Sling Blade

Media:	VHS Tape
Directed by:	Billy Bob Thornton
Starring:	Billy Bob Thornton, Dwight Yoakam
Release date:	02 September, 2003
List price:	~~$9.99~~
Our price:	$9.49 that is 5% off!

Sling Blade

Average rating:

Such a great movie!

Billy Bob Thornton demonstrates his extraordinary talent on a variety of levels in this incredible movie; as an actor, he becomes a completely other person, totally immersing himself in his character, Karl. As a director, he shows a keen eye for Just The Right Angle in many scenes, which results in an really aesthetically pleasing film. On top of this, he also wrote the screenplay and developed all of the characters himself - truly amazing! His choice of soundtrack pieces increases the film's overall beauty, and, as soundtracks should, drives home the action on the screen.

There is some discussion of serious violence in the story, but almost none occurs on-screen; there is only one scene in the movie that is at all violent, and there is no blood or gore shown (but it is, um, "heavily implied.") While there isn't any on-screen sexuality or blood, this isn't precisely a movie for children - the subjects dealt with are very adult, and despite the charming relationship between Karl and Frank, the themes and ethics of the story may upset some people.

The pacing of the film is fairly slow, but this isn't at all a detraction from its overall impact, and highlights how the laconic Karl plods through life with great presence, almost accidentally. There are many lessons to be learned from this "simplistic" film, on a variety of levels, and even though the basic premise has been done before, few have ever done it this well.

Sadly, the DVD doesn't have any extra treats on it - it would have been really great to have a commentary by Billy Bob to let us know what he was thinking and feeling at different points of the filming process, alas. Still, the sound quality is superb, and the video is lovely. This is one of those movies I plan to pull out from time to time, simply because it's so enjoyable.

Sling Blade -

This film grabs you and leaves you with a heartache

This is a superbly-directed, well-acted film. The plot centers upon the relationship that develops between the mildly-retarded protagonist (masterfully portrayed by Billy Bob Thornton) and a young fatherless boy. Thornton's character is released from a mental institution for the criminally insane nearly thirty years after committing an unspeakable crime. The boy befriends Thornton and introduces him to his mother who, in turn, invites him to live in their garage. The film explores the many reasons why this special relationship between Thornton and the boy develops as it does. Because so much of the protagonist's emotional life, both past and present, is revealed to the viewer, the ending makes sense. Dwight Yoakum turns in a decent, believable performance as the abusive boyfriend of the boy's mother. John Ritter does a memorable job as the mother's platonic friend who attempts doggedly but ineffectually to protect the mother and son. As stated above, the ending to this well-done film does make sense, however the ending is ineffably sad.

- Sling Blade

IN COLD BLOOD

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.