See It/Skip It: “Sing Sing” and “The Instigators”

Here we are in August, the dog days of summer. If you’ve already seen big movies like Deadpool & Wolverine (entertaining fan service, minus a plot), you may be looking for something else to watch while you enjoy some air conditioning.

Two new releases promise entertainment, but only one of them delivers. Here are my reviews of Sing Sing and The Instigators.

Trust the Process

The better of the two is Sing Sing, a moving and authentic film about the RTA (Rehabilitation Through the Arts) troupe at Sing Sing prison. Based on a 2005 Esquire article, “The Sing Sing Follies,” which was written by John H. Richardson, the film is centered around Divine G (Colman Domingo), who’s serving time for a murder he claims he did not commit. Divine G is a true theater devotee, but his professional acting dreams have been derailed by his bad choices, so while incarcerated, he spends nearly all his time working on plays. He finds purpose in being one of the troupe’s leaders (alongside its actual leader, Brent Buell, played by Paul Raci). 

When a new member joins RTA, the rough-around-the-edges Divine Eye (Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin, playing himself), the dynamic of the troupe changes, and Divine G feels like his place in it is threatened. As the group develops their latest play — a comedy that incorporates everything from Egyptian kings to Freddy Krueger — Divine G begins to confront his own demons. Gradually, the the two Divines develop a bond and they realize they have more in common than previously thought. 

Directed by Greg Kwedar, who co-wrote the screenplay with Clint Bentley, Sing Sing has multiple praiseworthy aspects. Perhaps the most notable one is that nearly every member of its cast is a formerly incarcerated alumni member of the RTA program, including Maclin. Each gives an impressive performance that’s sincere and earnest. Kwedar shoots the film in frequent close-up, forcing audiences to see the humanity inside every single actor. You can’t look away, and you don’t want to.

While Maclin leaves an indelible impression in his first film role, it’s Domingo’s beautiful performance that should put butts in seats. An actor who can display grit and grace in equal measure, Domingo’s work here is among his best — and his most generous. He may be the most recognizable member of the cast, but he often blends right into the ensemble, making room for all of his co-stars to shine. 

(The film’s other recognizable face belongs to Raci, who was very good in — and Oscar-nominated for — Sound of Metal, a 2020 release that deserved a much bigger audience than it got. Stupid pandemic.)

Sing Sing has some predictable beats, but it’s definitely not a typical “prison movie.” It’s a deeply affecting story about redemption and the power of the arts, and it’s one of the better movies I’ve seen so far this year.

I give it an A–.

A Little Late for a Career Change, Ain’t It?

On the other hand, The Instigators is a shoo-in for the worst movie of the year. Matt Damon and Casey Affleck (the latter cowrote the screenplay) play two down-on-their-luck, blue collar workers, Rory and Cobby, who take on what’s supposed to be an easy snatch-and-grab job, stealing from the mayor (Hellboy himself, Ron Perlman). But nothing’s ever that easy, and this job goes south pretty quickly, sending the duo on a twisted escape route through the city of Boston.

If the two lead actors and that plot don’t give it away, The Instigators may be the most gratuitous Boston movie ever. The producers include Damon himself and Casey’s brother, Ben, and they clearly worked hard to get director Doug Liman (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Go) carte blanche to shoot anywhere in the city he wanted to — including a car chase that winds from Boylston Street to Storrow Drive, down the Esplanade, across the Mass Ave. Bridge to Memorial Drive, onto Route 93, and into the tunnel. There’s even a scene that takes place at Fenway Park for absolutely no reason. And a cameo appearance by Rob Gronkowski. All the film needed was a Dropkick Murphys song on the soundtrack. 

Actually, what the film really needed was a better screenplay, stronger direction (this is Liman’s second fail this year after his Road House remake), and actors who know how to do a convincing Boston accent — no one, not Damon, Affleck, Perlman, Paul Walter Hauser, Alfred Molina, Michael Stuhlbarg (who looks and sounds like he’s trying to channel Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting, if Williams was playing a gangster), Jack Harlow, or Toby Jones gets it right. Really, only Hong Chau comes out of this one unscathed. (Fine. And Ving Rhames, but that’s because he’s Marcellus Wallace.)

The movie barely makes any sense, the stakes don’t feel real, and never once will you care one iota about whether Rory or Cobby succeed. It’s all just a giant mess.

The Instigators received only a limited theatrical release, so chances are good that most people who see this one will stream it on AppleTV+ — if they can stand to watch it the whole thing. I almost turned the film off after a half hour, but for some reason, I stuck with it. Big mistake. In the end, the only thing that was stolen was an hour and 40 minutes of my time. 

I give The Instigators a D.

Sing Sing is in theaters now. The Instigators will begin streaming on AppleTV+ on August 9.