Sling Blade
- Director: Billy Bob Thornton
- Writer: Billy Bob Thornton
- Producer: David L. Bushell; Larry Meistrich
CGiii Comment
At times masterful...and, a tad predictable.
Thornton won the Oscar for the writing and a nomination for his performance which is outstanding in a fairly formulaic way – Rain Man, Ryan’s Daughter, My Left Foot sort-of-disability.
Solid performances all round – shame Vaughan was so weak and ill-defined.
Admirable nonetheless.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
A partially handicapped man named Karl is released from a mental hospital, about 20 years after murdering his mother and another person. Karl is often questioned if he will ever kill again, and he shrugs in response saying there is no reason to. Now out of the mental institution, Karl settles in his old, small hometown, occupying himself by fixing motors. After meeting a young boy named Frank, who befriends him, Karl is invited to stay at Frank's house with his mother Linda, who views Karl as a strange but kind and generous man. However, Linda's abusive boyfriend, Doyle, sees things differently in the way rules ought to be run- normally insulting Linda's homosexual friend Vaughan as well as Karl's disabilities, and having wild parties with his friends. As Karl's relationship with Frank grows, he is watchful of Doyle's cruel actions.
Cast & Characters
Billy Bob Thornton as Karl Childers;
Dwight Yoakam as Doyle Hargraves;
J.T. Walsh as Charles Bushman;
John Ritter as Vaughan Cunningham;
Lucas Black as Frank Wheatley;
Natalie Canerday as Linda Wheatley;
James Hampton as Jerry Woolridge;
Robert Duvall as Karl's Father;
Rick Dial as Bill Cox;
Brent Briscoe as Scooter Hodges;
Christine Renee Ward as Melinda;
Sarah Boss as Marsha Dwiggins;
Kathy Sue Brown as Theresa Evans;
Wendell Rafferty as Melvin;
Bruce Hampton as Morris