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Sling Blade (1996)
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Sling Blade (1996)
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Release Date:
27 November 1996 (USA) moreTagline:
Sometimes a hero comes from the most unlikely place. morePlot Outline:
Karl Childers, 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. morePlot Synopsis:
This plot synopsis is empty. Add a synopsisAwards:
Won Oscar. Another 11 wins & 9 nominations moreUser Comments:
Probably one of Thornton's finest movies more(Cast overview, first billed only)
Billy Bob Thornton | ... | Karl Childers | |
Dwight Yoakam | ... | Doyle Hargraves | |
J.T. Walsh | ... | Charles Bushman | |
John Ritter | ... | Vaughan Cunningham | |
Lucas Black | ... | Frank Wheatley | |
Natalie Canerday | ... | Linda Wheatley | |
James Hampton | ... | Jerry Woolridge | |
Robert Duvall | ... | Karl's Father | |
Rick Dial | ... | Bill Cox | |
Brent Briscoe | ... | Scooter Hodges | |
Christy Ward | ... | Melinda | |
Sarah Boss | ... | Marsha Dwiggins | |
Kathy Sue Brown | ... | Theresa Evans | |
Wendell Rafferty | ... | Melvin | |
Bruce Hampton | ... | Morris (as Col. Bruce Hampton Ret.) |
MPAA:
Rated R for strong language, including descriptions of violent and sexual behavior.Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
135 min / 148 min (Director's cut)Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Dolby DigitalCertification:
Canada:14A (original rating) / Iceland:12 / Netherlands:16 (original rating) / Netherlands:6 (re-rating) / Argentina:16 / Australia:MA (re-rating) / Australia:M (original rating) / Chile:18 / Finland:K-12 / Hong Kong:IIB / Norway:11 / Portugal:M/16 / Singapore:NC-16 / Singapore:PG (cut) / Spain:18 / Sweden:11 / UK:15 / USA:RMOVIEmeter:
10% since last week why?Trivia:
In order to make his walk more awkward and consistent, Billy Bob Thornton placed crushed glass in his shoes. moreGoofs:
Continuity: When Vaughn and Karl are in the restaurant for the first time. Karl has a drink in a clear domed cup. When the scene switches back and forth the cup changes from a clear domed cup to one that has "Coke" or "Cola" written on both sides. moreSoundtrack:
Soul Dressing moreHow does it end?
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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.