I know, it took me FOREVER to get around to watching this movie. But, I finally did last night. Anyone want to discuss?

It's been a while since I've seen it but a couple of things did stick out in my mind. The first is that it's a good thing that Dwight Yokum(sp?) can sing 'cause he can't act. Another thing that really bothered me and seemed like a stretch was that the boy's mother didn't seem to have much of a problem with her son "hanging" with Billy Bob Thorton. I mean, look at this guy. He was just released from a prison for the criminally insane (and looked it) and mom didn't seem to have any serious concerns about that. Sorry, but that just didn't seem like a natural reaction. Lastly, maybe I was missing something BUT, towards the end there was a scene where Billy Bob walks into the bedroom where Dwight and mom are in bed. Billy Bob has a hammer and Dwight is MORE that a little anxious about being pummeled, yet, at the end of the flick, Billy Bob simply walks over to Dwight and splits his head in two with a lawnmower blade and Dwight doesn't so much as raise his hand.
Sorry that I don't remember the names of the characters, like I said it's been a while since I saw it. One thing I will say is that I felt Billy Bob Thorton did an excellent job. That was a complex role and one that he handled well. The part that Robert Duvall played really stuck with me for some time as well. He was only in one thought provoking scene and never left his chair.
I'd like to hear some other slants on this movie as well.
-JM-

YEP UH HA RECKON I LIKED IT UH HA.RECKON IM GONNA GET ME SOME SOME OF THEM FRENCH FRIED TATERS BISCUITS AND MUSTART AND POTTED MEAT.YEP UH HA.I REALLY LIKED THIS MOVIE .I THOUGHT THE BEST PART WAS WHEN DOYAL ASK SLING BLADE WHAT HE WAS GONNA DO WITH THAT LAWN MOWER BLADE AND HE REPLED IM FIXIN TA CUT YOUR HEAD OFF WITH IT.BUT I DO ARGEE WITH JD THE MOM OF THE BOY WAS A LITTLE TO TRUSTING. I ALSO LIKED THE PART WHEN HE WENT TO A FAST FOOD PLACE AS SOON AS HE GOT OUT AND HE WAS TRYING TO GET FRIES (french fried taters) AND THE GUY ASKED HIM WHAT SIZE AND HE SAID WELL WELL GO AHEAD AND GIVE SOME OF THE BIG ENS.

I think you missed the point a bit about his Mom. Here's a single mom who allows herself to get wrapped up in a bad relationship with a mean, violent, heavy drinking jerk. How much common sense do you think she has? Of course she let her son hang around with Carl. Good judgement is not her strongest asset.

As for why Doyle got so nervous when Carl came in the bedroom is because that is exactly the same thing that happened before...he walked in on his own Mother and her lover and he killed them both because he felt that their sin was so great. She was cheating on his father. So when he walks in on Doyle and the mom it is too close for comfort. Doyle thinks he may snap and do it again. Later on in the story Doyle is no longer nervous about Carl...he thinks he is no threat. Little does he know....

Linda...my husband and I went and saw this at the theater when it first came out...we sat and cried together in the dark. This movie is so deeply touching and yet so funny too! The whole thing with the way Carl talks and one of our favorite lines..."you mean funny ha-ha or funny queer?" and of course the Taters and mustard!!

It broke my heart when Carl told the boy ( I can't recall the characters name...he was played by Lucas Black) his story about how he grew up and what happened. Also when Carl goes to see his father (Robert Duvall) and he really didn't even know who he was.

Poor Carl. The whole thing at the end when he does what he does to rescue the boy is just heartbreaking because you know he is sacrificing himself for the boy. On the other hand if they allow him to go back to the state hospital instead of jail then maybe it is okay...that is home to him.

The other thing that stood out to me was that John Ritter probably did the best work of his career in that movie. He was terrific.

It's a real classic, don'tcha think??

**I just noticed how old the original posts were! I didn't realize this wasn't current discussion...sorry!

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~~The purpose of life is a life of purpose~~

[This message has been edited by hungree (edited 08-14-2000).]

Hungree, I'm glad the topic was brought back up to the top - no matter when it was begun!

I like your assessment of the story. I agree that it was very touching. And, you're right, he did sacrifice himself for the boy. I guess I hadn't thought of it in those terms before.

Great movie. I'm going to have to rent it again, so I can respond a little better to the new posts on the story!

[This message has been edited by Linda1 (edited 08-14-2000).]

Forgive the lack of detail I can remember, but I saw this movie when it first came out. I'd never heard of it, but a friend suggested I see it. The same suggestion was made from the same person about a movie called Shine. They're two of my favorites.

The thing that sticks in my mind the most from Sling Blade is a transition from an early scene to the final scene.

A man institutionalized with Karl is telling him sexually explicit stories. The guy's all excited about it and Karl's just sitting there staring out the window. I wondered just how many years of the exact same thing had passed. In the last scene, when Karl's been returned to the asylum, the man's right there with him again. They're at that same window and the guy's telling him the same stories and Karl finally has the nerve to speak up and tell the guy that he doesn't like hearing the tales and to go away and not talk to him.

I think what I liked about that scene was that it made you realize that Karl was going to be just fine after that, even if he was stuck in that place for the rest of his life. It was his short time out of the asylum that they all needed. He needed to confront his father about the baby and the boy and his mom needed to get away from Doyle.

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We waste time, so you don't have to.

YES! YES! YES! That was the great and dearly missed JT Walsh as the pervert in the asylum! Wolf you are so right about that full circle...it was the defining moment.

I've been meaning to tell you in another forum, but I'll tell you here, I got my first tattoo two weeks ago. It's a lovely blue rose surrounded by a black celtic/tribal looking pattern. On my right calf. I absolutely love it and I know it will not be my last. I thought I'd share that with ya, cuz I know you are a tattoo buff. I think I'm hooked!

Anyway, Sling Blade is a classic, beautiful movie and I'm happy we talked about it!

Great movie. Billy Bob Thornton should have won a best actor Oscar for his portrayal of Carl.

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Nobody goes to that restaurant anymore, it's too crowded.- Yogi Berra