SING SING Movie Review | Colman Domingo | A24

[@slc2466]

Saw this in preview last night at the Aero in Santa Monica, with a Q&A afterwards featuring the director-cowriter Greg Kwedar, cowriter Clint Bentley, producer Monique Walton, cinematographer Pat Scola and editor Parker Laramie. The director mentioned it was shot in 19 days(!), and the producer stated everyone worked for scale, so they can now all share in the profits if the film's a hit. It took years for them to get the movie made, and it's impossible not to root for it to do very well.

[@BreakfastAllDay]

That’s all amazing!

[@slc2466]

@@BreakfastAllDay It was a compelling night. They also had a gentlemen speak about his time in Sing Sing, and how he went up for parole five times and was denied each time, but then after 23 years in prison he got into the RTA program shown in the film, and finally gained his release, which he felt was due to the program. It's wonderful all the men involved in the film and others associated with the filmmakers are getting to experience this moment. I know in the movie Clarence "Divine Eye" Maclin, who does wonderful work, mentions his gangster background as defining him, and I pondered as I watched this scene how the movie must be changing his life right now, as hope was not lost for him because of his involvement with the RTA program, and now the film. Again, "Sing Sing" has the best of intentions and, especially after hearing some of the backstory, you have to hope it scores big with audiences, critics and eventually award bodies (it would be a kick, and not out of the realm of possibility, to see this cast win Best Ensemble at SAG, for example, before all of them attend the Oscars).

[@samredd1130]

I attended a Q&A in New York with 2 actors in the film who were formerly incarcerated. One of them mentioned how the scene where they recall a "perfect moment" was not scripted. In the scene, he mentions his real experience of how looking at the water gave him peace knowing his mom was most likely looking back on the other side of the water. His mom happened to be in the audience proudly recording him and tearing up after he brought it up. It was one of the most beautiful human moments that I've ever witnessed firsthand.

[@slc2466]

@@samredd1130 Wow, that was a very moving moment in the film; it's great his mother was able to experience this with him!

[@BreakfastAllDay]

@@samredd1130 Oh wow, thank you for sharing that!

[@patriciascolafeleppa5542]

Sing Sing is the BEST MOVIE of the year and deserves nominations in most categories. The movie was shot on 16 mm film, in 19 days, with a very small crew. The DP, Pat Scola should be nominated for an Oscar for cinematography because the visual look, the lighting, the film choice, all created the naturalistic atmosphere to tell the story. Accompanied with Bryce Dessner's score that sells the beautiful scenes and intimate facial expressions. And kudos to the director, Greg Kwedar, who allowed dialogue to be ad-libbed at times, which created the emotional essence throughout the film that tugs at your heart. The cast deserves best ensemble because 90% of the cast are the formerly incarcerated men that participated in the RTA theater program while in Sing Sing and that authenticity shines. And what can you say about Coleman Domingo.... he deserves the Oscar this year, his performance is perfectly understated, and he allows the other men to shine because this is their story. Well Done!! Also, Clarence Maclin and Paul Raci both deserve best supporting nominations. Their performances tie the strings that pull the film to its brilliance. Best movie overall in a very long time and well worth the emotional journey.

[@TØGITR]

The layers of emotion on Domingo's face when the woman asked if he was acting now is brilliant. From his performance in Zola to this; the man can play anything!

[@davidfilmexpert]

Anything except Bayard Rustin, that was just a totally dull boring baity performance that he shouldn't been nominated for. He's much better in Euphoria, Zola and this then in that movie.

[@tlovehater]

I can't believe he's the pimp from Zola lol

[@TØGITR]

@@davidfilmexpert Agreed. Though I think that was an example of "If it aint on the page, it aint on the stage" as well as direction. I checked out after 20 minutes.

[@davidfilmexpert]

@@TØGITR Yeah, I nearly fell asleep three times watching it. That Best Actor nom for Domingo was arguably one of the worst nominations in Oscar history and could've gone to someone more deserving like Andrew Scott or Leonardo DiCaprio for much better films.

[@petergrossi6605]

Academy: hand the Oscar to Colman Domingo and supporting actor for Paul Raci.

[@universalsoldier2293]

This was my Screen Unseen last night at AMC (July 15) and man, did I go through every emotion in this movie. My only criticism is that it felt a bit too sanitized for a prison setting (Sing Sing is max security, after all). Phenomenal otherwise. I hope it gets love when it goes wide because it deserves an audience. Definitely purchasing it when it's out.

[@DavidN369]

Living for this one. Thanks as ever, Christy and Alonso.

[@BreakfastAllDay]

Thanks friend! Let us know if you see it.

[@djnkosi]

Thanks for reviewing this. Saw it last night. My favorite film of the year so far.

[@janechoy2073]

Saw this movie today, it's a very beautiful movie that makes me feel many emotions. Colman Domingo is just such a huge star

[@thebrentrobinsonshow2882]

Great review. Colman is a phenomenal actor.

[@RB-.-]

Made me cry.

[@pr0jectSkyneT]

Sing Sing and Ghostlight are the 2 best films I've seen this year so far.

[@mywalkabout]

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, hoping it comes out in my area soon :)

[@martymascarin486]

under consideration for our film society this fall; thanx for your enthusiastic responses!

[@BreakfastAllDay]

Yes Marty, let us know how it goes!

[@1pknail]

I've really been looking forward to this since seeing the trailer, because it very much reminded me of the documentary "Shakespeare Behind Bars," which showed at the Nashville Film Festival back in 2004 and is about a very similar program that takes place in a medium security prison in Kentucky. (I thought Alonso was about to mention it, actually, when he started talking about "Daughters.")

[@bleuthold]

Crossing my fingers that this is the AMC Screen Unseen for July 15th!

[@michaelhein5455]

It was! I attended and was very happy after being burnt on the last couple of Screen Unseens

[@universalsoldier2293]

@@michaelhein5455 Agreed! I skipped last week's and was so pissed because it was Fly Me to the Moon, but what the hell was Babes???

[@danielbarrero2815]

i’m so excited to see this tomorrow :)

[@BobSullivanAKABuffy]

Finally saw this. It's playing the small AMC and Alamo but A24 is doing free screenings up here too. Colman and Sean San Jose are people I remember from my early SF days of local theater. You guys liked it far more than I did. When Alonso says "someone wrote that", that's how I felt throughout. Guess I'm just dead inside. It's odd that I preferred the non-actors in this film. Daughters is also playing now at the Landmark. Didn't know it was a Netflix option but I'll probably like it better on the big screen so...#BargainTuesday!

[@commandZee]

Sounds like another good one for my must see list.

[@davidfilmexpert]

Trust me it's really not, it's okay but it's not a must see. It's full of a lot of clichés and I would've preferred a documentary about this prison acting program.

[@peterhaywood4111]

Great movie. It was the most recent Regal Mystery Movie. Very emotionally moving!

[@Bintbilal]

Please Keep the Lavender Frame.

[@BreakfastAllDay]

Always!

[@matthewhernandez5339]

Big ups Liquid Richard, Shout out Sean Ranklin

[@petergrossi6605]

Best film of the year! 10/10.

[@nativewizard]

are you gonna review the indian action film "kill"? I've heard it's good, but haven't seen it yet

[@petergrossi6605]

I saw it 3 times… I loved it

[@tlovehater]

That one looks very good

[@billknight9134]

since you reviewed the original Beverly Hills cop could you also review the first bad boys also known as Michael bay's first film.

[@leonardorobert3073]

The writers did not start the program in sing sing. They did not give the true author of the program thier props! Give credit where credit is do!

[@RenePeraza]

At first glance, I thought this was a musical - thankfully it's not. LOL on the Shakespeare line!

[@jasoncarrick5461]

It should have been a musical.

[@tonyg76]

Did not understand this movie at all. Lost on character motivations, etc... I know it is getting Oscar buzz but personally I would rather see One Life, It Ends With Us, Fly Me to the Moon, Ordinary Angels. I realize this and Dune Part two are more realistic but it has been a weak oscar year so far.

[@triciascola4277]

Wow, I’m so disappointed in your review of sinking. It almost feels like you didn’t watch the movie. You’re just going off of what people told you or the previews. First of all, it wasn’t filmed in sing sing second of all it’s not a drama. it was script written third of all they were times where the formally incarcerated men spoke their truth, and lastly, you didn’t mention school of the cinematographer who shot this movie especially the scene on all the faces when they go around and they all give their inner feelings. I’m very disappointed in the description and lack of enthusiasm you have for this movie. It is fantastic.

[@davidfilmexpert]

I strongly disagree. I saw this two months ago at a film festival and it's honestly not that great. It's very saccharine overdramatic film of admirable intentions and and it boasts great vulnerable performances from its mostly amateur cast but the end result really sanitizes the harsh realities of prison and incarceration.

[@rayahayes-mora2796]

The majority of “Sing Sing” was shot in the Sing Sing Correctional Facility, located at 354 Hunter Street in Ossining, Westchester County, New York. This was possible because a substantial portion of the jail was decommissioned that year, allowing the state to repurpose the valuable estate and build the Sing Sing Prison Museum. The harsh setting of Sing Sing Correctional Facility is depicted with minimum production design to maintain the authenticity of the location. This option allows the viewer to thoroughly immerse themselves in the characters’ challenging reality, experiencing both highs and lows.

[@rayahayes-mora2796]

Wait you’re disappointed that they didn’t have the same exact feelings and opinions as you? But also they gave it a very favorable review

[@craigwilliams7496]

Lmao calm the eff down

[@acylboudiaf6400]

😊😢 ​@@rayahayes-mora2796

[@angelthman1659]

It didn't work for me. It's mostly auditioning and rehearsing, and episodic moments, though not a real narrative thread. Coleman Domingo is miscast. He seemed too Hollywood to me, especially surrounded by the real inmates. I never believed him as an inmate. He didn't have the raw energy that the real inmates had. Of course, an interesting idea handled in a boring way is critic/festival gold. But I don't think the average cinephile will respond to this. The film has good intentions but it doesn't really work.

[@aliens22]

Cinephile here and it absolutely worked for me 🤷🏾‍♂️