SING SING-Colman Domingo Stars as an Inmate in a Theater Program

Colman Domingo stars as John Whitfield, the man who served a 25 years on a wrongly convicted murder charge. While incarcerated, Whitfield immersed himself in a theater program known as "Rehabilitation Through the Arts" (RTA). SING SING is the maximum security prison located just outside NYC along the scenic shores of the Hudson River. Whitfield and his fellow inmates served their sentences at SING SING and devoted themselves to putting on plays for the prison population. What makes this film sing so to speak, is the healing and friendships achieved by the inmates while working in the theater group. The most heartfelt message came from one of the inmates who explained their motivation, "We do this so we can feel human again for a while." Incarceration without rehabilitation is dehumanizing and feeds the cycle of recidivism. The astonishing ensemble of actors in SING SING are mostly former inmates portraying themselves as prior members in this theatre program. Domingo's acting talents soar in his Oscar nominated portrayal along with the other two professional actors, Sean Jose as inmate Mike Mike and Paul Raci as the group's director. But the real stars are the former inmates. Though based on real people, the movie is not a documentary. It's disingenuous to see prison life portrayed in a cleaner and calmer setting than the brutal and harsh environment expected. Rather the artistic lighting and appealing cinematography soften the lens in which we view prison life. But the camera lights upon   feelings of isolation and longings for the outside world. The scenes between Whitfield and Mike Mike across their prison cells on a hot summer night cast a golden hue that mitigate a sense of desolation. Furthermore, the emotional impact of Whitfield's release from prison or his parole denial don't resonate with heartless injustice or utter jubilation as warranted. The arch of redemption for Clarence' redemption having jioined RTA and befriend by Whitfield is too swift and total to be credible. Still, when the actors played themselves auditioning or rehearsing, their vulnerabilities and enthusiasm make this well worth watching. The most poignant scene has the actual John Whitfield visit his former cast mates as an ex-con. He describes his life on the outside as both liberating and lonely. SING SING cleverly mocks itself when a stoic panel of philanthropists watch the inmates perform prior to deciding whether to fund their program.The film SING SING is astounding in a myriad of ways and serves to advocate for funding redemptive programs such as RTA.The finale shows footage of actual performances by RTA providing resounding Reasons to Admire the power of the arts to inspire.