Sing Sing took its sweet time to arrive at my local theater and, at this point, I was surprised to see it. I figured it’d amble onto digital streaming in a day or two but I’m happy I spent part of my afternoon catching up on something everyone else has already, ahem, sung about.

To get it out of the way, I was deeply disappointed the title wasn’t the pun I thought it was. I knew the premise of the movie – inmates at Sing Sing Correctional spend their time performing – but I assumed there’d be singing. That Sing Sing was about to shiv the Sing films over what it’s really like to perform modern music. But, no, their performances are all about acting, not singing. Adjusting to that was easy though since the premise is still sound.

The premise being a real story about the real prison allowing real inmates to perform in their real imprisoned lives. It stars many of the actual inmates too… and you can often tell (not that they are bad, but that they carry themselves differently). That and I don’t think a real Hollywood actor would have a tire-read tribal tattoo straight down his face.

There’s something demanding, commanding, and real about all these big tough guys who would scare me in the real world doing something on stage I would be too scared to do myself. And I love how it matters… that they get to do something that takes them out of their prison lives just for a bit.

They are joined by Colman Domingo’s goddamn commanding voice as a reminder when Morgan Freeman retires, he can take up his job as movie god and narrator. But beyond that voice, he gives one of his most challenging and emotional performances. If the movie gods don’t nominate him for best actor, I will.

I wish the movie was just a tad better, more going for the gut like Ghostlight did with a similar “art is life” theme. But it’s still pretty great with a different type of emotional heft. I’m glad it graced my local theater… before hitting overpriced rental in a couple days.

Score: 89