movie that tells the story of the Sing Sing Correctional Facility and a group of prisoners within that decide to stage their own musical production within the prison’s walls.

Pros

• Colman Domingo gives an awards-worthy performance, and Clarence Maclin is equally good
• The story is layered and deeply moving
• The characters are people worth investing in