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FitnessProsBooks.com - Sling Blade - Director's Cut (Miramax Collector's Series)
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List Price: $14.99
Our Price: $5.82
Your Save: $ 9.17 ( 61% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Miramax
Starring: Lucas Black (II), Sarah Boss, Brent Briscoe, Kathy Sue Brown, Natalie Canerday
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
Brand: THORNTON,BILLY BOB
EAN: 0786936239096
Format: Closed-captioned
Label: Miramax
Manufacturer: Miramax
Number Of Items: 2
Publisher: Miramax
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2005-06-07
Running Time: 148
Studio: Miramax
Theatrical Release Date: 1996-11-27
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: Unsettling film that will shock your core...
Comment: I think I mentioned a few reviews back that I bathe at the river `depressing'; and I think it's obvious that I also am a stickler for the emotionally engaging and sentimentally stimulating. That said; `Sling Blade' broke my heart in many places due to the fact that it is both of those things; depressing and sentimental. I would be a liar if I didn't say that there were also facets of this film that didn't work so well for me, but in all honestly they are few indeed.
The film starts of extremely strong with one of the most disturbing yet most engaging line readings I have ever seen, as we meet Karl for the first time while he's listening to Charles Bushman, a fellow mental institution inmate, reciting one of his lurid tales. J.T. Walsh, the actor who plays Bushman, is so convincing that he literally gave me chills.
Hands down one of the best cameo performances by an actor in recent memory.
The film only escalates from there, as Karl is released from his prison after serving many years for murdering his mother and her lover. He is released into society, back to his home town, amongst people that don't understand him or accept him. That is until he meets a young boy named Frank; a sweet child who is living under the harsh rule of his mother's boyfriend Doyle. Frank and Karl instantly bond, and Frank's mother Linda is grateful, offering her garage to Karl and welcoming him into her life. Doyle is less than enthused and thus begins a stricter more controlling reign of terror on Linda and Frank, imposing as much as possible to drive wedges into their newfound happiness.
I am intrigued by the films approach to the subject of love and loyalty, because when the film shakes down to the last few frames it is really all about the sacrifices we make in order to protect the ones we love; even if it means that we have to destroy ourselves. By making the lead character mentally handicapped the films proves that love is something innate and human, not something learned and or spawned from education or conditioning. Love is something that is inside us waiting to come out. There is no way that one can say Karl's love for Frank is anything but pure, for he has no outside influence manipulating his thinking.
The film has been likened to `To Kill a Mockingbird' in its depiction of murder, just or unjust. I see the similarities, but I'm not too quick to call them myself. `To Kill a Mockingbird' in my opinion raised a few more questions and answered them a little smoother, but that isn't to say that `Sling Blade' doesn't do a fine job at what it sets out to do.
When Karl explains where he came from, why he's here, what he remembers about who he is; I mean I don't see how anyone could be anything less than moved with pity. This brings me to my one major fault with the film; Billy Bob Thornton. Thornton is a very good actor, I will not take that away from him, but here he falls into `Hanks' territory, delivery a gimmick and relying to heavily on back-story to create his character. He's unrecognizable in sight and sound, yet I never really saw a real transformation. It all felt like surface to me. When he goes into his longwinded speeches of his horrible life I am moved and I almost teared up, but it felt as though I was reading a book, not witnessing the atrocities.
Thornton never truly took me there.
Everything else about the film is stellar to me. The pacing, the direction, the mood and even the score and soundtrack (which at first was a little off putting) ultimately proves itself strong and engaging. The balance of the performances are also strong. Lucas Black is wonderful as Frank. He beautifully balances his feelings of calm around Karl and then repressed and anxious around Doyle. Dwight Yoakam is also very effective as the hateful and cruel Doyle, infecting the screen with his detestable nature. John Ritter has a nice turn (R.I.P.) and Natalie Canerday is heartbreaking as the desperate and ultimately trapped Linda.
In the end I would be lying if I said that `Sling Blade' wasn't moving, for it is. It takes one to a dark place and allows them to witness ones desperate attempt to remove themselves from it; and we are able to see one trying fervently to save as many as he can from falling into the same trap. I really wish that I felt a stronger connection to Thornton here, but it's not as if he is drastically detached from the audience. I'm a little baffled by his Oscar nomination, but then again, they gave Hanks an Oscar. Thornton does a masterful job directing and writing here, and his success in these two areas help make up for his inability to connect as an actor.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Film, but Director's Cut Version Detracts from Original Release
Comment: As others have done a fine job of reviewing the film, I will limit this review to to the subject of this "director's cut" version. I liked the original theatrical release enormously. Yet when I viewed this "director's cut" I was disappointed. In my view, the added scenes detracted from the original and added nothing, and what was edited out took much away from movie we all saw in the theaters. Having said that, the other bonus features included in this two disc set are excellent with lots of interviews and in depth behind the scenes.
Customer Rating:
Summary: "Blade Blabber"
Comment: Billy Bob Thornton at all levels. What an interesting spin on "different people" and the background material that contributes to their psychological make-up (sometimes). I loved John Ritter and Dwight Yokum in this movie. They served up their acting chops on a silver platter. Okay, Billy Bob, it has been awhile, I am ready for you to do another "written by, directed by and starred in" of this quality.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Best Billy Bob Thorton movie ever!
Comment: To me, Sling Blade is byfar Billy Bob Thorton's best performance in a movie to date. Not only did Billy Bob star in it, he also written and directed it as well. Billy Bob has a pretty good set of co-stars staring with him such as John Ritter, a young Lucas Black, Dwight Yoakam, JT Walsh, & Robert Duvall.
Thorton plays a middle aged mental patient named Karl Childers. Early in his childhood, Karl would kill his mother and her lover which would make him to go and live at a mental institution where he stay for the better part of his life. After Karl gets released from the institution, he soon makes his way back to his hometown where he gets a steady job as a mechanic and also befriends Frank (Lucas Black).
Frank is a young boy who lives with his mother and her alcoholic boyfriend named Dole (Dwight Yoakam). Frank soon introduces Karl to his mother and her gay best friend (John Ritter) at her job. Frank's mother would then allow Karl to stay with Frank, Dole, and herself. After meeting Karl, Dole would cause a load of trouble throughout the duration of Karl's stay.
Karl would soon become a regular member of the family after a while. Karl opens up a lot by spending time with this good ol' family. Frank and his mother would do everything to try to get Karl to fit in with them. Frank would take Karl to play football and even settin up a blind date for Karl. Yeah Karl had a pretty good life stay with Frank which made Dole furious hafter seeing all of the attention Frank and his mother was giving Karl.
Throughout Karl's stay with Frank, he soon becomes a father figure for Frank by protecting him and his mother from the evil doings of the abusive Dole.
After a while, Karl ventures out one day and comes across his old house where he confronts his father. Karl asks him a number of things concerning Karl's childhood and his little brother Karl once had.
Dole and Frank's mother would have a fight which would cause Dole to stay out of the picture for a while. Once Dole comes back, he would confront Karl and kick him out of the house and go back to his abusive ways towards Frank and his mother which was a big mistake.
In the end Karl would get the last laugh so a speak after killing Dole with a sling blade which would cause Karl to go back to the mental institution.
Sling Blade is a very good movie with a very good story to it. I really enjoyed this movie. This movie is defiantely one of my favorite movies of all time.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Scary but good.
Comment: Sling Blade is a pretty shocking and intense film. Billy Bob Thornton is unrecognizable in this gritty and challenging role. His character has just been released from a mental ward and he befriends a young, sweet boy he has troubled family issues. Sling Blade is a slow cooker kind of film, he starts off slow but the last hour is just pure intensity and madness. John Ritter also stars and he's quite good as well, very under-rated and quiet performance. Gotta see this one, enjoy!
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Editorial Reviews:
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The Miramax Collector's Series proudly presents the two-disc release of the powerful motion picture applauded by critics and moviegoers alike ... written, directed, and starring Billy Bob Thornton (1996 Academy Award(TM) Winner, Best Adapted Screenplay and Academy Award(R) Nominee, Best Actor). Twenty five years after committing an unthinkable crime, a quiet man named Karl (Thornton) is finally returning home. Once there, he is befriended by a fatherless boy and his mother. But when his new-found peace is shattered by the mother's abusive boyfriend (Grammy-winner Dwight Yoakam), Karl is suddenly placed on a collision course with his past! Also featuring Robert Duvall (OPEN RANGE), John Ritter (BAD SANTA), and J.T. Walsh (BREAKDOWN) -- SLING BLADE is an unforgettable movie experience!
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