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Summary: Billy Bob deserved his Oscar with this film
Review: This is the first time I can remember seeing Billy Bob Thornton on film. I didn't know what to make of him at first, but he proved himself a good actor and that made me want to see him in other films. Kudos to country singer Dwight Yoakam on his performance! I was more than happy to add this film to my dvd collection. You should enjoy this one!
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Summary: "I don't think anything bad ought to happen to children."
Review: "Sling Blade" put Billy Bob Thornton on the map. Suddenly, the general public discovered for itself the talented actor who had never previously been able to penetrate the mainstream consciousness. However, that's about the only significant aspect of "Sling Blade" for it is a strange disjointed work that leaves the viewer cold and unsatisfied.Karl Childers (Thornton) has lived in a mental institution ever since he killed his mother and her lover when he was younger. He has been declared fit for release and soon finds a job as a garage mechanic. After befriending a young boy named Frank Wheatley (Lucas Black), Karl moves into his home. However, there is trouble in the household because of the tense relationship between Frank's mother (Natalie Canerday) and her abusive boyfriend (Dwight Yoakam). Karl eventually decides that he wants to set matters right after observing the cruelty imposed on Frank and his mother. However, tragedy ensues when Karl's limited comprehension of the world around him leads him to devise only one horrifying solution to the problem. The only thing separating "Sling Blade" from a television movie-of-the week is Thornton's performance. It is so different from anything you're used to seeing that it sticks in your mind long after the end of the film. Thornton succeeds in vividly bringing to life his character but his Karl is trapped within a pedestrian story. The-outsider-being-brought-into-a-troubled-family-circle-with-resulting-disastrous-results routine has been done many times before. There are no new twists or fresh perspectives in this latest re-telling so the entire film has a general feeling of "seen-it-all-before" to it. The pacing is also languid which does not help matters. Yet, "Sling Blade" is not a total write-off primarily because the acting is solid. Black, Canerday, Yoakam, and John Ritter are good in their parts but they too are unfortunately limited by the narrow scope of the film's story. As it stands now, Thornton's performance is the only interesting aspect of "Sling Blade" and that might not be enough to justify a viewing of this film.
Rating: 
Summary: "A Simple Man .... A Difficult Decision!"
Review: "Sling Blade" is one of those brilliant films that has a lasting impact for generation's to come. A wonderful story of redemption and self-sacrifice, Billy Bob Thornton shows his skills as actor and director. A fine supporting cast (including the late John Ritter, Country Superstar Dwight Yoakam, and a cameo appearence by the legendary Robert Duvall) and amazing cinematography are just some of the highlights of this amazing film! Anybody who wants to see more character depth in their films than visual effects will not want to miss "Sling Blade!" Grade: A+
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Summary: Absolutely Perfect!
Review: Few movies drag you into them as though you were reading a book. This movie made you forget to blink! Amazing Preformances and story line. BUY IT!!!!
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Summary: I'm a little behind but I've caught up
Review: I finally saw this movie days ago. I can't really say why I had avoided it for so long, but I wish I hadn't. What a movie! The script is absolutely amazingly written. The dialogue is tremendous and doesn't feel scripted at all. The direction is extremely well done. No jumpy, trendy camera changes, and beautiful solo shots that really help to develop the characters. The absolute high point is the acting. Everyone in this movie is tremendous. Thornton does such an amazing job, that it's hard to believe it's him. Which I think is the greatest thing an actor can do, make you forget its them. The young boy (Lucas Black) is unbelievable. Long scenes are usually impossible with children, but there are some very long shots that he comes through without error. Terrific. Yoakam as the abusive boyfriend does an excellent job, second only to Thornton. Ritter(r.i.p.) plays the gay friend of the boy and his mother without a hokey flamboyance or any stereotypical nonsense, great performance. Canerday is great as the boy's mother, she portrays he character with utter realism (a woman that knows her situation is awful, but doesn't know how to deal with it). This is film-making at it's finest. The script, direction, and acting are all tremendous. I would recommend this film to anyone that wants to see a great movie.
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Summary: IN COLD BLOOD
Review: SLING BLADE is a tragedy. In fact, all the ingredients of the ancient greek tragedies are there. The murdered mother, the abandoned brother and the almighty Fate which will pursue Karl during his whole life. Billy Bob Thornton's hero is the symbol of the weakest of the weakest : the children, the women, ...the handicapped people,... and the others. The first 15 minutes of SLING BLADE are also a lesson of great cinema. Karl, for the first and the last time, will talk freely, in the dark. Let's hear the musical score of Daniel Lanois that goes with this scene. Emotionally perfect. SLING BLADE is also the movie of a stupendous actor, Billy Bob Thornton, who carries the whole film on his bended shoulders. Hats off ! No trailer nor production notes and a really bad french dubbed version. If you don't speak english, you'd better learn to read spanish in order to enjoy SLING BLADE and the talent of Billy Bob. A DVD for your library.
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Summary: A great movie;mmmhumm
Review: Great self- directed movie-making. Thornton won the oscar for his screenplay (I have it)! He was up for Best Actor, too! And he should have won that as well.
Don't miss it!!
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Summary: very moving and poignant
Review: Karl (Billy Bob Thornton) was just released after serving 25 years for committing a brutal violent crime as youngster. Karl is a very simple man and keeps to himself but is very eccentric. Shortly after returning home, he makes a few friends and even gets a job. Karl's only desire is to live a very simple and peaceful life, but there are a few things which he did not anticipate which could possibly bring him back to the same place where he spent most of his life. Just something to ponder on... prisons and hopitals don't rehabilitate. A person who sincerely wishes to change must take a hard and deep look at himself and within himself. This film really got me thinking about how certain things that happened to me as a child still happen to me as an adult. All of us undoubtely have undesirable traits which have gotten us into trouble since we were children and we are destined to repeat the same mistakes over and over unless we get to the root of the problem. Most of us never get to the root of the problem because we are too busy finding fault with others.
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Summary: Sling Blade -- one of the great american performances
Review: This review is going to be primarily a 'review' of Thornton's performance as Carl in Sling Blade. I'm just shocked that he lost the Academy Award for this performance, it's just one of the all time great performances. What he does here is shed all characteristics of Billy Bob, shed any recognizable characteristics of Billy Bob and become, transform into a character. It's actually similar, but much better than Dustin Hoffman's Academy Award winning turn as Rain Man. For my money though, Billy Bob's work here transcends Hoffman's work in Rain Man. Both create a sympathetic tragedy, that we cannot help but love. The difference however lies in the face. When watching Rain Man, we're watching Dustin Hoffman play a character. When watching Sling Blade, we're watching Carl. Just look at his unchanging face, full of care, beauty, exhuberance. Billy Bob is really out of his league here. If anyone ever argues with me that he's not one of the best actors working today, I will always point them to Sling Blade, and The Man Who Wasn't There. Breathtaking work. Of course he's not up there with Robert DeNiro, or Marlon Brando, but he has the ability to truly transform himself into a character. For that, I recommend you rent Sling Blade immediately.
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Summary: living inside one's own heart
Review: With the parodies and jokes surrounding the lead character of this film stating, "I like the way you talk," I was not expecting this film to be anything I'd be impressed with. Boy, was I wrong. This a fantastic film. Billy Bob Thornton plays Karl Childers, a man about to be released from a mental hospital after staying there for 30 years. Karl killed his own mother and her lover when he was only about 12 years old and you wonder from the beginning of this film - why are they letting him out? Some people call him slow, some people say he's retarded - but as each scene comes and goes, you realize that there is a lot more going on inside Karl's head than anyone else believes. While autism is not mentioned by name in the film, it's obvious that this character was modeled after an autistic person. He does not maintain eye contact and rarely exhibits emotion or speaks. He returns to his childhood hometown after being released from the hospital and puts his mechanical skills to good use as a small engine wiz at a local mechanic shop. He befriends Frank (Lucas Black), a young boy who reminds Karl of the kind of life he could have had, if he had only had different parents. Frank's mother has a psycho for a boyfriend (masterfully played by Dwight Yoakum) who treats Frank and his mother like garbage and threatens to kill them if the relationship ever ends. Small town folks have big hearts, but sometimes small minds. Frank's mother (Natalie Camerday) has a best friend who is gay (well acted by John Ritter) and he must hide his relationships from the townsfolk. Her friend Vaughn wants to go to a a bigger city with wider acceptance of his lifestyle, but he continues to stay to act as a guardian angel for his friend and her son. As Karl meets and interacts with the new friends (and enemies) he meets, he reveals some of his darker secrets with his friend, Frank. While he shows almost no emotion, Karl's story evokes tears from all but the most stony-hearted viewer. He not only feels great pain of what he has experienced and what he has done, he feels great empathy for Frank and his mother and holds their friendship dear to his heart. There is violence in the film, but the most violent of scenes is just audible - nothing is seen, just heard. This film is too intense for young viewers, but teenagers should have no problem with it. This film really makes you think - about what goes on in the minds of those who are mentally different in any way - and how all emotions are universal.
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