Growing up, I never considered becoming an actor. Even though I visited the local movie theater just about every Friday night during my teenage years like clockwork to watch the latest releases — I enjoyed the storytelling and escapism — I never imagined it as a profession. Fast forward to the present day and my time working within Los Angeles may have ended (along with my screen credits), but I realize that some people absolutely need it in order to survive.
Some of those people founded Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA), a non-profit organization founded in 1996 at Sing Sing Correctional Facility to bring theater, music, dance and other art forms to the incarcerated. For some of these individuals, this program was all they had. There was nothing else. It was their only escape from the real world, so when those horrors eventually creep back in, it was an incredibly painful experience.
Sing Sing is a feature film that provides hope for those with very little, stuck in a very bad situation.
Primarily featuring the on-screen talents of two professional actors, Colman Domingo and Paul Raci, the rest of the film is filled out by ex-cons who previously participated in the program, bringing a real-life grittiness to this based-on-a-true-story release. The fact that it’s gaining widespread attention during the awards season is an incredible feat, itself, because for a long time, the movie almost didn’t get made.
But when the cast and crew agreed to the same daily salary based on their involvement, in exchange for later profit potential, it was fully financed and later picked up by distributor A24 Films. I’ve got to say that was a very smart idea.
Sing Sing begins as the performers consider putting on a new play. Domingo’s Divine G only writes serious scripts, but the new guy, Divine Eye (playing himself), requests something a little lighter for the inmates to enjoy: a comedy. After each man requests something random for a storyline, the director, Brent Buell (Paul Raci) offers a compromise: He writes a script throwing in each of the demands into one ridiculous storyline.
This time travel tale includes ancient Egypt, pirates, the Wild West, the Black Plague, Roman gladiators, a couple of dance numbers, Freddy Krueger and a Hamlet soliloquy following an Egyptian prince trying to find his mummy. All of this is a big ask for the untrained actors. It should come as no surprise that the tryouts are entertaining, as each actor has very different takes.
Tensions rise immediately, as Divine G, the Shakespearean regular and founder of the group, loses the role to Divine Eye, which is ironic because the new guy chose the only dramatic role within the entire comedy, a format which he personally requested.
“Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.”
Sometimes the details of bending the fabric of time get in the way of the inmates, but they finally realize suspension of disbelief is necessary to make this comedy to work. This acting troupe has become a group therapy of sorts, as men don’t normally share feelings and emotions with each other. There are breakdowns, many emotions, the death of a strong character, the injustice of it all… it’s a lot to take in. But somehow, Breakin’ the Mummy’s Code works, and all of these inmates make great actors.
Actors playing actors can be incredibly ingratiating, but this group of men playing actors really works here. Their acting is escapism for both the characters and the audience, but it’s also based on real life. The positive theme of not giving up, to keep on grinding even if you have momentary lapses of faith, is prevalent. Divine G believes in the others, even when he can’t believe in himself.
I’m not gonna lie, there were lots of emotions flowing both from an ex-con returning to the acting group to wish the group luck, but also from me, as I felt his pain and happiness from being on the outside. I really like how this film mainly focuses on the acting practices, the group time, the rehearsal and eventually final performance instead of showcasing their dreadful time behind bars, away from the stage.
Ever since Colman Domingo left Fear The Walking Dead, he has inched ever so close toward that Academy Award trophy, on a yearly basis. This could very well be his year, as I absolutely felt his performance in every scene of this film. It’s about time. He’s been passed over too many times. He truly deserves it. He’s great here, but Divine Eye especially deserves some acting accolades, as well. I was shocked how this gangster from the streets finally opens up his true feelings, finally uncovering layers of himself that have been hidden from his life on the streets. His eventual transformation is awesome.
The overall story is simply great, and during the end credits, a home recording of the actual play is shown, which is a sight to see!
You might have heard that Sing Sing is receiving a lot of coverage during awards season, and for good reason. The writing and directing is incredible and the acting is powerful. I will definitely be nominating this film’s acting, as well as the overall feature film, itself, in the upcoming Music City Film Critics Association Awards. I hope you will give this movie a chance to touch your heart.
“No acting allowed… let’s listen to each other.”