John “Divine G” Whitfield (Colman Domingo) He was imprisoned in Sing Sing years ago for a murder he did not commit. He copes with injustice and insulation thanks to performances in a theater circle. Thanks to subsequent roles, he becomes the star of the institution, valued for acting skills. At one point, another embedded, “Divine Eye” (Clarence Maclin) gets into his safe space. The vulgar and aggressive man at first questions the selection of a new drama to display on stage, and later receives a role that Whitfield saw. Although both of them do not start well, they soon find out how much brotherhood and openness to another person, as well as passion and art mean.
Kwedar does not judge his heroes. From this “why” they found themselves in the title prison, he is more interested in “how”. “How” did their forced insulation change their? “How” In everyday life, art helps them? “How” do they feel not only with the years of the sentence, but also the prospect of returning to society? Emotions here are written in capital letters and delivered in sublime monologues. It often rubs against kitsch, reminiscent of the mentioned “convicts to Shawshank”. Anyway, some scenes from both films are even overlapped. It is enough to mention the hearing of Red (Morgan Freeman) and Whitfield before the commission, which can shorten their judgments.
Emotionality often displaces the form of a story here. This is painful because in the first act the creators use several narrative grips, bringing a simple story to a new level. A hearing for the main role in new art is underway. Whitfield is confident and intends to focus on preparing for a conversation with the commission. However, Divine Eye appears right after him. Cutting and we see John speaking with legal jargon. Is he before the commission? It turns out not. He really practices the text of the episodic character. One passage, and we learn so many new things – that he did not get the role that he was not released from prison. Great treatment. It is a pity that similar ones do not happen later.
It also hurts that as the most interesting thread “Sing Sing”, the role of art in the life of prisoners, disappears with the development of the action. We see this from the perspective of Whitfield and Divine Eye. The first, educated author of several books, is focused primarily on quality – that’s why he treats every role as a professional. The second one does not know the theatrical canon, and acting is a form of escapism for him. This is clearly seen in the discussion about new art. Whitfield is looking for a challenge for himself in the next work of Shakespeare. In turn, Divine Eye proposes something light, original and not necessarily coherent – hence the good will glued the idea for a time machine, ancient Egypt, Hamlet and Freddy Krueger in one. Why take a classic if you can just have fun?
Fortunately, the actors can sell this emotional and places without subtlety history. Colman Domingo received the second in a row for the role of Whitfield and in fullness of a well -deserved Oscar nomination. The actor experiences the best time in his career, and subsequent performances only confirm his extraordinary form. Maclin, for whom it is a debut in front of the camera, matches his step. It is also great to see on the big screen Paul Raciegonominated for an Oscar four years ago for the creation of a mentor character losing hearing music in “Sound of Metal” Darius Madeira. In “Sing Sing” he plays a similar hero – conducting theatrical classes for prisoners, as well as the director and screenwriter of the art they put out. He operates with similar means, giving his form a lot of patience and paternal warmth again.
I don’t write anything about other actors because I don’t want to spoil the most emotional moment of the film. “Sing Sing” begins strongly, but subtly, to later give us everything on a plate and literally push into the face. Surprising that one of the final treatments, very blunt, works. Merit in this not only of the actors, but also the story itself. A simple, not very surprising, abandoning subtlety, but also honest. And again – Domingo is one of the most talented actors working today in Hollywood.
To say – it seems to me that in each of us as recipients of cultural texts are a bit with Whitfield and a bit of Divine Eye. For me, the first one, focused only on the performance, dominated for most of the screening. At the end, however, the second, emotional one came to the fore. I complain that the kitsch, that too blunt, but I would lie if I wrote that the tears did not pound during the screening.
6/10
“Sing Sing”dir. Greg Kwedar, USA 2023
The film “Sing Sing” was screened in Poland as part of the 15th American Film Festival, which took place in Wrocław from November 5 to 11, 2024