CLASSIC MOVIES: SLING BLADE (1996)

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Brief Movie Synopsis [courtesy of Turner Classic Movies]:

A mentally-challenged man, who murdered his
mother and her lover, is released from prison and
befriends a young boy in a small town.

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REVIEWS:

"Billy Bob Thornton's 'Sling Blade' is one of the very best movies I have ever seen (or ever will see). It's a complete treasure from the first scene until the last. The whole cast is simply wonderful, from Mr. Thornton all the way down the line. Many of the scenes in the movie are filmed by Director Thornton as static shots, with the camera not budging one inch as the actors go about their task of performing the scene, versus cutting back and forth from one camera angle to another. This type of 'locked down' approach that was utilized in several scenes is a good one too, in my opinion, giving the viewer a chance to see all of the actors in the scene at the same time for an extended period. I wish more movies would employ that same type of shooting technique more often. .... By way of its marvelous writing, stellar performances, and its understated and simple musical score, 'Sling Blade' is probably one of the most powerful and emotionally heart-tugging films ever made."

-- David Von Pein; November 2, 2011

"['Sling Blade'] is a work of great originality and fascination by Billy Bob Thornton, who wrote it, directed it and plays Karl Childers. He says that the character 'came to him' one morning while he was shaving, and he started talking to himself in the mirror, in Karl's voice. .... The movie's ultimate destination is not hard to guess, but we feel a certain satisfaction when it arrives there. And by then we have come to know Karl with a real understanding and fondness. He is a character unlike any other in the movies, an original, and in creating him, Thornton has made a place for himself among the best new filmmakers. As an actor, he creates a difficult character and finds exactly the right way to play him."

-- Roger Ebert; November 29, 1996

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