33/12

These are actual audition tapes used to cast the movie

Line of Events

Divine G, imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn't commit, finds purpose by acting in a theater group alongside other incarcerated men in this story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art the movie the cast is trying out for various parts in the play. Featured in Late Night with Seth Meyers: Anna Faris/ Colman Sunday/Joseph Medeles (2024).

Composed by Bryce Dessner

This was a very competently and professionally made film that is somewhat marred by a lack of major plot elements. The film itself is mostly solid on all technical fronts.

Unfortunately, it seems that way for the entire film

The dialogue is real and raw, the arc and pacing is just right, and the acting is extremely solid. However, in none of these facets does the film truly excel.

There are a lot of good things happening: layered conversations and meaning, nice musical choices, understood stakes

However, nothing really exemplary.Perhaps this film's greatest sin is its dedication to the genre of character driven drama. I can truly appreciate a slow burn, but there are long stretches of the film in which nothing happens and, at some level, have no staked outcome on the story.

The cost is that a central theme, or plot if there is one, is muddied

Perhaps this is a give an take — the ambiance of the film works great, combined with the shaky-cam style of photography gives a real and raw energy. It is certainly worth a watch, but for me it ends up a little bit boring.