Sing Sing (2023 film)

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Sing Sing
Sing Sing poster.jpeg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Greg 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 by Bryce Dessner
Production
companies
Distributed by A24
Release dates
  • September 10, 2023 (2023-09-10)(TIFF)
  • July 12, 2024 (2024-07-12)(United States)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2 million [1]
Box office$3.5 million [2] [3]

Sing Sing is a 2023 American prison drama film directed by Greg Kwedar and written by Clint Bentley and Kwedar. 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]

Contents

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 and was named one of the top ten films of 2024 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute. [8] It received numerous accolades, including three nominations at the 97th Academy Awards (including Best Actor for Domingo), five nominations at the 30th Critics' Choice Awards (including Best Picture), and three nominations at the 40th Independent Spirit Awards (including Best Feature).

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. 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 of 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, surprising 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 due to a brain aneurysm. At a clemency 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.

During a dress rehearsal, tensions rise as Divine G suffers a breakdown, having lost hope that the RTA program will make any difference in helping them. 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. The play is a success and Divine Eye is soon released from the facility, becoming 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 RTA 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, 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] The film cost under $2 million to produce. [1]

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] Adrian Quesada and Abraham Alexander wrote and performed the song "Like A Bird," which appears during the film's credits. The song was nominated at the 97th Academy Awards for Best Original Song. [23]

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." [24]

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". [25]

Release

The film premiered in the Special Presentations program at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, where it was acquired by A24. [26]

It was released in the United States in a limited release on July 12, 2024, with a planned wide release on August 2. [27] However, the wide release did not materialize, expanding weeks later to only 191 theaters. It was not made available on video on demand or streaming since. [28] It was later announced to be re-released in 500 theaters on January 17, 2025, as part of its awards season campaign before the 97th Academy Awards nomination announcement on January 23. [29] Edovo, a non-profit organization providing educational material to inmates, is set to begin streaming the film to participating prisons on January 17, in collaboration with A24 and RTA. [29]

Reception

Box office

As of January 23,2025, Sing Sing has grossed $3.5 million. [2] [3] 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. [30] 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." [31] In its fourth weekend (August 2–4), the film expanded to 18 theaters and made $164,565. [32] [33] It peaked at 191 theaters before returning to 149 screens in its eighth weekend. [34]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 97% of 184 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." [35] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 84 out of 100, based on 42 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". [36]

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." [37] 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". [38] 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?'" [39]

Filmmaker Jeff Nichols named it one of his favorite films of 2024, saying "Greg Kwedar blended part-scripted, part-improvised experiences into a delicate film unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I’m proud of my friend Greg, but most importantly I’m proud that this film is in the world. It’s an example of the best of us, both as an industry and as a society." [40] Other filmmakers, including Tim Fehlbaum, William Goldenberg, Nicole Holofcener and Daniel Scheinert also praised the film. [41]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
AACTA International Awards February 7, 2025 Best Actor Colman DomingoPending [42]
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards February 25, 2025 Best Actor Pending [43]
Best Supporting Actor Clarence MaclinPending
Best Ensemble Sing SingPending
Academy Awards 2 March 2025 Best Actor Colman DomingoPending [44]
Best Adapted Screenplay Greg Kwedar, Clint Bentley, Clarence Maclin, and John "Divine G" WhitfieldPending
Best Original Song "Like a Bird" - Abraham Alexander and Adrian Quesada Pending
Alliance of Women Film Journalists January 7, 2025Best FilmSing SingNominated [45]
Best ActorColman DomingoWon
Best Actor in a Supporting RoleClarence MaclinNominated
Best Adapted ScreenplayJohn H. Richardson, Brent Buell & Clint Bentley, Greg KwedarNominated
Astra Film Awards December 8, 2024 Best PictureSing SingNominated [46]
Best Adapted ScreenplayClint Bentley and Greg KwedarNominated
Best Actor Colman Domingo Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Clarence Maclin Nominated
Austin Film Critics Association January 6, 2025 Best FilmSing SingNominated [47]
Best ActorColman DomingoWon
Best Supporting ActorClarence MaclinNominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Greg Kwedar and Clint BentleyWon
Best EnsembleSing SingWon
Best Austin Film 2024Won
Black Reel Awards February 10, 2025 Outstanding Film Pending [48]
Outstanding Lead Performance Colman DomingoPending
Outstanding Supporting Performance Clarence MaclinPending
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance Pending
Outstanding Ensemble Greg KwedarPending
Outstanding Original Song "Like a Bird" – Adrian Quesada and Abraham AlexanderPending
Boston Society of Film Critics December 8, 2024 Best Ensemble Cast Sing SingWon [49]
Chicago Film Critics Association December 12, 2024 Best Actor Colman DomingoNominated [50]
Best Supporting Actor Clarence MaclinNominated
Most Promising PerformerWon
Best Adapted Screenplay Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, & John WhitfieldNominated
Milos Stehlik Award for Breakthrough FilmmakerGreg KwedarNominated
Cinema Eye Honors January 9, 2025 Heterodox AwardSing SingNominated [51]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards January 12, 2025 Best Picture Pending [52]
Best Actor Colman DomingoPending
Best Supporting Actor Clarence MaclinPending
Best Acting Ensemble Sing SingPending
Best Adapted Screenplay Greg Kwedar and Clint BentleyPending
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association December 18, 2024 Best Picture Sing Sing10th Place [53]
Best Actor Colman Domingo4th Place
Best Supporting Actor Clarence Maclin5th Place
Deauville American Film Festival September 15, 2024Grand Special PrizeSing SingNominated [54]
Golden Globe Awards January 5, 2025 Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – DramaColman DomingoNominated [55]
Golden Trailer Awards May 30, 2024 Best Independent TrailerReality Trailer, A24, and Mark Woollen & Associates Nominated [56]
Gotham Awards December 2, 2024 Outstanding Lead Performance Colman DomingoWon [57]
Outstanding Supporting Performance Clarence MaclinWon
Social Justice TributeCast of Sing SingWon [58]
Greater Western New York Film Critics Association January 4, 2025Best Lead ActorColman DomingoWon [59]
Best Adapted ScreenplayGreg Kwedar, Clint Bentley, Clarence Maclin, and John WhitfieldWon
Best Breakthrough PerformanceClarence MaclinWon
Best Supporting ActorNominated
Hamptons International Film Festival October 14, 2024Breakthrough Performer AwardWon [60]
Independent Spirit Awards February 22, 2025 Best Feature Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, and Monique WaltonPending [61]
Best Lead Performance Colman DomingoPending
Best Supporting Performance Clarence MaclinPending
Los Angeles Film Critics Association December 8, 2024 Best Supporting Performance Runner-up [a] [62]
Miami Film Festival April 14, 2024Impact AwardGreg KwedarWon [63]
Middleburg Film Festival October 20, 2024Colman Domingo and Clarence MaclinWon [64]
NAACP Image Awards February 22, 2025 Outstanding Independent Motion Picture Sing SingPending [65]
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Colman DomingoPending
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion PictureClarence MaclinPending
National Board of Review December 4, 2024 Top 10 FilmsSing SingWon [b] [66]
Best Adapted Screenplay Clint Bentley and Greg KwedarWon
New York Film Critics Online December 16, 2024Best PictureSing SingNominated [67]
Best ActorColman DomingoNominated
Best Supporting ActorClarence MaclinRunner-up
Breakthrough PerformerRunner-up
Best Ensemble CastSing SingRunner-up
Palm Springs International Film Festival January 3, 2025 Spotlight AwardColman DomingoWon [68]
San Diego Film Critics Society December 9, 2024 Best Picture Sing SingWon [69]
Best Director Greg KwedarNominated
Best Actor Colman DomingoWon
Best Supporting Actor Clarence MaclinNominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Craig Bentley and Greg KwedarWon
Best Cinematography Pat ScolaNominated
Best Ensemble Sing SingNominated
Best Stunt ChoreographyNominated
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle December 15, 2024 Best Film Nominated [70]
Best Actor Colman DomingoWon
Best Supporting Actor Clarence MaclinNominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin and John "Divine G" WhitfieldWon
Santa Barbara International Film Festival February 9, 2025 Virtuoso Award Clarence MaclinWon [71]
Satellite Awards January 26, 2025 Best Motion Picture – Drama Sing SingNominated [72]
Best Director Greg KwedarNominated
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama Colman DomingoWon
Best Supporting Actor Clarence MaclinNominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, and John "Divine G" WhitfieldNominated
SCAD Savannah Film Festival November 2, 2024Spotlight AwardColman DomingoWon [73]
Screen Actors Guild Awards February 23, 2025 Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Pending [74]
Seattle Film Critics Society December 16, 2024 Best PictureSing SingNominated [75]
Best Lead ActorColman DomingoWon
Best Supporting ActorClarence MaclinWon
Best Ensemble Greg KwedarNominated
Seattle International Film Festival May 27, 2024Golden Space Needle Award: Best FilmSing SingWon [76]
Southwest Film & TV Festival March 16, 2024Audience Award: Festival FavoriteWon [77]
St. Louis Film Critics Association December 15, 2024 Best Film Nominated [78]
Best Actor Colman DomingoWon
Best Supporting Actor Clarence MaclinNominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Greg Kwedar and Clint BentleyNominated
Best EnsembleSing SingNominated
Toronto Film Critics Association December 15, 2024 Best Lead Performance Colman DomingoRunner-up [79]
Best Supporting Performance Clarence MaclinRunner-up
Best Breakthrough Performance Won
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association December 8, 2024 Best Film Sing SingNominated [80]
Best Actor Colman DomingoWon
Best Supporting Actor Clarence MaclinNominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Clint Bentley, Greg KwedarNominated
Best Acting Ensemble Sing SingNominated

Notes

  1. ↑ Tied with Adam Pearson for A Different Man .
  2. ↑ This award does not have a single winner, but recognizes multiple films.

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