Director: Billy Bob Thornton

Writer: Billy Bob Thornton

From a play: Sling Blade by Billy Bob Thornton

Original Music by: Daniel Lanois

Producers: Brandon Rosser; David L. Bushell

Keywords: Drama, Retards

Mentally handicapped Karl Childers, as a child having killed his mother and her lover upon encountering them in flagrante delicto, receives a declaration of rehabilitation and is released from institutionalization. Finding employment as a mechanic, Karl is befriended a young boy, and the boy's mother assists by providing Karl a place to stay. Outstanding film in every respect. Won the Oscar for Best Adaptation, and received an additional nomination for Best Actor. Won also the Edgar for Best Motion Picture.

Name	Occupation	Birth	Death	Known for
Lucas Black	Actor	29-Nov-1982		The kid from Sling Blade
Brent Briscoe	Actor	21-May-1961		A Simple Plan
Vic Chesnutt	Singer/Songwriter	12-Nov-1964	25-Dec-2009	Wheelchair-bound folk singer
Robert Duvall	Actor	5-Jan-1931		Tom Hagen in The Godfather
James Hampton	Actor	6-Jul-1936		Trooper Dobbs on F Troop
Jim Jarmusch	Film Director	22-Jan-1953		Permanent Vacation
John Ritter	Actor	17-Sep-1948	11-Sep-2003	Jack Tripper on Three's Company
Billy Bob Thornton	Actor	4-Aug-1955		Sling Blade
J. T. Walsh	Actor	28-Sep-1943	27-Feb-1998	A Few Good Men
Dwight Yoakam	Country Musician	23-Oct-1956		Country star, This Time

CAST

Billy Bob Thornton	...   Karl Childers (retarded)
Dwight Yoakam	...   Doyle Hargraves (duder)
J. T. Walsh	...   Charles Bushman (talkative inmate)
John Ritter	...   Vaughan Cunningham (homosexual)
Lucas Black	...   Frank Wheatley (young boy)
Natalie Canerday	...   Linda Wheatley (boy's mother)
James Hampton	...   Dr. Jerry Woolridge (psychiatrist)
Robert Duvall	...   Frank Childers (Karl's father)
Rick Dial	...   Bill Cox (boss)
Brent Briscoe	...   Scooter Hodges (mechanic)
Christy Ward	...   Melinda (slow woman)
Sarah Boss	...   Marsha Dwiggins (student interviewer)
Kathy Sue Brown	...   Theresa Evans
Wendell Rafferty	...   Melvin
Bruce Hampton	...   Morris
Vic Chesnutt	...   Terence
Mickey Jones	...   Monty Johnson
Ian Moore	...   Randy Horsefeathers (bandmate)
Judy Pryor Trice	...   Mrs. Woolridge
Scott Stewart	...   Bubba Woolridge
Betty Lynn Hall	...   Sister
Jim Jarmusch	...   Frostee Cream Boy
Gary Don Fletcher	...   Preacher
Tim Holder	...   Albert
Tom Kagy	...   Freddy
Stacy Barrow	...   Woodridge Secretary
Jackie Stewart	...   Walter
Jamie Stewart	...   Teenage Boy
D. J. Royston	...   Housekeeper
Lacy Bailey	...   Karen
Raymond Lewallen	...   Ticket Agent
Bill Glasscock	...   Man (voice)

REVIEWS

Review by anonymous (posted on 10-Mar-2006)

I saw SLING BLADE when it was first released! I was blown away by Billy Bobs' performance. everything about this film is intelligent. I do find it hard to believe that a woman would let her son around a character like Karl Childers yet her boyfriend in the movie is hardly suited to be anything but a villian in this production. Camera placement and scene juxtaposition is more than adequate. Billy Bob has proven that he is a solid actor yet his performance here is a high water mark. Any actor would be well served to give a performance of such depth. When he put his arm around the boy to say goodbye and told him he loved him more than a few people were crying in the audience I was in. I don't think anyone will ever write as clever a line as in CASABLANCA-"Round up the usual suspects". I also don't believe that a role as strong and unique as SLING BLADE's Karl Childers will be seen on the screen for some time either! John Ritter, J T Walsh, and Dwight Yoakim were all excellent.

Have you seen this film? We would love to see your review. Submit your review for this film

Do you know something we don't?
Submit a correction or make a comment about this profile

Copyright ©2019 Soylent Communications