Sling Blade (1996)

X An excellent must-see
O Good video rental
O Mediocre
O Rent something else

Review by Jason Pyles / May 29, 2007

From its title, everyone always assumes that “Sling Blade” is some kind of slasher, horror movie. It’s not. “Sling Blade” is a masterpiece and among my top three, all-time favorite films.

Billy Bob Thornton wrote, directed and starred in this drama about friendship. Thornton plays Karl Childers, a simple man who has some kind of mental imperfection that provokes unkind people to call him “slow” or “retarded.”

At the age of 12, Karl killed two people. Since that time, he has been locked away for years in a state hospital for those who have mental problems. “Sling Blade” begins on the day of his release back into society. Karl is sent to the tiny town of Millsburg, where he grew up, somewhere in the south.

Karl gets a job and becomes fast friends with a boy named Frank (Lucas Black). This drama is about their friendship and those they associate with in the town.

“Sling Blade” is predictable, but its story is so well told that we don’t mind. This edited version has violence that is either verbally described or is implied, not depicted. Even so, “Sling Blade” is not for children but for anyone who loves great movies.

Directed by Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton / Lucas Black / Dwight Yoakam
135 min. Drama
(Original MPAA rating: R)
Edited version age recommendation: 15 and up

DVD release date: (Director’s Cut) June 7, 2005
Copyright 2007.
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