Sling Blade

Pros: Billy Bob Thornton acts.
Cons: Billy Bob Thornton directs.

The shoot at Mount Rushmore for the What A Friend We Have in Cheeses campaign did not go as smoothly as we had all hoped. I arrived at the lodge in my palatial motor home and changed into my new Gaultier roquefort dress and head piece...

Pros: Excellent acting and directing, beautiful cinematography, extremely real
Cons: Scary real

Sling Blade is one of those wonderful independent films that many of us rarely take the time to seek out, let alone watch. I heard about this movie 3 years ago when it was recommended to me by one of my professors. It has taken me that long to finally...

Pros: Excellent acting, particularly by Billy Bob Thornton.
Cons: Might distress some viewers. Occasionally risks slipping into sentimentality.

Director: Billy Bob Thornton Cast List 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 ...

Pros: Long single take scenes that feature superb acting.
Cons: Too long. Still tough to get emotionally involved.

Sling Blade, which could be described as a dark rendition of Forrest Gump, received oodles of accolades upon its release in 1996. While I understand why so many critics raved about this film and agree with them in many aspects, I do not ...

Pros: Consistent characters, memorable dialogue and quotes, draws on real emotion, at least mine.
Cons: The end was appropriate and right, just not what I wanted.

I've come to the conclusion that Billy Bob Thornton is a brilliant man. This conclusion comes after my self-imposed Billy Bob Thornton film fest. Having once wrote him off as weird, I hope to clarify my hasty decision. Weird? Not hardly, unless weird...

Pros: Decent enough movie, good direction and acting
Cons: none, offhand

Even when faced with adversity there are those that try to better their lives. Even if you are only a 12 year old boy trying to protect yourself from abusive parents. Even if you have to take the ‘sword’ in hand to do it. Even if you have to spend the...

Pros: Well written, well directed, great casting, and great performances
Cons: I can't really put my finger on one

This was the most surprising movie I've seen. I found myself utterly glued to my seat watching this work of art. We'll just call this the Billy Bob Thornton show, since he wrote, directed, and starred in this gem.

The casting to this was a...

Pros: Excellent portrayal of characters
Cons: none

I am not much of a movie critic, but I have made a few exceptions—Sling Blade being one.
I watched this movie for the 3rd time Saturday night and decided to write a review about it because I think it is a movie that everyone should see at least...

Pros: fine characterizations
Cons: dispiriting; central character not engaging

Maybe I just missed it. Everyone else seems to have liked this movie (including many who have written articulately in earlier reviews). I looked forward to renting this movie. I generally prefer fairly serious movies, without a lot of special effects....

Pros: Decent acting and a blunt portrayal of the South
Cons: Direction, pacing, emotional involvement

Sometimes a film really hits home. It opens up a time or place or affords people a perspective on the world they might not otherwise ever experience or enjoy.

Sling Blade isn't this kind of film, although you might have thought so, judging...

Pros: Great plot, acting, characters, disturbing, music
Cons: Some people might not get it, some confusing dialog

When this first came out I didn't know exactly what it was about. It looked like a disturbing film about a serial killer on a rampage but when I first saw it I was awe struck by the films light heartedness and utter capability to make you love a...

Pros: Great acting
Cons: Whole is less than the sum of its parts

One of Sling Blade's best moments involves a man sitting motionless on a couch. Off to the left, a 12-year old boy hurls books and other objects at his mother's abusive boyfriend. The boyfriend isn't even in the scene; the objects hit him somewhere...

Pros: Great acting and plotline.
Cons: Somewhat depressing ending

I first saw Sling Blade a couple of years ago while visiting my parents. My mother had just popped the tape in the VCR and I had no idea what the move was about. From the very beginning until the end I was engrossed and entertained.

The plot...

Pros: original, compelling, thoughtful, non-formula
Cons: themes too understated, not enough Karl

Watching "Sling Blade" you will very soon adopt Karl, the main character. This man is simple, not simplistic. His view of the world, though expressed in short, common language, is deep and complex. You may not believe this at first, but as...

Pros: Very good story. Good for the whole family.
Cons: It didn't last long enough.

I didn't see this motion picture in the theater and didn't rent it until after I saw Billy Bob Thornton on the Grammy Awards. Now I am truly sorry I didn't see it on the big screen. It is a wonderful, moving and sentimental story of a simple minded...