Sling Blade - 8 stars out of 10

Sling Blade - 8 stars out of 10
350th Review

"Sling Blade" is a complex film but it all comes down to one simple theme - the love of a friend permeates deeper than your skin.  Billy Bob Thornton's portrayal of Carl is brilliant and definitely worth an Oscar nod.  His "Rain Man role" is flawless but few performances can match Geoffrey Rush in “Shine,” so I understand why he did not win.  There are two elements that make Sling Blade a must-see experience: the acting and the story.  Aside from Billy Bob Thornton's performance completely redeeming him as an actor for me, Dwight Yoakam will really emotionally engage you through the maddenning way that he speaks to the main characters.  Additionally, Lucas Black proves to be a very effective child actor (as the entire film hinges on his chemistry with Thornton), Ritter adds another layer, and Robert Duvall completes the cast with an unexpected cameo.  This is paired with Thornton's vibrant screenplay, perfectly written as a vehicle for him to show off his raw acting skill.  The dialogue between him and Black is incredibly moving and the film's concept is very unique.  The first 17 minutes are actually a condensed version of the original short film, "Some Folks Call it a Sling Blade."  To be honest, I much preferred the original 25 minute short to this film's intro and I would definitely recommend watching the short and then beginning this feature-length version at the 17 minute mark.  You will not regret watching Sling Blade for its unique story and incredible depth of actors.