When I first watched "Sling Blade" nearly ten years ago, I knew nothing about it. I assumed it was part of the Wesley Snipes vampire series. I was completely unprepared for what became my #1 favourite movie of all-time.
Simply put, "Sling Blade" is the story of mentally-impaired Karl who gets released from "the nervous hospital" after 30 years, having committed a double murder as a young boy. He is taken in by an extremely trusting woman Linda and her young son Frank, who Karl befriends. This all takes place in what is surely one of the hillbilliest reddest-neck towns in Arkansas.
To describe the story as big-hearted doesn't suffice, this story is ALL heart. In addition to the warm engaging characters of Karl, Linda and Frank, there's Linda's friend Vaughn, a closeted smalltown gay guy, and even the minor characters like doctors and mechanics are drawn as compassionate caring characters. This movie can remind you of all the good things human beings are capable of, even in dark circumstances.
It's far from easy-viewing. Linda's abusive boyfriend Doyle is violent, manipulative, and threatens to destroy the lives of Linda and Frank. Doyle is so hateful that it's almost reluctant that I say Dwight Yoakam probably gives the second best performance. He makes your skin crawl, without ever being over the top, it's totally realistic. There are moments that are hard to watch (nothing graphic) and yet you can't turn your eyes away.
To me, this film has everything - drama, comedy, horror, love, thrills, emotion - and yet it is surprisingly simple. I have gone back and watched this movie over and over and I never tire of it. Even after a decade, it remains my #1 film of all time, and I wished more people watched it.
Simply put, "Sling Blade" is the story of mentally-impaired Karl who gets released from "the nervous hospital" after 30 years, having committed a double murder as a young boy. He is taken in by an extremely trusting woman Linda and her young son Frank, who Karl befriends. This all takes place in what is surely one of the hillbilliest reddest-neck towns in Arkansas.
To describe the story as big-hearted doesn't suffice, this story is ALL heart. In addition to the warm engaging characters of Karl, Linda and Frank, there's Linda's friend Vaughn, a closeted smalltown gay guy, and even the minor characters like doctors and mechanics are drawn as compassionate caring characters. This movie can remind you of all the good things human beings are capable of, even in dark circumstances.
It's far from easy-viewing. Linda's abusive boyfriend Doyle is violent, manipulative, and threatens to destroy the lives of Linda and Frank. Doyle is so hateful that it's almost reluctant that I say Dwight Yoakam probably gives the second best performance. He makes your skin crawl, without ever being over the top, it's totally realistic. There are moments that are hard to watch (nothing graphic) and yet you can't turn your eyes away.
To me, this film has everything - drama, comedy, horror, love, thrills, emotion - and yet it is surprisingly simple. I have gone back and watched this movie over and over and I never tire of it. Even after a decade, it remains my #1 film of all time, and I wished more people watched it.