Sling Blade (1996)

People are voting emotionally.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Billy Bob Thornton does triple duty and he does so admirably as writer, director and actor. How he does it is incredibly amazing, and would be the gold standard template on being the triple threat to borrow a phrase from stage.John Ritter is impressive, and he's someone who we all miss. He really shed his Three's Company image in Sling Blade.

This film has great acting and great dialogue. The characters are believable and really draw you in with their unique personalities. If you are looking for a fun film, watch this on a different night. It has some dark overtones, but it's thought provoking and touches some raw emotions. The thought provoking portion deals with morals, religion, and absolute right and wrong. I don't think this movie has an agenda other than to make you think, which it does very well.I've watched this movie about 3 times over the last 18 years and I've enjoyed it each time. This is one of those movies which can't be missed.

Passion projects in Hollywood are very rare, but when you see them done with the skill and tenderness of Sling Blade, it makes you feel good that they're so rare.Billy Bob Thornton is a master filmmaker. It is uncanny how he could be such an effective director whilst also performing the film's most demanding role. It is a testament to how much his cast and crew respected him and trusted the passion he had for his project. His performance as Karl Childers is spectacular. He breaks your heart in every single scene, whether it is him saying thank you for the only time in the film, telling a gay man he doesn't think he'd go to hell, visiting a grave or turning over his only worldly possessions. Its also a testament to Thornton's magnificent screenplay, which is very slow at times but its a slow burn well worth your time.Please watch Sling Blade. It'll break your heart, but you'll love it for it.

Karl Childers (Billy Bob Thornton), a simple man hospitalized since his childhood murder of his mother and her lover, is released to start a new life in a small town.Kevin Thomas wrote that the film is "a mesmerizing parable of good and evil and a splendid example of Southern storytelling at its most poetic and imaginative." Now, exactly what "Southern storytelling" is remains a bit unclear, though this seems to be a common refrain. The good and evil aspects are certainly there.Billy Bob's character is sort of the gruff, pirate version of Forrest Gump. This makes for a strange mix and not everyone is going to find the character convincing. Often he comes across as annoying. But, indeed, perhaps that is exactly how a mentally disabled person would project themselves?