Sing Sing- Is This One Of The Very Best Of The Year?
Quick Take: Last year, when critics were bouncing around festivals looking for 2023 Oscar contenders, the Toronto International Film Festival landed a buzzy indie that had everyone saying “just wait for 2024”. Coleman Domingo was already firmly in the race with Rustin, and the hope was this little gem would be given room to breathe by entering 2024 an early frontrunner. Then, A24 bought the film, and scheduled it for a summer release. last year, this helped the little indie Past Lives get noticed, but that ultimately led to only two Oscar nominations. In what many consider to be a baffling and botched release, Sing Sing, a sure thing, is looking more and more like it is lucky to be here. The truth is, it is a really good film.
Not only is Coleman Domingo heartbreakingly perfect, but this cast is inspiring, using talent that was incarcerated at Sing Sing and went through this theater program. This is another film this year, following my favorite Ghostlight, that highlights the power of art, and how connection to material can allow someone a cathartic release they would not have had otherwise. Sing Sing does dodge some of the backstories of the supporting cast, so the hope in this inspirational story is that you’re not rooting for someone who molested a bunch of kids, but if you take it at face value, it will speak to you. It also has a killer original song, Like A Bird.
Clarence Macklin is being labeled a standout. He also has writing credits. Considering his screentime is shared with Domingo, who is always excellent, he meets him in every frame. Macklin went through the theater program while being incarcerated, so his story of redemption is beyond just what you see in the film, but his ability to exist as an actor, and make a dramatic shift in his life is what has people responding.
Sing Sing failed to get a Best Drama nomination at the Golden Globes, but I’m fairly certain Oscar voters won’t let this gem slip through the cracks, and I’m betting it’ll have two actors to bring along with it. Who knows if you’ll ever have access to this, as A24 seems to have a mystifying release strategy. Technically, my screener did not have audio description. It might make some slight differences in terms of ranking, but giving me accessibility wouldn’t suddenly cause me to take one of the best films and throw it away. it will still be in the top echelon. For more, check out my video.
