Rating: 
Summary: One of the most moving films I have ever seen!
Review: The initiation story of Ray(Saul Williams) an African-American, mystic Hiphop poet, who journeyslike Odysseus or Orpheus to the land of the dead(i.e. prison) and finds the way out of the cycle of violence surrounding him through the healing power of the Word- through poetic speech.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies of 98
Review: There isn't much I can say about this movie but the fact that it has a great point to reach accross, and it does it so well. And to top it off, Saul plays an Oscar winning performence. One of the best movies I saw in 1998.
Rating:
Summary: VERY POWERFUL
Review: This Film Deals With OPPRESION&Daily Battles.It's Very Eye-Opening.Dealing With Race&The System.Finding A VOice in A Madd World.It's Incredible How The Words Just COme From Saul Williams's Mouth.It was Strong Chemistry between WIlliams's&Sonja Soun.A Must See Film that Teaches Having A VOice&Choice.It's A Very Strong BLACK FILM.IT SHows Many Elements Of This Life.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible
Review: This is an awesome, eye-opening film, especially for a White viewer unfamiliar with inner city life. The movie is filmed in a cinema-verite style, and completely resembles a documentary. Incredible, complex performances and the best use of Washington, DC I have ever seen in a movie. The only bad part was former Mayor of D.C. Marion Barry as a judge with some very self-serving dialogue.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful
Review: This movie is excellent. Being from just outside of d.c., even then i didnt realize the opression that my brothers and sisters are pelted with in that little city. His poetry speaks the future. Keep lookin for Saul Williams, a book is out. Check out lyricist lounge for a recording. Good stuff.
Rating:
Summary: unknown
Review: This movie was great. I saw it for the first time awhile ago and I was highly impressed. Never hearing of Saul Williams this movie introduced me to him and I got a taste of how he does things. The poetry and/or rap verses in the film are great. This movie also has a great storyline.If you havent seen the movie yet, see it.If you havent bought the movie yet, buy it.peace n luv~Rika
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring ....
Review: This movies made my heart beat 1000 thunderous thuds each time Joshua spat his rhymes. The message is unmoving in its conviction without being preachy. See it. Now im going out for the soundtrack.
Rating: 
Summary: Very raw, leaves its' mark
Review: This was a pretty intense experience. I recently became a fan of Saul Williams, and I had to have this movie. It's a dark, yet learning experience for a man(Raymond Joshua) who gets sent to jail for possession, is hunted for on the inside, gets bailed out but realizes he's going right back. It seems like there are a lot of movies about prison and black folk, but this one was a little different.
I thought Saul did quite a job for this being his first movie role. I think it's based in large part on his real-life self. Some of the acting was an eyesore, like the Chinese guy at the beginning, good God! A few of the other small parts were iffy, but I think the main characters, who are all pretty much unheard of, did fine. The best scenes to me were when Ray was about to get his ass kicked in the prison yard and he busted out with an exhilirating rap, and when Ray and the prisoner in the next cell were rhyming. The latter shows a contrast between two distinct rapping styles. The other guy was swearing up a storm kicking violent gangsta rhymes, while Ray's was intense, but loving, etheral, mystical, and mind-bending. The other guy's style represents what gets played the most on the radio and is popular, while Ray's embodies an 'underground' attitude and the style that Hiphop was created with. I am a huge Hiphop guru, and I prefer Ray's style, obviously.
Otherwise, the movie leaves an impression, and gets you thinking about the ways of the inner-city lifestyle, as well as that in the prison. The poetry was what set this movie apart. Ray and the main female(forgot her name) perform at a poetry slam at the end of the movie. I wouldn't give this a five-star, but it's still good and worthwhile. I think it could have covered Ray's life more before he went to prison, and the ending kind-of left us hanging, or did it? I still don't understand what he was doing at the end. Like I said, "Slam" is a gritty, raw, uncut slice of the projects and the prison life. Cuss words are aplenty! It definitely hits it's points, and works well with the predominantly no-name cast. I liked the directing too. If you pass by this at the store and see it for a good price, go ahead, pick it up! It may not be one to watch with the kids though.
Rating:
Summary: Reality
Review: This was the best film that I have seen in a long time. It shows the illegal path that many inner-city kids take combined with their dreams of becoming a rap star. Slam is not glossed over in a "happily ever after" way, but it shows the reality of being poor and Black in America. The way that Sonja Sohn helps Saul Williams to convert his rap lyrics into poetry is wonderful. He takes a rap dream and transforms it into poetry that makes people stop and listen. The relationship between Sohn and Williams is a beautifull illustration and articulation of the struggle that exists between the Black woman and man in America. This is a must see movie for those who have no knowledge of the stuggle in "urban" American, and especially for those that have first-hand knowledge of the situation.
Rating:
Summary: Reality
Review: This was the best film that I have seen in a long time. It shows the illegal path that many inner-city kids take combined with their dreams of becoming a rap star. Slam is not glossed over in a "happily ever after" way, but it shows the reality of being poor and Black in America. The way that Sonja Sohn helps Saul Williams to convert his rap lyrics into poetry is wonderful. He takes a rap dream and transforms it into poetry that makes people stop and listen. The relationship between Sohn and Williams is a beautifull illustration and articulation of the struggle that exists between the Black woman and man in America. This is a must see movie for those who have no knowledge of the stuggle in "urban" American, and especially for those that have first-hand knowledge of the situation.
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