These are actual audition tapes used to cast the film
Synopsis
Divine G, imprisoned in Sing Sing for a crime he didn’t commit, finds purpose in performing in a theater group alongside other incarcerated men in this story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art. At the beginning of the film, the cast auditions for various roles in the play. The group is criticized for not doing comedy, but their previous play was A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which is a comedy.
Blades composed by Bryce Dessner
Featured on Late Night with Seth Meyers: Anna Faris/Colman Domingo/Jose Medeles (2024). This was a very competently and professionally made film that is somewhat hampered by the lack of important plot elements. The film itself is solid on all technical fronts.
Unfortunately, that’s how it seems throughout the film
The dialogue is real and raw, the arc and pacing are spot on, and the acting is extremely solid. However, the film doesn’t really excel in any of these areas. There’s a lot of good stuff going on: layered conversations and meanings, good musical choices, sensible risks.
Nothing truly exemplary, though
Perhaps the film’s biggest sin is its dedication to the character-driven drama genre. I really appreciate a slow burn, but there are long stretches of film where nothing happens and, on some level, there’s no payoff at stake in the story. Maybe it’s a give and take – the film’s ambiance works really well, combined with the shaky-cam style of photography, gives it a real, raw energy.
The cost is that a central theme or plot, if any, is unclear
All in all, this is a good film that I’m sure will be a big hit with some people. It’s definitely worth watching, but for me it ends up being a bit dull.
