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Title: Sling Blade (1996)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Billy Bob Thornton | ... | Karl Childers | |
| Dwight Yoakam | ... | Doyle Hargraves | |
| J.T. Walsh | ... | Charles Bushman | |
| John Ritter | ... | Vaughan Cunningham | |
| Lucas Black | ... | Frank Wheatley | |
| Natalie Canerday | ... | Linda Wheatley | |
| James Hampton | ... | Jerry Woolridge | |
| Robert Duvall | ... | Karl's Father | |
 |
Rick Dial | ... | Bill Cox |
| Brent Briscoe | ... | Scooter Hodges | |
| Christine Renee Ward | ... | Melinda (as Christy Ward) | |
|
|
Sarah Boss | ... | Marsha Dwiggins |
|
|
Kathy Sue Brown | ... | Theresa Evans |
|
|
Wendell Rafferty | ... | Melvin |
|
|
Bruce Hampton | ... | Morris (as Col. Bruce Hampton Ret.) |
A partially handicapped man named Karl is released from a mental hospital, about 20 years after murdering his mother and another person. Karl is often questioned if he will ever kill again, and he shrugs in response saying there is no reason to. Now out of the mental institution, Karl settles in his old, small hometown, occupying himself by fixing motors. After meeting a young boy named Frank, who befriends him, Karl is invited to stay at Frank's house with his mother Linda, who views Karl as a strange but kind and generous man. However, Linda's abusive boyfriend, Doyle, sees things differently in the way rules ought to be run- normally insulting Linda's homosexual friend Vaughan as well as Karl's disabilities, and having wild parties with his friends. As Karl's relationship with Frank grows, he is watchful of Doyle's cruel actions. Written by commanderblue
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I can't believe it took me so long to finally see this movie and I must admit I had never seen any work by Billy Bob Thornton. Without a doubt, Sling Blade is one of the finest pieces of work ever put on film. Billy Bob's performance as Karl Childers is absolutely riveting! I found myself completely fascinated by this character. The entire ensemble of characters are superbly cast. The child actor who plays Frank is talented beyond his years. This story unfolds in many layers, with friendship and love woven between bigotry and cruelty. It begins with a somewhat horrible description of the double murder of Karl's mother and her lover, but yet is tastefully done with words, no cheap views of blood and gore. It shows how the lack of parental love and understanding can form an individual, but also how the human heart can still have the capacity to be open, as in the relationship between Karl and Frank. You'll feel completely drawn into this little family with its pain and problems.
This is a masterpiece of superb acting, writing and directing! If you haven't seen it yet, please don't deny yourself the opportunity of viewing one of the most amazingly touching movies you will ever see. Even in the company of great performances by Tom Hanks and Dustin Hoffman, I think Sling Blade leaves Forrest Gump and Rain Man in the dust!