I join Shane Hewitt on his Bell Media Radio Network show to talk about Maya Rudolph returning to “Saturday Night Live” to play Kamala Harris in the show’s upcoming, landmark 50th season, the impact of pop stars like Ariana Grande on the upcoming American election and why Hollywood now says, “Our movies are for everyone!”
Then, I returned to the show for “Boozwe and Reviews.” This week we talk about the up-lifting prison set movie “Sing Sing” and learn how to make “toilet wine.”
SYNOPSIS: Based on real events, “Sing Sing,” a new drama starring Colman Domingo, and now playing in theatres, sees a group of Sing Sing Correctional Facility prisoners, members of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program, stage their own original play, the time travelling comedy “Breakin’ The Mummy’s Code.”
CAST: Colman Domingo, Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin, Sean San José, Paul Raci, David “Dap” Giraudy, Patrick “Preme” Griffin, Jon-Adrian Velazquez, Sean “Dino” Johnson
REVIEW: The unusual story of a group of prisoners who discover the power of art as a vehicle to break the self-imposed stereotypes that have shaped their lives, is a powerful, moving one. Dripping with empathy, “Sing Sing” has a theatre kid vibe, in an unconventional setting, that is infectious.
“Oz,” this ain’t.
Leading the charge is Domingo, hot off an Academy Award nomination for “Rustin.” His John “Divine G” Whitfield is an erudite character. In prison for murder, he writes plays, always has words of encouragement for fellow inmates and believes in the power of art to build community. But under a serene façade is boiling resentment and anger, disguised by a broad smile or studious look. It’s a lovely performance, filled with heart and hope, but also a hint of anguish for a life spent behind bars.
The rest of the cast, almost entirely made up of former Sing Sing Correctional Facility convicts, adds not only authenticity, but proof that the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program works. Their natural, committed performances show the inmates in a different light than we’re used to seeing in prison films. These are people who have made mistakes, no question, but who are much more than their mistakes and intimidating face tattoos. They are real people, who, as one of them says are in the group “to become human again and enjoy things that are not in our reality.”
The uplift and empathy on display is such a departure from prison set movies, it would be easy to be cynical about a movie like “Sing Sing.” But in its specificity the story becomes a universal story of the redemptive power of art and community. It’s a crowd-pleaser, and if you are prepared to give yourself to it, you may want to bring along some Kleenex.
I join Shane Hewitt on his Bell Media Radio Network show to talk about Maya Rudolph returning to “Saturday Night Live” to play Kamala Harris in the show’s upcoming, landmark 50th season, the impact of pop stars like Ariana Grande on the upcoming American election and why Hollywood now says, “Our movies are for everyone!”
