Black Bear Pictures

Sing Sing (2023): A Feel Good Drama Showcasing Light in the Darkest of Places

Posted on by Jack Drees

DISCLAIMER: Before we begin this review, I want to remind everyone reading this, while I do my best to keep certain details away regarding the film, there are parts of this review that involve some things in the movie that surprised me. I talk about those points in this review and chances are it COULD affect your viewing experience if you see them yourself. It is hard to call these points spoilers, because it does not necessarily have to do with the plot, but it does involve something that if you had zero idea about it going into this movie, I will probably ruin the reveal for you. All I will say is, if you want to see these surprises the way I did, click out of this review, and go see “Sing Sing” yourself. Otherwise, enjoy my thoughts on the movie!

“Sing Sing” is directed by Greg Kwedar (Transpecos, Rising from Ashes) and stars Colman Domingo (Lincoln, Fear the Walking Dead), Clarence Maclin, Sean San José (Life Tastes Good, Dream for an Insomniac), and Paul Raci (Parks and Recreation, Sound of Metal). This film is set in a maximum security prison where a group of men who work on plays together do all they can to bring their latest production to life.

When you go to the movies as often as I do, chances are you will run into an endless barrage of trailers. Sometimes you might get anywhere between four to eight in a single screening. Despite my constant eyeing of the screen, I cannot say I am able to witness everything the studios are putting out. Heck, I recall only seeing a trailer for “Deadpool & Wolverine” in theaters once before it came out. Although if you count that little thing they did before certain movies with the two leads telling the audience not to use their phones, I guess you can say I saw some other marketing material for the film as well. But my point is, my experience with the marketing for “Sing Sing” is next to none. At least for what I recall. I say this despite knowing one of the problems of being a frequent AMC customer is that I get so many trailers in select screenings that it is sometimes difficult to remember them all. I heard about the concept of the “Sing Sing” and I figured it could be a pleasing time. But the only reason why I went to go see this movie in the first place is because the screening for it was free.

It feels nice going into a movie blind. Especially as someone who is so constantly exposed to everything the studios are trying to sell me. But of course, compared to some of the other movies out this summer, I did not have a ton of excitement for “Sing Sing.” Although that is for good reason, because I did not know enough about “Sing Sing” to get excited. However, I can confirm I am quite excited to discuss this movie because it was a great experience. This is one of those movies, kind of like “CODA,” that is going to stick with me emotionally months after leaving the theater. To be clear, I do not think this film is as good as “CODA,” but much like “CODA,” “Sing Sing” was wholesome, moving, and beautiful.

There is a saying that you should not judge a book by its cover. And “Sing Sing” sort of fits that idea. Because when I look at this title, I think of innocence, I think of unity, I think of community, I think of… Well… Singing… For those who do not know, and I did not know this going in, Sing Sing is the name given to a prison where this movie is set. The name is derived from a Native American tribe. Despite that, this movie shows how much the act of performing is in the blood of several people staying here. You have a set of people who take plays seriously, some who enjoy being comedic, and you also have people doing this in order to forget about their troubles. The reality is that as someone who has never set foot inside of a prison, I will never know what it is like to be incarcerated, to spend a night in jail, to do time. Nothing of that sort, but this movie presents the universal concept of escapism and does so through the lens of people who perhaps deep down hope to achieve it more than most. I go to the movies as often as I can, but I realize how lucky I am to be able to do that on a regular basis. These are people who have the plays at Sing Sing as one of their only ways to forget their troubles. Whether they are there for a crime they committed or put there for the wrong reasons, all of these people share a common bond, and it is nice to see here.

The star of this movie is Colman Domingo, and he easily shines in the lead role. He comes off as the serious one of the group sometimes, but I feel deep down he is willing to drive himself out of his comfort zone. Domingo has some memorable scenes as John “Divine G” Whitfield and it still feels too early to tell if this performance will be up for awards contention, but I think Domingo has given one of my favorites so far this year. This film is not the strongest at the box office. It has been out for weeks and only recently crossed the two million dollar mark. Granted, it never had a large number of showtimes, and it does not have the star power of say “Deadpool & Wolverine.” Colman Domingo is without a doubt the movie’s biggest name. The only other person I recognized in the cast, and it actually took me a bit to figure out what his name actually was despite knowing his face, was Paul Raci. Boy oh boy is it great seeing him here, because I loved his performance in “Sound of Metal” and he manages to bring a similar feel to his portrayal here. He comes off as the voice of wisdom of the bunch. Much like his outing in “Sound of Metal,” Raci brings a calming, welcoming presence to his character. I very much enjoyed seeing him in another role and hope this is not the last I see of him.

As mentioned, this film does not have the biggest stars. However, as far as I am concerned, I do not think that is a bad thing. Because “Sing Sing” manages to cast a group of people that may not have been my first choice, but seeing this film made me realize I would not want this cast to be any different than the way it is.

This movie reminds me a bit of “The 15:17 to Paris,” Clint Eastwood’s biographical drama about three men and their journey leading up to a train attack. For those of you who have not read my review, I can tell you it is absolutely insufferable and obscenely uneventful. But one thing I remember from that movie is that the main characters are played by the real people attached to the true event the movie bases itself upon. While creative, I could honestly tell they were not the greatest thespians. This leads me to one of my praises for this film, I am marveled by the performances given by some of the prisoners, especially because they are played by actual people who were imprisoned at Sing Sing. And while I may not be able to recognize these people compared to some of the big movie stars we see on screen today, when the credits rolled and the cast was revealed, I was taken aback by this group’s acting abilities. Granted, maybe I should not have been too surprised considering they have acting experience through plays, but I thought this was a professional group of people trying to be someone else. The definition of acting is playing pretend, that is traditionally what I would expect from most situations. Can you have people play themselves? Sure. There have been cases where it has happened and it has worked. But “Sing Sing” is not just a case where it worked, it is a case where I found myself heavily immersed into each performance on display.

Going back to “The 15:17 to Paris,” when the film was over, I looked at the actors on screen, thought their performances could have been better, and came up with my own interpretations of some more professional people that could take their place. That is not the case with “Sing Sing,” as every single person in the cast kills their respective role. It is hard to tell if these actors playing themselves are going to be contenders for awards in the coming months, but I think it would not just cool to see, but legitimately fitting, to see these people get a Best Ensemble nomination at the SAG Awards, because I bought the entire group, and I think you will too.

“Sing Sing” tackles a lot in one picture. It deals with people’s reputations, toxic masculinity, and the value of teamwork just to name a few topics. And all of these ideas are handled well. Above all, “Sing Sing” shows how art can bring people together. It also shows the value of escapism and being able to become the person you want to be. It is definitely a serious picture at times, but if you are looking for straight-up fun, this movie has a shockingly decent amount. I found myself smiling quite a bit during this film’s runtime.

One last thing, this regards the film’s ending. The film makes a certain choice at the end, and honestly, I was surprised by the direction they decided to take things. It almost felt unfinished and out of left field, like I was waiting for the big event to happen, only for the movie to tell me it is not happening. But as I saw what the film presents as an alternative, I thought it was a brilliant move. This direction was wholesome, it was lovely, and it was satisfying. As I said, I smiled quite a bit during this movie, and this was one of those times. This film is not all smiles and laughs, but I would recommend you check this movie out. Maybe it will bring out some emotions of your own.

In the end, “Sing Sing” totally sings. This is one of the better movies I have seen this year. While it is probably not my favorite, it is one that I will be thinking about as we get closer to awards season. Unfortunately, not many people saw this movie. Remember how I mentioned the rather low box office total for this film? Sadly, I could not contribute to it, I was able to see this film for free. But I urge you to check this movie out as soon as you can. Whether you are able to buy a ticket for this movie, watch it when it comes out on home video, or even at a free screening like I did, I hope you see it and enjoy it as much as I did. I hope more people spread the word about this picture. It is a must watch for sure. I am going to give “Sing Sing” a 9/10.

“Sing Sing” is now playing in theaters. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! My next review is going to be for “Borderlands,” the new film based on the video game of the same name. Also coming soon, I will share my thoughts on “Skincare,” the new thriller starring Elizabeth Banks as an aesthetician. And if that is not enough to satisfy you, I will also be talking about films like “My Old Ass,” “Reagan,” and “It Ends with Us.” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Sing Sing?” What did you think about it? Or, is there any way that art has helped you in your life? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Dumb Money (2023): A True Story Rich in Humor and Stars

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Dumb Money” is directed by Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya, Cruella) and stars Paul Dano (The Batman, The Fabelmans), Pete Davidson (The King of Staten Island, Big Time Adolescence), Vincent D’Onofrio (Daredevil, Full Metal Jacket), America Ferrera (Barbie, How to Train Your Dragon), Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation, The Founder), Anthony Ramos (In the Heights, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts), Sebastian Stan (Captain America: The First Avenger, I, Tonya), Shailene Woodley (Divergent, Big Little Lies), and Seth Rogen (Neighbors, Sausage Party). This film is inspired by Ben Mezrich’s “The Antisocial Network,” a book based on true events. The story of “Dumb Money” captures ordinary people subverting the expectations of Wall Street and turning GameStop into the hottest company on the stock market.

I never got involved in the stock market in any capacity throughout my life. It is just something I have never gotten around to. But even as someone who has never gotten involved, there were times in 2021 where I could not scroll through social media without seeing something related to GameStop, or heck, even AMC Theatres. Both companies were the talks of the town at the time because a ton of people kept buying their stock, and on the surface, it felt like an ongoing joke, but for some people, it was more than that. This is a fascinating story. Therefore, I was surprised, but also delighted, that people were making a movie of this caliber on it as soon as they were. On the surface, the cast is fantastic. Many of them either had recent roles that were highlights of their respective works or have maintained careers that have kept my attention for a long time.

When I think of the GameStop stock story, part of me wants to laugh about it. I mean, come on! It is a physical media company that is as much the butt of the joke as it is synonymous with its own industry. If you live in an area where used game stores are a rarity, chances are you will, even with recent closures, have a GameStop or two within close distance. I am a GameStop customer and shop there multiple times a year. I don’t think all their business practices are great, but they usually provide a decent experience if you are looking for something in particular. In fact, I almost ended up working for GameStop in my teens. Having seen this film, I realize that as much as it highlights the people who are investing in GameStop, it is not afraid to joke about some of the things the company has done. Additionally, “Dumb Money” seems to satirize retail environments in general. I previously worked in retail. Not at GameStop, but still. And this kind of took me back in a way. One of my favorite segments of the movie is this bond between a GameStop employee and their boss. Each scene between them got a laugh out of me. This movie highlights, as I previously knew, the fact that GameStop remained open during the pandemic as an essential business. Sure, it sold certain technologies that people often used during the pandemic, but it is far from the most essential of businesses.

My favorite dig this movie does towards the large gaming chain is when they reference the idea of employees doing a TikTok dance challenge as part of a company contest. This is true by the way. The moment I heard that joke, I was in shock, and then in amazement. Because I nearly forgot that happened. Or more specifically, that it almost did. For those who don’t know, GameStop proposed a challenge to its employees to dance to a song on TikTok in the hopes of achieving extra hours on Black Friday week. This is the thing I love about “Dumb Money,” it is a film that balances humor and respect towards its subject matter. But at the end of the day, it is also a film that tells marvelous tales of underdogs.

There are several underdogs in this movie, and their stories are all compelling. In fact, one of those underdogs is a GameStop employee played by Anthony Ramos. If I did not suggest it already, I enjoyed his presence in the film and his character was well written. Meanwhile you have a couple college students trying to strike it rich. Both of whom are wonderfully played by Myha’la Herrold and Talia Ryder. On another side of the spectrum is a struggling nurse named Jenny, played by America Ferrera, whose presence oozed of charisma every moment she was on screen. But at the center of it all is Keith Gill, who spends his off time from his job on the Internet talking about stocks and Wall Street. The working man and family background of this character made him a compelling protagonist, in addition to Paul Dano’s acting method.

I like all the characters in “Dumb Money,” and I must say the antagonists of the film, specifically those more connected with Wall Street such as Seth Rogen’s Gabe Plotkin, are also fun to watch. At times, this movie basically spitballs who to root for, which is not a hard thing for me to do considering the personality traits and backbones of the antagonists. But there is one scene that perhaps over-embellishes the necessity to root against Gabe. This movie is set during the early-ish days of the COVID-19 pandemic. And one of the earliest things we learn about Gabe is that he and his family now own a new place in Florida so they could party hard during the pandemic. I was, and still am to a degree, one of those people who takes the recent events of the pandemic seriously. I am not perfect, but I still keep everything about it in the back my mind. I remember when the pandemic first started, my family and I had to balance our finances because of the way the economy flipped on its head. And I was primarily concerned about getting my grandparents sick. Meanwhile, this guy is more concerned about being able to party like an animal. The difference here is obvious.

“Dumb Money” is one of those stories that highlights the divide between classes. You have Wall Street up at the top and people like Keith Gill, who is not poor, but making chump change in comparison. It shows how even people at the top feel like they might not have enough despite their enormous success. Meanwhile, this GameStop story, whether it will be remembered more as a triumph for people outside Wall Street or as a silly meme that caught a lot of people’s attention, shows that there may be room for regular people when it comes to striking it big on the stock market. This is a story set in recent times that often delivers humor highlighting said times. I am wondering how well this movie is going to age as a comedy because some of its humor is COVID-driven, but there are plenty of other jokes emitting a more timeless feel to balance it out. “Dumb Money” is very funny, entertaining, and brings out a heck of a story. Before this movie, I looked at the GameStop stock trend as a silly fad, but this movie presents it as something more. And that’s probably the best thing about it. It added depth to this subject for me that I was not expecting. A job well done is in order to everyone involved with this movie.

In the end, “Dumb Money” is rich in excellence. It is not my favorite movie of the year, but when it comes to comedy, this movie has a ton of laughs, and as a drama, it is way more compelling than it needs to be. It presents all these individual stories from different walks of life and makes one big, masterful connection out of all of them. “Dumb Money” is neither short on stars or chuckles. Go check it out if you get a chance. I am going to give “Dumb Money” a 7/10.

“Dumb Money” is now playing in theaters everywhere. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! Stay tuned because I have reviews coming for “It Lives Inside,” “Dicks: The Musical,” and “Killers of the Flower Moon!” But in addition to those reviews, I have my last review of the Ridley Scottober series dropping this week. If you want to read my reviews in the series so far, you can check out my thoughts on “Body of Lies,” “Gladiator,” and “All the Money in the World.” As for this last review coming up, I must claim it is a big one. I am talking about “Blade Runner!” Make sure you check out these reviews, past and future, when you get a chance! And you can do so by following Scene Before either with an email or a WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Dumb Money?” What did you think about it? Or, do you shop at GameStop? If not, what is your gaming store of choice? Do you even play video games? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!