Sling Blade (1996) User Reviews

emotionally shattering

[dpenny · 9/10 · 5 February 2000]

"Sling Blade" is an emotionally exhausting picture which establishes Billy Bob Thornton as one of our very best actors, writers, and directors. This story of a mentally handicapped man committed to a mental hospital for a childhood double murder, and his attempt to make it in the outside world, avoids the usual stereotypes about the closed-minded townsfolk and their prejudice against someone like Karl Childers, Thornton's character.

Indeed, upon his release Childers is given a mechanic's job and befriends a young boy, his widowed mother, and her gay best friend (played by an unrecognizable John Ritter). Unfortunately, the mother's drunken, violent boyfriend - Dwight Yoakam in a dark, effective performance - cannot accept Karl getting in the way of his relationship, and Childers must ultimately defend his new "family" the only way he knows how.

The tragedy of "Sling Blade" is that Childers is a basically gentle soul whose abusive childhood - his father (Robert Duvall in a cameo) and mother made him live in a shed behind the house - and marginal intelligence have made him unable to function without violence. More importantly, deep down Childers knows this; he knows he cannot function as a free man, and simply cannot protect the ones he loves without violence. The result is one of the most sympathetic characters I have ever seen in a movie. This film is one of the great movies of the decade. (9/10)

Probably one of Thornton's finest movies

[philip_vanderveken · 8/10 · 25 August 2005]

I guess the main reason why I wanted to see this movie was because it was written and directed by Billy Bob Thornton, who also played a role in it. Even though the man hasn't really been able to prove a lot with his work as a director, I must say that I almost always appreciate him as an actor. He's perhaps not the most popular actor in Hollywood, but in my opinion he sure is one of the better ones.

In this movie he plays the role of Karl Childers, a grown, but simple man who is released from the psychiatric hospital where he has been hospitalized since the age of twelve. He had to stay in that hospital for so long because he murdered his own mother and her lover, believing that they were doing something wrong. He returns to the town where he lived the first twelve years of his life and it doesn't take long for him to get a job as a mechanic, fixing all kinds of small motors at a local repair shop. In the same town he also meets Frank, a young and friendly boy who immediately seems to like this strange man. Soon Karl is invited by Frank's mother to stay in their garage, much against the will of her alcoholic and abusive boyfriend Doyle. While Karl's friendship with Frank gets stronger, the tension between him and Doyle keeps building up, until reaching its final climax...

Now that I've finally seen this movie, I can only say that it's too bad that I didn't give it a try earlier. Especially thanks to the magnificent performance by Billy Bob Thornton, this is a movie that is more than just worth a watch. But also the other actors like Dwight Yoakam, Natalie Canerday,... did a very good job. The entire movie feels very realistic, is quite sober and never tries to be too dramatic. This is the kind of movie that could have become very preachy, but it hasn't and that's something that I really appreciate. Add to this some good directing and you know that Thornton has done a very nice job with this movie.

This isn't exactly a typical Hollywood movie, not in its story and certainly not in its approach towards the subject. This could easily have become some kind of cheesy TV-movie, but Billy Bob Thornton has made a very good movie out of it instead. I really appreciated his work as a director, actor and writer in this movie, liked the story and was intrigued by the acting of all the actors. That's why I give it a 7.5/10, maybe even an 8/10.

You Ought Not Pass on this Movie

[view_and_review · 8/10 · 8 October 2015]

I remember first watching Sling Blade and thinking, "Oh no, here is a Forest Gump copycat." After all, the main character, Karl (Billy Bob Thornton) was mentally challenged and they were in the South. In reality, that's where the similarities stopped, but I didn't know that at the time. The second detractor for me was Billy Bob Thornton. I had only seen Billy Bob in one movie before Sling Blade and that was Bad Santa (yes I saw Sling Blade for the first time that many years later) and I thought that movie was dreadful, hence my impression of Billy Bob was also negative.

Sling Blade was a welcome surprise. Billy Bob did an excellent job with the role and of course I was doubly surprised to see that he had written and directed the movie.

Sling Blade was terrific in its simplicity. Karl was a simple man, he lived with simple folks in a simple town. That's not to say that they were without problems. Karl's mental handicap, Linda Wheatley's (Natalie Canderday) man issues, Frank Wheatley's (Lucas Black) fatherless issues, Doyle's (Dwight Yoakam) drinking problem, et al. For the simplicity of it all it was simply perfect.

Filmmaking at it's Best

[stepjohn54 · 20 April 2003]

As someone who loves good filmmaking, I rate this film among the best I've ever seen in all areas of the craft. Some of the criticisms of this film are hard to fathom.

The screenplay has the tight conciseness of a well-honed play (which this essentially was derived from) and doesn't fail to prick at the emotions and the intellect of the viewer. The photography, the casting and the editing all click together quite admirably.

However, I always marvel at the negative, emotionalized responses to otherwise superb films such as this by those who seem to miss the entire point of a movie like "Sling Blade".

I did not see a political message about abortion, or a justification of murder or even a backhanded putdown of the rural people of Arkansas. (Many of the characters were locals, by the way.) Some viewers are setting themselves up to be against this film since they are wearing their own feelings on their sleeves and fail to see the subtle layers of the story. They are seeing only the reflection of themselves on the surface of the water, rather than the complex world below.

Theater and film are rooted in images and characterizations designed to help us explore the human condition. It was once said that Tolstoy's voluminous novel "War and Peace" could be summed up in a single sentence thereby negating the need to write the book. Art is not a fast explanation, but a captivating and thought-provoking trip that hopefully forces us to think about our own motivations. Taking a one-dimensional view of this film might lead one to believe that Karl Childer's central message is that we should all eat biscuits smeared with mustard.

"Sling Blade" excels at the job of making us examine the terrible choices life gives us by providing a set of characters who interact in a moving, curious and revealing way. It is not reality nor is it political, but a method by which we can look at our own individual realities.

Others who seemed disenchanted with this film out-of-hand are those who found it "slow". Helloooo! This film is SUPPOSED to be slow and agonizingly so. It is carefully walking you to the conclusion, step-by-step, so you can squirm uncomfortably at the overall foreshadowing. It ain't an explosion-a-minute John Woo filmmaking and it certainly isn't light comedy, though it induces a surprising number of smiles.

This is a film that makes us look at true evil in the form of J.T. Walsh, Dwight Yoakum and Robert Duval's characters and compare it to the pure goodness of the damaged creature portrayed by Billy Bob Thornton, whose own brutalization leads him to seek justice in his own imperfect way.

To help those out who didn't "get" this film, I might recommend that you consider Thornton's character to be an amalgamation of Herman Melville's innocently homicidal protagonist in "Billy Budd" and Mary Shelley's sad monster Frankenstein. These characters, like Thornton's Karl Childers, were dramatic vehicles for the purpose of making us think. They did bad things but we were forced to view them compassionately because they reflected our own conflicting traits.

Don't read things into a film that aren't there, but don't ignore the interesting elements that are. Get those wheels upstairs turning and start enjoying intelligent filmmaking instead of merely seeking an excitement fix!

a modern American masterpiece

[Buddy-51 · 10/10 · 24 April 2006]

Set in a small, rural Southern town, Billy Bob Thornton's "Sling Blade" is so flavorful in ambiance and tone, so rich in character and theme that it's hard to believe that its roots are not to be found in any short story or novel. For while it has all the earmarks of a great work of literature, "Sling Blade" is actually an original creation by Thornton, the triple threat talent who wrote, directed and stars in the work.

Karl Childers is a marginally retarded man who's been living in a mental institution ever since, as a child, he accidentally stumbled across his mother and her lover in a compromising position and, in a moment of considerable confusion, hacked the two of them to death. After being officially declared by the state to be "rehabilitated" and "cured," Karl is thrust back out into the world where he forms a bond with a fatherless boy, his hardworking, compassionate mother and a gay storeowner who has long since become a part of their extended family. Also part of that family is the widow's twisted boyfriend, Doyle Hargraves, who physically and psychologically abuses both mother and son.

Thanks to Carl's "strangeness" and homicidal background, as well as the simmering volatility and mercurial temperament of Doyle, there is always the threat of violence hanging ominously over the work. Yet, in many ways, "Sling Blade" is really about the goodness of people in their willingness to overlook external differences and to find the similarities that unite us all in a common bond of humanity. For the most part, the people in this quiet little community try to reach out and befriend Karl, sensing a decency in him that helps to mitigate any possible fear they might have of him based solely on surface eccentricities. Even when he is eventually forced into violent action, he does so as an avenging angel bringing swift and righteous justice, not as a murderous demon acting out of hatred or malice.

The acting in the film - beginning with Thornton himself - could not be more brilliant. With his stooped shoulders, tight-lipped smile, jutting jaw, vacant expression and guttural throat-clearing, Karl became the butt of so many jokes back when the movie first came out that it's easy to forget what a truly amazing character - and job of acting - Thornton has pulled off here. The actor we've known from so many other movies is completely invisible in this role, as he literally becomes Karl in every fiber of his being and, in so doing, forces us to see the wisdom and humanity buried deep inside the person. The performance is such a touchstone of acting for our generation that it is easy to miss all the other great acting in the film, particularly on the part of Natalie Canerday, Lucas Black, John Ritter, J.T. Walsh, Robert Duvall and, most especially, Dwight Yoakam, whose portrayal of a man teetering on the edge of a psychopathic meltdown is bone-chilling and brilliant.

As a writer, Thornton has shaped his film like a modern day parable - simple, symbol-laden and allegorical. As a director, he proves himself a master of rhythm and pacing, setting the mood and allowing the scenes to play themselves out without recourse to overstatement or melodrama. In fact, this is one of those rare movies in which every moment feels just right, so confident is Thornton in his ability as a filmmaker to bring his story to life on screen. He also knows how to make the bucolic setting come across as both stark and sensuous at the same time, a place of quiet stillness that provides the perfect backdrop for the morality tale he is endeavoring to tell. Finally, Daniel Lanois has provided a haunting musical score that ever so subtly draws us into the disturbingly offbeat world of the drama.

"Sling Blade" earned a Best Original Screenplay Oscar for Thornton, but he should also have won awards for his directing and his performance as Karl, not to mention the film itself which should have won the honor as Best Picture of 1996 - although Hollywood, in its infinite wisdom, failed even to nominate it. Ah well, even with that lapse in judgment, "Sling Blade" remains one of the great movie dramas of the past decade.

Absolutely Amazing!

[wdmickel · 10/10 · 18 April 2005]

I can't believe it took me so long to finally see this movie and I must admit I had never seen any work by Billy Bob Thornton. Without a doubt, Sling Blade is one of the finest pieces of work ever put on film. Billy Bob's performance as Karl Childers is absolutely riveting! I found myself completely fascinated by this character. The entire ensemble of characters are superbly cast. The child actor who plays Frank is talented beyond his years. This story unfolds in many layers, with friendship and love woven between bigotry and cruelty. It begins with a somewhat horrible description of the double murder of Karl's mother and her lover, but yet is tastefully done with words, no cheap views of blood and gore. It shows how the lack of parental love and understanding can form an individual, but also how the human heart can still have the capacity to be open, as in the relationship between Karl and Frank. You'll feel completely drawn into this little family with its pain and problems.

This is a masterpiece of superb acting, writing and directing! If you haven't seen it yet, please don't deny yourself the opportunity of viewing one of the most amazingly touching movies you will ever see. Even in the company of great performances by Tom Hanks and Dustin Hoffman, I think Sling Blade leaves Forrest Gump and Rain Man in the dust!

Convincing and thought provoking.

[theENK · 10/10 · 1 March 2004]

Sling Blade is a very well acted, well displayed, and interesting masterpiece. I just loved it from beginning to end.

First I would like to comment on the excellent acting across the board, especially the late John Ritter and Billy Bob Thornton's ensemble portrayal of Karl. I could not help but feel very attached to Karl from the opening scene, his release from the mental institution, his struggles with the outside world, and how he related to the town people. Sling Blade is one of those movies that I would love to sit down and talk about for hours with a friend. I would also love to hear others' perspectives about what made this movie great.

It seems that every scene was worked to perfection. From the lighting and camera's viewpoint to the acting and music. I enjoyed every scene, but thought that three really stood out. Without giving too much away, they are as follows. No spoilers here:

1. Inside the house after band practice where Karl does not move from the couch.

2. When Karl is visited at work and we see him make eye contact for the first time.

3. The scene where Karl is in the garage late at night. The chilling music really captures the mood. My heart was pounding during this one!

I hold Mr. Thornton to a very high respect. He created a masterpiece that is emotional, thrilling, dramatic, humorous, and entertaining.

a sweaty, dark, familiar, & oddly comforting ride down a dirt road of winding emotions.

[matthewssilverhammer · 10/10 · 18 March 2018]

I love how, though there is a plot, Thornton's direction never seems in a hurry to get to it. Instead, his steady & strong hand just meanders around this wonderful town. The performances are authentic and the characters engaging; you just wanna stay with them as long as you're welcome. And that conversation at Ritter's doorstep about God not sending him to hell sent gave this the official 5-star bump for me.

A complicated hero.

[SmileysWorld · 7/10 · 12 July 2002]

Here we have the story of a good hearted,mentally challenged man who does not like to see the people he loves suffer.The source of their suffering happens to come in the human form.Karl Childers,this mentally challenged man,chooses to eliminate the suffering in the only way he knows how,wrong though it may be.He is willing to give up his own happiness,so that they may be happy.This is a very complex story which can be viewed from many different angles.In my opinion,it is a very sad story because here we have a man,suddenly free after years of treatment in a mental institution,willing to give it all away for the people he calls his friends.A hardly recognizable Billy Bob Thornton gives an exceptionally good performance as Karl,not to mention giving excellent direction from behind the camera as well.A surprising turn by Dwight Yoakam as the closed minded Doyle Hargraves,though I feel his ignorance was not his own fault,as we are all a product of our upbringing.A good movie,with good performances all around in a very complex story.

Billy Bob's Break

[Smells_Like_Cheese · 9/10 · 3 March 2007]

I was watching I love the 90's with my sister last night and the mentioned Sling Blade, I remember trying to watching this when I was younger, but I couldn't get through it. Figuring now that I'm a little older to give it a chance and I'm glad I did, I just watched it last night and I was extremely impressed with the fact that this was Billy Bob's first movie, not only did he act in it, but he also wrote and directed it as well. It was like Forrest Gump meets Silence of the Lambs, it was a movie that kept your nerves up and your curiosity going into what would happen next.

Karl is a slow man who has just been released from the mental institution for killing his mom and her boyfriend when he was a child. When he is released into town, he has no where to stay, but then he meets a young boy who he befriends, the boy has no father and asks his mom if Karl can stay with them, she agrees to it. But their lives are far from perfect, they have an extremely abusive man in their lives, Doyle, who threatens their lives on a daily basis. Karl wants to protect them, but it may lead him back into the life that he was just told he was "well" from.

Sling Blade is a very well acted movie that despite it's length, it keeps you going. The characters are so well thought out, it's hard to choose who was the break out actor of the film. But Billy in his first major role, he was just amazing, he looked so calm and relaxing, but yet you didn't know what he was going to do next. John Ritter was also amazing, his character was so sympathetic and beautiful. I would highly recommend this movie, it's a terrific dark drama that deserves it's praise.

9/10

Impressive acting in a depressing film

[raymond-15 · 7/10 · 16 June 2003]

Written and directed by Billy Bob Thornton "Sling Blade" gives us a detailed character study of psychopath Karl Childers just released from a mental hospital.

Billy Bob Thornton puts his heart and soul into this believable rendition of a sad and lonely man set free into an uncaring world with no immediate job, no family, no friends. We suddenly feel how desperate the situation is.

This is not a happy film. Far from it, Karl's worldly goods appear to be half a dozen books tied together with a leather belt. One of the books held dear to him is the Holy Bible. He admits he does not understand all of it, but he lives by it. He understands that some men are good and others have evil ways.

He was put away in the "Nut house", as they say, because he murdered his own mother and her lover. All this he confides in a young boy who becomes his firm friend. This wonderfully warm relationship lifts the film at times out of its depressive mood. "I like the way you talk", they tell each other. May be so, but unfortunately for me I did not appreciate nor could I understand the difficult dialects. I am sorry I missed so much. The story however remained clear.

Karl tends to bottle up his emotions with a strange uncontrollable jerk of the chin (a clever piece of acting) and we sense a mounting tension that might at any time put him in a dangerous mood. How would you feel, for example, if he burst into your bedroom at midnight with hammer in hand?

The film rolls on slowly (perhaps too slowly for some) and we meet the local characters that provide him with shelter and try him out on odd jobs such as sharpening lawn mower blades. A quite horrifying part of the film is the determined look on Karl's face as he files away on a steel blade to a razor sharp edge. A man with a plan?

Before the terrifying climax Karl gives the boy his most valued possession, his books including his Bible. A truly heart warming moment.

Billy Bob Thornton's portrayal of Karl is absolute perfection.

Tater thoughts---10/10.

[highclark · 10/10 · 31 March 2005]

First off, while trying to describe what is great about this movie, one need to look no further than the stand out performance given by Billy Bob Thornton as Karl Childers, a retarded man just released from a mental facility after having paid off his debt to society for a murder he committed as a boy. Certainly one could look beyond Thornton's performance to find many outstanding performances (there isn't a bad one in the bunch) by the supporting cast, but I think it's important to highlight Billy Bob Thornton's performance.

What is usually pointed out, or at least referred to at length in describing Thornton's portrayal, centers around his extended jaw with his shovel wide grin, the slumped shoulders, and always, without fail, the gravelly "mmm, himh" voice. And while all of that is quite impressive, especially in that it did not require the use of masks or extended layers of make up to transform his appearance, what is impressive, and actually astonishing, is how Thornton can express outwardly through his body language and eye movements the complex inner workings that are central to the character of Karl Childers. It is in this way that Thornton's portrayal succeeds and allows us to invest our belief into his character; you can see the mind of Karl Childer at work, even if all he's thinking about is eating tater tots.

Reviewers have also pointed out that there's a connection between the character of Karl Childers and that of Forrest Gump. Really? I don't see it. I think if anything, the character of Karl Childers owes more to that of Chauncey Gardiner in 'Being There' than that of Forrest Gump, a lot more. Both Gardiner and Childers have a steady calm about them that in no way resembles the jumbled nervous 'bumper sticker' speak of Forrest Gump. The delivery from Childers and Gardiner is very slow and mannered and occasionally with a keen perception. With Gardiner, it's manifested through double entendre or through a misunderstanding of intent, with Childers, especially when Childers is talking with the young boy Frank Wheatley (Lucas Black), his insights come from the heart, in a parental tone, however they seem to do the young boy as much good as they do for Childers. Just like the performance that Peter Sellers gave as Chauncey Gardiner in 'Being There', the performance from Billy Bob Thornton as Karl Childers in 'Sling Blade' would garner an Oscar nomination, but no Oscar.

What should also be noted is the speed of the movie. This has everything to do with respect to the main character, Childers. If ever a movie captured the right speed in which to tell its story, it would be 'Sling Blade'. This tactic allows the viewer to think about and to feel the emotional turns of the movie as its story unfolds. We can invest ourselves emotionally into the plot of the movie, even though we can, more or less, guess accurately at its outcome.

The notable supporting cast is led by the excellent performance of Dwight Yoakam as Doyle Hargraves, the violent and verbally abusive boyfriend to Linda Wheatley (Natalie Canerday). Doyle knowingly makes life a living hell for Linda and young Frank. The angst building inside of Frank comes to a climax after Doyle becomes drunk and abusive to Frank's mother. Frank rifles beer can after beer can at Doyle, and although it stops Doyle's initial attack, it only serves as a slight reprieve; the real ugliness is to follow.

Along with Yoakam and Lucas, the performances from John Ritter and J.T. Walsh stand out as very memorable. This is a movie that will stay with you long after it is finished. I don't think it matters too much about how the ending takes place, or whether it is predictable or not. What resonates, or what matters, is in watching these characters develop and come to understand their situation, or their lot in life, and in most cases, learn to live with or without one another.

'Sling Blade' is easily one of the best movies of 1996.

10/10. Clark Richards

Very good, but not quite as good as advertised.

[Pavel-8 · 7/10 · 6 December 2003]

**Warning! Mild Plot Spoilers Ahead!!

"Sling Blade" received oodles of accolades upon its release in 1996. While I understand why so many critics raved about this film and agree with them in many aspects, I don't think it ranks among the best of the decade as many would have you believe.

Billy Bob Thornton directs and stars as Karl Childers, a mentally challenged man whose IQ falls on the low side between normal and retarded. Since committing a gruesome crime at the age of nine, he had been held in a state mental hospital He has just been released though, having been deemed safe and stable. As he attempts to rejoin the real world, the tension in the movie arises from the declaration of normality, which everyone questions due to the discomforting assortment of grunts and noises that the gravelly-voiced Childers emits.

At the brilliant core of of "Sling Blade" is the acting. But not even its quality (which is good) as much as its quantity. Most movies feature countless cuts, largely of the back-and-forth nature during dialogue scenes. With numerous single-shot takes, this film provides the rare opportunity to watch actors work. It feels like watching a play from the front row, as the camera acts as your eyes, delightfully swooping, zooming, and sliding through the scenes. Through small facial movements and expressions, one can see direct reactions being formed and decisions being made by characters, rather than just the choices themselves.

The wise decision to use such a style is more than just artistic; it is necessary to get viewers to relate with the odd characters, a task that would otherwise be near impossible. Although many, like myself, will still find it difficult to get involved, Thornton allows the audience to connect with his character more deeply than they would in a typical film by displaying the thought processes that Childers genuinely needs to determine his choices.

In such a character study, the quality of the ensemble acting is crucial, and the remainder of the cast fills the supporting roles quite well. Everyone is very believable, despite a few recognizable faces (John Ritter, among others) playing characters in which one would never picture them. Even though many of these parts begin as stereotypes, over the course of the film most all of them are developed into well-rounded characters, which in turn fill out the corners of the cinematic world.

The stage-like nature of "Sling Blade" carries over to its story as well. You don't know exactly what is going to happen next, but as the film continues to build toward the closing scenes, one gradually acquires a premonition as to what may occur. This is possible because the linear plot moves uphill almost throughout. With a few exceptions that make the movie about twenty minutes too long, each scene flows naturally into the next, adding depth to the story with each development that leads to the inevitable conclusion.

Unfortunately the DVD, which could be filled with so much fascinating information about an intriguing film, is bare bones at best. The widescreen transfer does effectively capture the solid cinematography, and the lack of a 5.1 soundtrack doesn't detract from the simple score, but there are no special features. You may therefore want to simply rent "Sling Blade," rather than invest $15 in purchasing it.

Bottom Line: The stellar acting and directing makes the unusual story work well despite featuring hard-to-relate-to characters and a too long running time. Three of four stars, rounded down to 7 of 10.

A Scythe Through Reality...

[Xstal · 5/10 · 19 September 2020]

It's impossible to ignore the incredible performance of Billy Bob Thornton as Karl. This is what acting is all about - the portrayal and mimicry of the real world as opposed to dressing up as someone else and being yourself (Michael Cane always springs to mind but they are legion in number these types of actor). Sadly, that is the only compliment I can pay, as the finale is the most predictable yet unrealistic you're likely to encounter and, if you are of the mind that you have witnessed justice take place, then heaven help anyone you may sit on a jury and try - because that's what they'll need if there's more than one of you in attendance.

Thoroughly Thornton!

[DeeDee-10 · 28 April 1999]

A magnificent film! Watching Billy Bob, I was reminded of Bo Radley (Robert Duvall)in To Kill a Mockingbird. The irony of seeing Duvall in Sling Blade made it that much more rewarding. Yes, it's true, the ending was inevitable, but so what? The journey to the end was what made this film the gem that it is. Dwight Yoakam made my skin crawl, and Lucas Black as little Frank brought out my motherhood instinct. Protect that boy, Karl! And he did. This had all the elements of a great film: an unselfish hero who brings about changes in the lives of others in a meaningful way. Granted, had his mental capabilities been greater he might have made another choice. Given the circumstances of the film, there was no other choice.

A brilliant slice of life...excellent performances...

[Doylenf · 8/10 · 29 February 2008]

No film in recent years has held me as spellbound as SLING BLADE, written by BILLY BOB THORNTON (for which he won an Oscar for Best Screenplay), and starring the actor in a memorable role for which he was Oscar nominated but failed to win.

He becomes the character with such truth--and such emotional underplaying--that he makes the whole story even more moving than it would have been with any other actor in the leading role. He plays a retarded man released from prison after serving twenty-five years for killing his mother and her lover with a sling blade. He felt morally justified because he saw their act of love as evil, only later realizing that it was wrong to kill them.

We follow his release, first accepted with kindness by a local repair shop where he reveals himself to be skilled at fixing motors, then received into the family of a boy he's befriended, played wonderfully by LUCAS BLACK. Unfortunately, the family life is ruined by a violently dysfunctional man called Doyle (DWIGHT YOAKAM) who is a crude bully and redneck full of bitter hatred and resenting the intrusion of Thornton and the boy and possessive in his relationship with the mother.

The biggest weakness in the screenplay is figuring out why the mother would ever be attracted by such a bigoted bully. Yoakam plays him in a ruthless manner that shows no compassion for the character and he's so evil that you have to wonder about the mother's mental faculties in letting him even near the family. It's also hard to believe that she would let the retired man use her garage for shelter on such short acquaintance with her son. But hey, this is a movie, this is the script, and that's it.

All of the acting is uniformly excellent, particularly BILLY BOB THORNTON, who was nominated and would have deserved the Oscar for his penetrating study of a retarded man without a single false note.

Tension builds because the viewer is aware that some sort of confrontation has to happen between Karl (Thornton) and Doyle. It's a matter of waiting to see what develops and that's what keeps the viewer hooked onto the story and wondering how it will conclude.

It's a fully realized slice of life, Southern style with hillbilly overtones, always centered on the main thrust of the story without ever losing its touch, rich in atmospheric detail. J.T. WALSH as a fellow inmate is impressive, as is JOHN RITTER (whom I didn't even recognize at first) as a sympathetic gay man, amazingly real in a serious role. ROBERT DUVALL has a cameo bit as an indifferent father that he plays faultlessly.

Summing up: Brilliant film, highly recommended and involving a very touching relationship between the small boy and the retarded man.

The one that made Billy.

[DukeEman · 8/10 · 3 January 2002]

Thornton plays victim to a cruel society where he is released from a long stint in prison and becomes a guardian angel for a young boy who is abused by his mother's lover. A slow sombre piece that gives you time to enter the mental state of Thornton's character. Once you are in there, you realise the humanity that justifies the end actions. Theatrical in style with powerful performances and a haunting music score.

Thornton's Best

[truemythmedia · 9/10 · 1 October 2019]

Every once in a while you see a movie that takes you completely by surprise, and for me, "Sling Blade" was one of those movies. Aside from his amazing performance as Lorne Malvo in FX's Fargo Season One, I thought Billy Bob Thornton was nothing special, but he always turned in performances that could be considered decent. Nothing I've ever seen him do prepared me for this film.

I'm going out on a limb to say this is Thornton's best movie; he adapted it from a play he wrote, he stars in it, and he directs it- it's his show, and he freaking kills it in every aspect. Even when he's just sitting around staring at the ground, awkwardly trying to avoid eye contact with other characters, Thornton is the center of this story, and this story, while perhaps a bit predictable and sometimes a little slow, is a story that deserves to be seen by many people.

Oh How Mournful

[Lechuguilla · 9/10 · 5 January 2014]

Haunting, evocative, melancholy, this film oozes emotion and atmosphere. Set in the American South, the script tells the story of Karl Childers (Billy Bob Thornton), a middle age man of limited intelligence who gets released from a mental institution and has to fend for himself in a small town, without support from relatives or friends.

As the plot evolves, Karl encounters a young boy, and the two become friends. Which leads to friendship with the boy's mom and her best friend, a gay man named Vaughan (John Ritter). But Karl must also interact with the mom's live-in boyfriend, a cruel redneck named Doyle (Dwight Yoakam). This eclectic character mix provides the fuel for the story's slowly developing climax. And throughout there's a sense of fatalistic doom.

The central figure, Karl, is richly conceived, and very well played by Thornton. His humped-over posture, jutting jaw, jarring voice, physical gestures, and unchanging facial expression combine to present a highly cohesive, realistic, and memorable character. Supporting characters are almost as strong. And the actors playing these roles are well cast, and give excellent performances. There's not a weak casting or acting link in the bunch.

Cinematography adds enormously to the emotion and atmosphere. Camera shots tend to be static; colors are generally muted with a trend toward brownish-yellow hues. Shadows add melancholy to interior scenes. And production design is outstanding in its detail and replication of a Southern, rural setting. The visuals remind me a lot of the film "Silkwood", with a similarly depressing, down-home, mournful backdrop.

Technically, the film has very few weaknesses, though I do think a few scenes could be cut shorter or deleted entirely. And though I empathize with Karl, that downtrodden feel of his character and of the plot begins to grow thin after a couple of hours.

This is a film that really pulls at your heartstrings. It just drips with sentiment and down-home, downtrodden atmosphere. It's sad, slow, and highly mournful, though punctuated with occasional humor. It's a film that the big Hollywood studios, with their corporate greed mentality and obnoxious hype, refuse to promote. Thank goodness for the originality and high quality of indie productions like "Sling Blade".

Good, but a little overrated.

[barryweir · 7/10 · 11 January 2012]

I missed this movie when it came out and happened across it while reading an article about Billy Bob Thornton. When I saw the it had scored 8.0 on IMDb I figured I would rush out to see it.

Perhaps, rather stupidly, I sat down to watch a masterpiece. I was therefore a little disappointed when the credits rolled at the end of the picture that I felt underwhelmed.

Now, don't get me wrong. This is a good movie without question. I felt parts of it were utterly brilliant, but I also felt that parts of it were really rather weak.

The Good Without question the standout element of the picture is the performance of Billy Bob Thorton. So good was he that I had a hard time believing it was even Thorton himself! His performance as Karl is a masterclass. Subtle, careful and quiet, yet able to convey the many emotions bubbling under the character's surface. The opening monologue is outstanding.

A shout out must also go to then teenage actor Lucas Black, whose performance as the young lad Frank is worthy of almost any adult actor in Holdwood today. I thought he was excellent.

I thought the score fit the movie perfectly, and, far from it being a slow movie, found the pacing just right....and tribute to THorton's talents as a director.

The Not So Good.

I was surprised to find out that the script won and academy award. Frankly I find it the weakest part of the movie. After the first third of the movie I had worked out the conclusion and that left me feeling disappointed. By third of the way it it was clear the the character of Karl was not going to undergo any particular major changes in the movie, and once Dwight Yokam's Doyle character showed up the writing was on the wall.

To be honest, I am not entirely sure what message Thorton is trying to convey with his script, beyond the obvious, that he can't cope or fit in on his own so works out a way to return himself to the mental hospital, but understands basic good and evil, if not the wrong doing of murder. I know people with learning difficulties and I found the way the Karl character switches from seeming understanding and lucidity at times to otherwise total inability to function a bit inconsistent, but, like I say, this is a script issue, rather than one of performance.

I also felt some of the supporting characters added little to the story, particularly those of JT Walsh's sex offender and Robert Duvall's father (who I really had hoped to learn more about), which is a shame because they really are fine and talented actors.

Conclusion The picture could have been a masterpiece, but for it's obvious predictability. Quite simply I did not find that I had to think too much to understand the movie and so for that reason alone I can't treat it as being a 10/10. I therefore give it a 7.

Interesting and Entertaining

[JVIRT99 · 8/10 · 26 March 2000]

Sling Blade was a highly interesting and suprisingly entertaining movie. It was very well acted by everyone involved and was uniquely directed in a professional manner by Billy Bob Thornton.

There were two things that struck me odd about this movie and both seemed somewhat comical at times. The first being the easy way all the characters seemed to accept Karl for what he was, a mentally challenged killer just released from the State Mental Hospital. The second was the obvious fact that almost every individual character in this movie on some level, displayed a dysfunctional nature to their behavior and attitude. No one seemed truly happy or even content with their lives!

The first half of Sling Blade was indeed very emotional at times and uplifting in a strange sort of way. You were given the impression that Karl would somehow overcome and escape his horrible past. That he would find a way to fit into society and function with an acceptable level of awareness. Obviously that didn't happen as the second half of the film took a different direction.

As much as the first half of this movie was enlightening the second half became a dark study of THE violent anger that exists in all human beings and how it can adversely effect those people at the center of it all. It attempted to show how some people can control their anger and how some people let their anger control them for whatever reason(s). This was played out two-fold by the Karl and Doyle characters.

The film was a good off beat portrayal of subject matter that is not always a properly understood or accepted part of the human condition. Both physically and mentally challenged people deserve opportunities that allow them to be a part of society. Karl was of course a gross exception and should never, ever have been released from the State Mental Hospital.

What clearly comes out of this movie is the existence of a mind-set that looks down upon those people less fortunate or those less gifted then others in our society. The ability to overlook others shortcomings is very difficult for many individuals. Whether those shortcomings are self-inflicted, inflicted by society or acquired at birth....all in all we aren't a very forgiving people as history has proved time and again. Sling Blade offers a small glimpse of this reality to those that are willing to pay attention.

Interesting and good...

[Enchorde · 7/10 · 2 May 2004]

**Here be spoilers**

Here is the proof that a movie, without any big explosions or gunfights. Mentally ill Karl is released from the hospital where he has been treated since killing two persons, one of them his mother. We get to follow Karl and his attempt to adjust to a normal life outside the hospital. He get a job as a low paid mechanic and become friend to young boy and his lone mother. He decide to move in to their garage and everything seem to go well. However, the mother's boyfriend is mean and potentially dangerous...

The story is good and interesting, and even if the pace is somewhat slow the movie never becomes dull. The cast put in a great effort as well, with Billy Bob Thornton as Karl in a very good performance. Not really much other to say, if you want to watch anything else than an action or comedy, this should be your choice...

7/10

A Stellar performance

[emtfrank · 10/10 · 21 November 2011]

I must admit, that I just recently viewed this movie for the first time. I have always been curious to the imitations of the Childress character. While this movie was good, it was not Oscar worthy.....Billy Bob Thorton's performance was, however, one of the most riveting I have seen in quite a long time! He definitely deserved an Oscar for his performance in this movie. It's been a long time since a movie has had this much of an impact on me. Thornton has not been fortunate enough to have significant roles offered to him, or he has just made poor choices since making SLING BLADE. He has proved himself to be a true work-horse in Hollywood, but if he had one or two more roles like the one he had here, he would be a top draw in Hollywood. He is obviously a lot more talented than roles like the one from BAD SANTA would suggest. (not that I didn't enjoy that movie, but it certainly appealed to my need for base entertainment)

Honest Story

[gcd70 · 7/10 · 26 February 2010]

"Sling Blade" is everything most movie-goers and critics have said it is; a warm, honest story about a simple backwards boy who has just been released from the state hospital after serving around thirty years for murder.

Billy Bob Thornton has done an incredible job in both acting and directing, as well as writing, in this gentile show which grapples with right and wrong. His script is both moving and compelling, his direction certain, and his performance is a disciplined exercise in consistency. It is only in the weightier area that "Sling Blade" lets itself down.

Thornton tries to deal with the nuances of right and wrong in terms that are too simple. Much of the film is dedicated to justifying old Sling Blade's actions, as Billy Bob extols the virtues of necessary evil. Never mind, nobody's perfect.

Good support comes from an auxiliary cast including Dwight Yoakam, Natalie Canerday, Lucas Black and Robert Duvall. This is always Billy Bob's show however. Daniel Lansis provides a memorable score while cinematographer Barry Markowitz shoots with style.

Monday, August 24, 1998 - Hoyts Croydon

Overrated, trite, silly and unbelievable

[dgraybill · 4/10 · 31 July 2000]

I had high hopes for this film, after seeing the short that it was the inspiration for (see Some Folks call it a Sling Blade). The short was both sad and terrifying--Karl Childers is shown as being both a traumatized individual whose childhood horrifies us and someone who terrifies us with the thought that he might be walking among us. However, in the film, the character is changed to a Charly-type: slightly mentally slow (although at times very bright and insightful which didn't seem to trouble Billy Bob Thornton as writer or directer at all) but a good hearted and kind person. The characters are all unbelievable. The main part of the story, Karl's friendship with a young boy, is the most unbelievable part of the story--the boy is not presented as enough of a "loser" to explain why he would form a friendship with someone like Karl. Ever seen this happen in real life? In real life, he would try to raise his standing among his friends by making fun of someone like Karl. Then, we are to believe that, somehow, the mental hospital/prison Karl was in provided nothing in the way of transition living, but somehow he learned small engine repair there well enough to be given a job by (an unbelievably good) person. Despite being institutionalized most of his life and living in a hole the rest of it, Karl somehow has obtained job skills that would be the envy of many employers. That's believable? Then, after knowing him for only a few days, Karl informs the boy's mother that he was in prison for murdering two people--including his mother. The boy's mother reacts as if Karl just told her he was in jail for writing a bad check. I don't care how nice a person you are, you would be concerned about this and would certainly limit your child's time with someone like this--wouldn't you? That's believable? Then there is the mother's boyfriend who, in contrast to everybody else in the movie who seems to be a refugee from the set of the Andy Griffith Show, makes Hannibal Lector look like someone who you'd like to see your daughter dating. He is so one-dimensionally bad that he, too, isn't believable. You know what is going to happen in the film after about 2 minutes of seeing him. All you do is wait to see how it happens. No surprises there! Want another example of how unbelievable the story is? The little hole that Karl dug to sleep in is still nicely preserved in the back shed--even has all the junk conveniently piled around it when he goes back to see it 25 years later. 25 years later? Junk everywhere, but the little hole is still the way it was? The directing is terrible--just once it would have been nice to see a close-up shot of the actors--just to see if they can really act. Thorton's acting, powerful in the short film, becomes downright silly as the mannerisms which made him sad and terrifying in the short, seem to occur only sporadically in the movie version. The film is a trite view of the trauma of horrible child abuse and the difficulties people with mental disabilities have coping with life. Do yourself a favor. See the short--skip the film.