A series of scenic shots of a dilapidated rural community: Karl Childers awkwardly walks, turns and stares directly into the camera; capturing the viewer into his world. Billy Bob Thornton wrote, directed and starred in this intense character study of an anti-hero Karl Childers, a slightly mentally-handicapped man just released from the "nervous hospital" after killing his mother and her lover many years beforehand. Thornton creates such a captivating and well-crafted character, urging the viewer to really get inside his head. Thornton's performance is elevated by the sheer brilliance in every single shot: from the blocking, to the long takes and right down to the well-paced editing. J.T. Walsh bookends the film with two disturbing monologues. This is the definition of a great narrative and a director who knows exactly what he is doing. Sling Blade is the mighty seed needed to nourish any film lover's eyes, heart and mind. S

I'm not going to go in to detail. This movie is a moving study of the decency and beauty of ordinary people. I can hardly believe that I missed it on release. Billy Bob Thornton has been one of my favourite actors for many years but this performance simply blew me away. He proves himself in the Steve Carrell class of actors who can take on a character to the extent that you can't even tell who he is.One of the best movies ever made.

This movie was so engaging and revealed the acting abilities of every one in it. I was impressed to see on of my favorite country entertainers, Dwight Yoakam, do such an excellent job in the role he played. One would have thought he was an actor with previous experience. John Ritter added a new page to his resume. I'm sad that he's no longer with us, but we have that to remind us just how good he was. Most of all, best of all, was Billy Bob Thornton. He's done such great work over time including Legal Colors. But I have to say that his performance in this film was absolutely incredible!

Passion projects in Hollywood are very rare, but when you see them done with the skill and tenderness of Sling Blade, it makes you feel good that they're so rare.Billy Bob Thornton is a master filmmaker. It is uncanny how he could be such an effective director whilst also performing the film's most demanding role. It is a testament to how much his cast and crew respected him and trusted the passion he had for his project. His performance as Karl Childers is spectacular. He breaks your heart in every single scene, whether it is him saying thank you for the only time in the film, telling a gay man he doesn't think he'd go to hell, visiting a grave or turning over his only worldly possessions. Its also a testament to Thornton's magnificent screenplay, which is very slow at times but its a slow burn well worth your time.Please watch Sling Blade. It'll break your heart, but you'll love it for it.