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These are actual audition tapes used to cast the film

Chronology

Divine G, who was not convicted while incarcerated at Sing Sing, finds purpose by performing with other incarcerated men in a theater group in this story about perseverance, humanity, and the transformative power of art. The film features the actors rehearsing for various parts of the play. The group has been criticized for not doing comedy, but their previous play was A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which is a comedy.

The Blades were composed by Bryce Dessner

Late Night with Seth Meyers: Anna Faris/ Colman Domingo/ Jose Medeles (2024). When everything in your life is taken away, it’s almost impossible to find something to give you a reason to keep going. The same goes for incarcerated people, who face an uncertain future for an indefinite period of time.

And in such difficult circumstances, one can’t help but wonder if rehabilitation is actually a viable option

For some, however, there is hope through an unlikely source—the arts—as shown in this fact-based drama about the inmate theater program at New York City’s Sing Sing maximum security prison. With a cast that includes both professional actors and current and former members of the talented incarcerated troupe, viewers witness the highs and lows of these men as they strive to bring meaning—and hope—to their time behind bars. Director Greg Kwedar’s second film gives a closer look at the lives of these aspiring actors, both onstage and in their everyday lives, in circumstances that most of us probably couldn’t even begin to imagine.

I’ve seen it in quite a while

While the film’s narrative is admittedly a bit thin and convoluted at times, it more than makes up for it in the film’s excellent acting, led by Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin, Paul Raci, and Sean. San Jose, who, like almost everyone else in this fine ensemble, brings unparalleled depth to his characters and interpersonal relationships, is easily among the best works in these areas. In doing so, this offering also takes the audience on a rollercoaster of emotions, from uplifting joys to heartfelt disappointments, revealing the immense strength of character that drives such individuals.

This is especially poignant considering that many of the characters in the production can relate to their circumstances from first-hand experience, thus infusing the film with an unwavering authenticity rarely seen on the big screen

For its efforts, "Sing Sing" has a good chance of becoming a contender for the 2024 season, especially in the acting categories, and shows us what’s possible when we let our passions surface for their own sake, especially when we have nothing to lose by doing so, providing a real source of inspiration from someone we least expect.