Home
search
more | tips
SHOP SLING BLADE
Amazon.com Amazon.ca Amazon.co.uk Amazon.de Amazon.fr
IMDb > Sling Blade (1996)
Sling Blade
[Add to My Movies]
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsnews articles
Promotional
taglinestrailers and videospostersphoto gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Sling Blade (1996)

advertisement
Register or login to rate this title
User Rating: 8.0/10 (33,830 votes)
Photos (see all 30 | slideshow) Videos

Overview

Director:
Billy Bob Thornton
Writers (WGA):
Billy Bob Thornton (play)
Billy Bob Thornton (screenplay)
Release Date:
27 November 1996 (USA) more view trailer
Genre:
Drama more
Tagline:
Sometimes a hero comes from the most unlikely place. more
Plot:
Karl Childers, a simple man hospitalized since his childhood murder of his mother and her lover, is released to start a new life in a small town. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 11 wins & 9 nominations more
User Comments:
9/10 more

Cast

 (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for strong language, including descriptions of violent and sexual behavior.
Runtime:
135 min | 148 min (Director's cut)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Colour:
Colour
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
Certification:
Netherlands:16 (original rating) | USA:Not Rated (director's cut) | Netherlands:6 (re-rating) | Canada:14A (original rating) | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | Iceland:12 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA (re-rating) | Australia:M (original rating) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R
Filming Locations:
Benton, Arkansas, USA more
MOVIEmeter: ?
^ 71% since last week why?
Company:
Miramax Films more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Billy Bob Thornton had written the script in long hand, at his family's house in Hot Springs, Arkansas. more
Goofs:
Boom mic visible: Shadow visible in front of a tree when Jerry and Karl are walking. more
Quotes:
Frank Childers: I told you I ain't got no boy, now why don't you get on outta here and let me be. You ain't no kin to me.
Karl: [after a pause] I learned to read some. I read the Bible quite a bit. I can't understand all of it, but I reckon I understand a good deal of it. Them stories you and Mama told me ain't in there. You ought not done that to your boy. I studied on killing you. Studied on it quite a bit...
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Bad Santa: Not Your Typical Christmas Movie (2004) (V) more
Soundtrack:
Darlin' more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
56 out of 60 people found the following comment useful:-
9/10, 27 November 2004
9/10
Author: desperateliving from Canada

It's a pleasure in its own way seeing a hyped-up modern classic that is as good as they say -- and in a quiet, thoughtful way. It's surprising the public latched onto the film, as it is not cluttered with easily noticeable style nor is it painted with feel-good strokes -- although the vigilantism of it does make liking it tricky: I happen to like it for the film itself, the calming, forgiving tone, as when Thornton finally tells the mother why he was in the state hospital and how she reacts. The act of violence just exists; the greatness of the film is in the rest of it, how it respects the audience: there are horrible descriptions -- the dead baby -- that are sad poetry, but never so relentlessly grim as to make watching the movie punishing. There are moments that are so incredibly sad, especially because of Thornton's effective use of echoey, spacey music. The earnest honesty of the film is something I find very rewarding, and the film's beautiful structure, those long scenes from far away, is such a nice change of pace.

The screenplay goes against conventions, it tosses in unexpected lines, without advertising that fact. Some of the lines should be funny -- the Bible wasn't how Thornton expected it in some places -- but the intent is not, and it isn't "knowing." It's one of those terrific indie movies that really has a statement to make; but at the same time there's no sentiment, and no awful sense of dread, either; just straight-ahead Gothic storytelling.

There are some problems if you look at it hard enough; aside from the vigilantism, on paper the film is full of stereotypes: the sensitive gay, the jerk step-dad, the retarded Southern simpleton. But in the playing of it nothing feels stereotyped. The characters are certainly labels and afflictions on paper, but within the film they are whole beings. The "Forrest Gump" comparisons are obvious -- the simpleton befriends a troubled young dirty-looking kid and the two become best friends (he even plays football at one point), but this film, even though the politics are screwy like that film's, is so utterly human.

All down the line the performances are right on key. They're complete characters, but they each have a voice all their own, an idiosyncrasy: J.T. Walsh's creepiness; John Ritter's meek whispering which adds a touch of humor to the film; Robert Duvall's brief appearance as Thornton's pathetic father; Yoakam, who is a charming SOB; Lucas Black, the least annoying of child actors -- a rapscallion. Even the side characters, like the hospital warden embarrassed with the system, are fine. And Jim Jarmusch proves himself an astute, interesting actor. 9/10

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this title with other users on IMDb message board for Sling Blade (1996)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Slingblade/Three's Company reference AND Duvall/Boo Radley reference? MadSimian
stories in the Bible (hmmm, spoilers, I reckon) terrenat
Anyone else been addicted to this movie? Headbanger_4_Christ
Doyle's Band SmellyCat92
Peeing off a bridge joke zeekeyboy
Does it get better after the first half hour? brucedgo
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
American Beauty Road House The Notebook A Time to Kill Infamous
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Add a recommendation | Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.