Review of Slam (2003) by William J — 28 Mar 2008

Saul Williams is incredible. One of the shining voices of Hip-Hop at the moment, ten years ago he played the lead role in Marc Levin's Slam, which won prestigious awards at both Cannes and Sundance.

The film looks at the effect drugs, prison and education have on society, in particular on the life of Raymond, a young man with a rare gift for words who finds himself in the slammer on a minor drug charge that has major consequences on his life.

It's virtually impossible to describe the inspiration that flows from Raymond as Saul lets rip with a number of awesome passages of poetry. It really needs to be seen to be believed. It's not all Saul, though. Sonja Sohn plays Lauren, who has a particularly memorable scene towards the end in which she and Raymond appear to be feeding off each other, swapping the roles of muse and artist to great effect.

Slam is an incredible display of talent that examines the expectations society has of certain personality profiles, as well as the flaws and repercussions of governmental policies and legal procedures. As such, it can be admired both as a showcase of the artistic potential of everyone involved in its making, and as a valuable social commentary that raises some important questions.