Slam

Saul Williams is Ray. He gets caught up in the criminal justice system for a menial crime and finds himself surrounded by gangs, violence, and seemingly no way out. His one escape is his poetry and raps.At the start Ray’s friend gets shot and he gets arrested for running away. He gets charged with possession for selling weed. His public defender say if he fights the case he’ll probably lose and get 10 years but if he pleads guilty he’ll only have to spend 2-3 years. His lawyer says he’s a black man caught in the system and that’s his fate. Like too many he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and has to suffer the consequences.The first part of the film focuses upon his time in prison. Again this is an extension of the system that has him bound. The question is will he loose himself? Will his rhymes and art save him? The second part is about when he gets out and how his experience in jail changes his art and his life.The movie is a low budget independent but it has a lot of truth to it. It tries to lay out some hope for young African American males.

The power of the Word! This film pays homage to the power of the word to change lives, as a mythical figure, who appears in the film as as if he has no family, no friends, but just merely exists on the DC streets--suddenly finds himself locked up in the system behind a petty drug charge, facing years of hard time. He has nothing to his name and it appears as if the whole world is conspiring against him. Then, with the power of the word he utterly and irrevocably changes his life and his reality.Hiphop is not what it used to be. This film was made in the twighlight of the hip-hop era when lyricism still reigned supreme and it was a way of life. This movie is stark, stripped down, and minimalist. It's a less is more approach that allows you to really melt into the film and feel as if you are experiencing it in real time.This movie is life-changing, I can't imagine it without Saul Williams in the lead. He turns in a captivating performance that only a man with his special and unique talent could have pulled off. The score/soundtrack is excellent and provides the perfect backdrop to one of the best films I've ever seen in my life.

SLAM tells the story of an African-American man whose talent for poetry is hampered by his social background.Saul Williams gives an average performance of (Raymond Joshua) a man in the (fictional) Southeast, Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Dodge City. Williams is better at retaliating through the poetry of words than portraying the difficultly to escape the pressures of his surroundings: violence and drug dealing.In prison, the writing class of teacher Lauren Bell (Sonja Sohn) is monotone.SLAM has inspirational elements such as: incarcerated drug dealer whom Ray inspired with his revolutionary ideas; Ray is able to convince his friends, and their Dodge City crew, not to retaliate with more violence for the shooting - to break the cycle instead. He explains that continuing to kill each other is exactly what those who set up the experiment want them to be doing.DJ Spooky, That Subliminal Kid, composed the score for the film.SLAM could be an an emotional film about black males and the criminal justice system.

This movie was done in 1998 but the storyline remains the same in 2019. When are African Americans going to stop killing each other and start embracing and working with each other? The black woman is still struggling to steer her man in the right direction but they still turn a deaf ear. We MUST stop the madness and learn to support each other in order to get out of the hole our people remain in?. The movie was heartfelt and well understood.

Great movie and extremely powerful and motivational. I am a 42 year old African American male military war veteran (single parent)with a BA in Social Science and a ThM in Theology. I have coached, taught and ministered to my people; African Americans. Only to become discouraged in the fight and caught in the same traps; sex, drugs, anger, remorse, unforgiveness, hate, regret, shame, mental pain etc. I fought so hard for others of my race not to placate to; even to the point of using drugs. But GLORY has come! This movie has given me new strenght to continue to advocate, fight and defend (help) my enslaved (physical or mental)people. I am also ordering extra copies for all individuals I am lead to help by the anointing, gifts and Spirit in me. Thank you God for this anointed message and gift; SLAM (1998). "What an encouragement."

This movie has definitely made it into my favorites list. Ss simply is was able to portray the everyday struggle and cycle of the black man. Also, showed the struggle in relationships between black men and women when we're really in it together. PLUS, the bomb ass poetry and references!!

Thank you for the expeditious service. I am so glad you had this video because no one had this. Cable service nada, Netflix nada! I am a poet. So, I love Saul Williams. His acting is phenomenal,along with the other, great cast members. I would like to know if he did his own stunts? Every chaotic prison scene were done by real Correctional Officers, no stunt guys there. So, I wonder if Saul Williams actually got that bloody nose for real. I hate when independent films are not marketed, as mega budgeted movies. This is a keeper!

This was and still is a great movie it's timeless. In fact the first time I seen the film was when I was a teenager and now I showing it to my soon to be teenage son.This is a great film and it show a person that there's a diffrent way of living no matter your enviorment. I would suggest you buy it and try it out for yourself.It will show you what happen when you make the wrong choices in life, and have to pay for them with thing's you do not want to do.

one of my favourite films. good price & arrived in advance of expected date. however, hadn't realised the US import would not play on laptop.

I used to love Slam way back when and then some time passed before I remembered it again. So I figured I'd buy it so I'd get the chance to see it again, because you can't really find it in my country. Such an excellent film, Saul Williams is amazing.

Unable to play on a UK DVD player - should have the print better. Will try on the laptop and hopefully it will work.

Une bonne explication du clam, de ses origines, avec un Saul Williams très bon...Il faut le regarder en VO c'est plus agréable.