Raymond (Saul Williams) is a young Black performance poet living in Washington, D.C. who is arrested and imprisoned for a petty marijuana charge. Danger lurks around every corner, but nothing can stop him from establishing his identity, strength, and voice. In jail, Raymond meets a prison gang leader (Bonz Malone) and a writing teacher (Sonja Sohn) who inspires him to use the power of creative expression to fight for his freedom and avoid becoming another victim of the racist criminal justice system. Featuring sublime poetry and heart-wrenching realism, Slam is a testament to the importance and impact of artistic expression. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize (Dramatic) at the Sundance Film Festival and the Caméra d’Or (Best First Feature) at the Cannes Film Festival.

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Video Quality

Slam debuts on Blu-Ray with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 from a new restoration of the 35mm Interpositive in collaboration between Sundance Institute, the Academy Film Archive, the UCLA Film & Television Archive, and Lionsgate. The remaster provides a stunning viewing experience that brings this gritty film to life. The colors are deep and natural with incredible saturation and no overcooked hues. Black levels are strong with crush never emerging as an issue within the myriad of shadows.

The natural film grain of the presentation is carefully maintained and resolves consistently. The film deploys some Hi-8 interludes that are inherently of lower quality, but the disc handles it with as much care as the source will allow. You will not find signs of swarming or splotchy grain. The source has been cleaned up to eliminate nearly all nicks, specks, and scratches. Clarity and detail are a treat, and skin tones are natural with beads of sweat providing texture in closeup. This presentation gives this gem a second life.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio track that executes the sonic ambitions with wonderful precision. Dialogue comes through crisply and clearly as it never gets clipped by competing environmental elements. This is especially important in a narrative where the spoken word is so powerfully deployed. Any previous age-related wear and tear or distortion has been eliminated for an ideal listening experience. The soundtrack accompanies the visuals on screen favorably with no hint of weakness. Every element is represented to its fullest extent. The film has been treated with the utmost respect. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Director Marc Levin and star Bonz Malone provide a great commentary track in which they reflect on the production of the film, the casting of Saul Williams, the real-life local street legends included in the film, how they played on the background of the performers in interesting ways, motivations behind certain aesthetic choices, and more.

Behind The Scenes Footage: There are 38 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage provided including footage of slam poetry performances, rehearsals, prop applications, candid moments with the cast and crew, and more.

Theatrical Trailer: A two-minute trailer for the film is provided.

Final Thoughts

Slam is a powerful tale of the perils of the judicial system and how it often fails to support the marginalized. The film does not indulge in Black trauma, but it does offer a fairly realistic portrayal of the hopelessness that accompanies being burdened for simply existing. The use of poetry in this context could feel extremely hokey, yet the earnestness with which it approaches its utilization translates into something very moving. Saul Williams puts in some incredible work in the lead role alongside a bevy of talented performers both professional and otherwise. Kino Lorber has brought this one to Blu-Ray with a sterling A/V presentation and a nice selection of special features. If this sounds appealing in the slightest to you, it is worth your time. Recommended

Slam is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Lorber has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.