Here we have the story of a good hearted,mentally challenged man who does not like to see the people he loves suffer.The source of their suffering happens to come in the human form.Karl Childers,this mentally challenged man,chooses to eliminate the suffering in the only way he knows how,wrong though it may be.He is willing to give up his own happiness,so that they may be happy.This is a very complex story which can be viewed from many different angles.In my opinion,it is a very sad story because here we have a man,suddenly free after years of treatment in a mental institution,willing to give it all away for the people he calls his friends.A hardly recognizable Billy Bob Thornton gives an exceptionally good performance as Karl,not to mention giving excellent direction from behind the camera as well.A surprising turn by Dwight Yoakam as the closed minded Doyle Hargraves,though I feel his ignorance was not his own fault,as we are all a product of our upbringing.A good movie,with good performances all around in a very complex story.
Review of Sling Blade
