Slam

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2:19

Slam

R

1998

1h 43m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

60%

Tomatometer

20 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Raymond is a young Black performance poet who's arrested and imprisoned for a petty marijuana charge. In jail he meets a prison gang leader and a writing teacher who inspires him to use the power of creative expression to fight for freedom and avoid becoming a victim of the criminal justice system.

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Gavin Smith

Film Comment Magazine

Suffused with an emphatic but completely vague sociopolitical anger, Slam can't get beyond reiterating familiar sentiments about genocidal cycles of violence and black male prison statistics.

Apr 11, 2018

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

Variety

Part gritty prison drama, part inner-city chronicle, the energetic Slam defies easy categorization, serving as a compelling plea for black males of how to survive in oppressive society. The film won the 1998 Sundance Jury Award for Best Drama.

Rated: B

Dec 1, 2006

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Slam is a fable disguised as a slice of life, and cobbled together out of too many pieces that don't fit smoothly together. It's moving, but not as effective as it could have been.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Rated: 2/5

Oct 9, 2005

Full Review

Susan Tavernetti

Palo Alto Weekly

Rated: 4/4

May 20, 2003

Full Review

James Hill

BET.com

Rated: 3/5

Dec 13, 2002

Full Review

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Me a

A powder keg of a movie, exploding with emotional honesty and truth and the exuberant passion of raw young talent.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/16/25

Full Review

Cecilia S

Completely moving and poetic piece that will tear your heart out and remind you how and why to love.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/14/25

Full Review

Wyndham M

A powder keg of a movie, exploding with emotional honesty and truth and the exuberant passion of raw young talent.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/13/25

Full Review

Geoff M

Beautifully performed and executed with a poignancy that resonates 27 years later after its release.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/08/25

Full Review

Maria Q

Poignant and brilliantly executed with performances that will shake your soul awake.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/23/25

Full Review

Alana M

An extremely moving and touching film

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/07/25

Full Review

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Marc Levin

Director

Saul Williams

Ray Joshua

Sonja Sohn

Lauren Bell

Bonz Malone

Hopha

Lawrence Wilson

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Slam: Trailer 1

2:19

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Synopsis

Raymond is a young Black performance poet who's arrested and imprisoned for a petty marijuana charge. In jail he meets a prison gang leader and a writing teacher who inspires him to use the power of creative expression to fight for freedom and avoid becoming a victim of the criminal justice system.

Director: Marc Levin
Producer: Marc Levin, Richard Stratton
Screenwriter: Sonja Sohn, Marc Levin, Bonz Malone, Saul Williams, Richard Stratton
Distributor: Trimark Pictures
Production Co: Off Line Entertainment Group
Rating: R (Sex Scene|Pervasive Language|Brief Violence)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 5, 1998, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Apr 26, 2024
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $982.2K
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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