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Slam

  • 19981998
  • RR
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
Slam (1998)
Home Video Trailer from Trimark
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
15 Photos
  • Drama

Grand Jury Prize, 1998 Sundance Film Festival. A talented youth (Saul Williams) copes with urban crime and despair by competing in poetry slams. Sonja Sohn of "The Wire" costars.Grand Jury Prize, 1998 Sundance Film Festival. A talented youth (Saul Williams) copes with urban crime and despair by competing in poetry slams. Sonja Sohn of "The Wire" costars.Grand Jury Prize, 1998 Sundance Film Festival. A talented youth (Saul Williams) copes with urban crime and despair by competing in poetry slams. Sonja Sohn of "The Wire" costars.

IMDb RATING
7.0/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Marc Levin
  • Writers
    • Marc Levin(story)
    • Richard Stratton(story)
    • Sonja Sohn
  • Stars
    • Saul Williams
    • Sonja Sohn
    • Bonz Malone
Top credits
  • Director
    • Marc Levin
  • Writers
    • Marc Levin(story)
    • Richard Stratton(story)
    • Sonja Sohn
  • Stars
    • Saul Williams
    • Sonja Sohn
    • Bonz Malone
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 52User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos1

    Slam
    Trailer 0:31
    Slam

    Photos15

    Slam (1998)
    33 x 47
    Slam (1998)
    Slam (1998)
    Slam (1998)
    Slam (1998)
    Slam (1998)
    Slam (1998)
    Slam (1998)
    Slam (1998)
    Slam (1998)
    Slam (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Saul Williams
    Saul Williams
    • Ray Joshuaas Ray Joshua
    Sonja Sohn
    Sonja Sohn
    • Lauren Bellas Lauren Bell
    Bonz Malone
    • Hophaas Hopha
    Lawrence Wilson
    • Big Mikeas Big Mike
    Beau Sia
    Beau Sia
    • Jimmy Huangas Jimmy Huang
    Andre Taylor
    • Chinaas China
    Momolu Stewart
    • Bay (Jail Rapper)as Bay (Jail Rapper)
    Ron Jones
    • Do Wop Copas Do Wop Cop
    Reamer Shedrick
    • Do Wop Copas Do Wop Cop
    Allan E. Lucas
    • Chief C.O.as Chief C.O.
    Dominic Chianese Jr.
    • Officer Domas Officer Dom
    Jerome Goldman
    • Jail Class Poet 'Why'as Jail Class Poet 'Why'
    DJ Renegade
    • Party Poet 'Diminuendo in Blue'as Party Poet 'Diminuendo in Blue'
    Liza Jessie Peterson
    Liza Jessie Peterson
    • Slam Poet 'Ice Cream'as Slam Poet 'Ice Cream'
    Taylor Mali
    • Slam Poet 'Like'as Slam Poet 'Like'
    Bob Holman
    • Slam M.C.as Slam M.C.
    Rhozier Brown
    • Public Defenderas Public Defender
    • (as Rhozier T. Brown)
    Richard Stratton
    Richard Stratton
    • Prosecutoras Prosecutor
    • Director
      • Marc Levin
    • Writers
      • Marc Levin(story)
      • Richard Stratton(story)
      • Sonja Sohn
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Slam tells the story of Ray Joshua, an original, gifted young MC trapped in a war-zone housing project known as Dodge City. Unable to find a job, Ray copes with the despair and poverty of his neighborhood by using his wits and verbal talent. —Offline Publicist
    • gang
    • prison
    • female nudity
    • hood
    • urban setting
    • 4 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Words make sense of a world that won't.
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for pervasive language, a sex scene and brief violence
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Goofs
      When Ray is on his way to the poetry night, he gets on the metro at the Cleveland Park station, rides, and gets off at the metro at the same station: Cleveland Park.
    • Quotes

      Ray Joshua: Now is the essence of my domain, because I am what I was and will be, I am and always will be that nigger / I am that nigger / I am that nigger / I am a negro / Negro from necro meaning death / I overcame it / So they named me after it.

    • Soundtracks
      Galactic Funk
      (Live from the Black Hole Mix)

      Performed by DJ Spooky (as DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid)

      Written by DJ Spooky (as Paul D. Miller)

      DJ Spooky appears courtesy of Outpost Recordings

      Under license from Asphodel Ltd.

    User reviews52

    Review
    Top review
    Review
    When growing up in the ghetto one of the hardest things to do is find yourself. "Slam" written and directed by Mark Levin, is the story of a man named Ray Joshua (Saul Williams). Being surrounded by gangs and drugs he gets sent to jail when a drug deal goes bad. While in jail he realizes his passion for poetry. This inspiring story of a man overcoming the ghetto, turning his life around, and discovering his passion is a story that shows if you have a good head on your shoulders you can do anything you put your mind to.

    In the movie there are many things that try to define Ray: society and race and the justice system are some of the major ones. Somehow with all the forces against him through expression and poetry Ray defines himself. After getting arrested for a small charge of possession of marijuana because of the justice system he is forced to either confess or go to court and fight it which would wither way get him 3-10 years. There was no winning for him.

    With the themes of race, drugs, gangs and jail this movie makes it easy for people to connect to. One of the best parts of the movie was at the end when Ray finally finds his way and performs in a poetry slam. It was a powerful scene full of emotion. This movie sends many different messages. One of which is when you find something you are passionate for you should find a way to show others and express yourself through it. For example when Ray performed at the poetry slam; it wasn't his usual scene but he got out of his bubble and went for it.
    helpful•1
    0
    • jessica_abel16
    • May 24, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 7, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Слэм
    • Filming locations
      • Washington, District of Columbia, USA
    • Production company
      • Off Line Entertainment Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,009,819
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,009,819
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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    Jan 30Deadline Film + TV
    Film Review: ‘Slam’
    Film Review: ‘Slam’
    Oct 17Variety Film + TV

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