Three years in, what are your thoughts on Sing Sing (2023)?
Even though it got 3 Oscar nominations and a 4.3 on Letterboxd, we dont talk about the brilliance of Sing Sing enough. The story of this movie is very simple: just prison inmates producing a play. But the movie is so much more than that, it has heart, it makes you cry, and it makes you think of the importance of rehabilitation programmes in prisons.
And what I love about this movie is that it doesnt just tell you "rehabilitation is important", it actually walks the walk. 85% of the actors of the movie were previously incarcerated and participated in the Rehabilitation Through Art (RTA) programme, including the brilliant Clarence Maclin, whose role is unbelievable (and I will die on the hill that he deserved a best supporting actor nomination). The RTA was co-founded by John "Divine G" Whitfield (the character played by Colman Domingo), who also co-wrote the story.
Lastly, an appreciation for the work of Colman Domingo, who was just incredible in this movie. I had seen him in a few other things beforehand, but Sing Sing really was the first role I saw him shine, one of the most deserving Oscar nominations of this decade imo
Posted Jun 3, 2026, 11:38 PM UTC