Sing Sing

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⭐8.5/10

This movie garnered quite a bit of buzz when it came out a few years back. It's based on the true story of a prison inmate serving a long murder sentence, and so he creates a drama program to help rehabilitate inmates.  Probably the most unique characteristic of this movie is that many of the actors in it play themselves, all graduates of the program having been former inmates. Pretty cool! 

There's more to the movie, like a subplot about how the main guy, Divine G, is actually innocent (the trial is unresolved in reality but he's been out on parole), and there are themes of healing and all, but to me, I loved what turned out to kinda be an existential exploration about the power of art and the things that make life worth living. Divine G tries to keep positive in prison, but is brought to his limit, and really only has art and this brotherhood to fall back on. It's pretty special stuff and Colman Domingo gives a pretty special performance. 

I think a movie with this description is at risk of becoming cringey or melodramatic, but it toes that line pretty well in my opinion mostly because these are real inmates! The dialogue sounds pretty authentic, or at least I can't question it because these actors would know better than me. Plus one thing I know is that men in prison, especially ones focused on rehabilitation, really do speak powerfully and emotionally, knowing the type of language needed to express themselves after countless support groups.  I thought a secondary character, Divine Eye (the two most important characters are called Divine, don't ask me why) was kinda the centre of the movie, allowing us to see the power of this group in real time. Part of me wanted to be skeptical, but I was won over and endeared.

This movie is also just better than you'd think. It's got some nice artistic flourishes, good camera work, good music. It could have so easily been a Netflix slop and been very successful doing so, but this was clearly made by people who take pride in their craft and it shows. 

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