The storys about a mentally challenged man named karl childers who, around the age of 12. If you like sling blade you are looking for touching, bleak and rough movies about with murder, friendship, death threat, redemption, mentally challenged, family relations and small town themes of drama genre shot in usa. Stopped in benton arkansas recently to visit some of the filming locations. Sling blade is a 1996 american drama film set in rural arkansas, written and directed by billy bob thornton, who also stars in the lead role. For years ive been waiting for a film that introduces me to exoctic new cuisine. A slowly accruing character study of several southern misfits that possesses the remorseless inevitability of a greek tragedy, sling blade makes a forceful but uneven cut. Sling blade was filmed over the course of 12 days on location in benton, arkansas. The entire movie feels very realistic, is quite sober and never tries to be too dramatic. When we first meet karl in sling blade s prologue, he is a strange, sinister figure recounting his history to a local high school newspaper reporter. The visual and auditory composition is a masterpiece. Surely youve seen and love arkansasborn billy bob thorntons classic sling blade and perhaps youve watched the legal dramas the client and the firm, both adapted from jonesboroborn john grishams best selling novels. Based on the marvel comics superhero of the same name, it is the first part of the blade film series. For instance the lawnmower repair shop where karl works been replaced by a bank. His name is karl childers, he is retarded, and he has been in a state facility since childhood, when he found his mother with her lover and killed them both.
Sling blade is such a haunting movie the first time i watched it was more than a decade ago and from what i remember of it was a movie where half of it was a feel good movie and the other half was a dark drama but after rewatching it recently, the whole movie felt more than a dark drama and it just made me uncomfortable. Et we are showing sling blade, a film that marked the directorial debut of country singer turned actor billy bob thornton. Dec 18, 2019 sling blade is a 1996 american drama film written and directed by billy bob thornton, who also stars in the lead role. Telly addict andrew collins casts his critical eye over new worlds above, klondike, the trip to italy, endeavour and monkey planet. Much like the movie itself, the music has a spare, haunting quality that will either appeal to you or leave you in a stupor depending on your state of mind. The best movie quotes, movie lines and film phrases by movie quotes. Jul 30, 2019 disturbing but creepily funny monologue from j. Here are 15 movies filmed in arkansas youre sure to enjoy. Walsh from the movie sling blade where he describes kidnapping and likely murdering a woman away from a man he was jealous of. However, fans of the film can take a driving tour of the town and. Although thoroughly institutionalized, karl is deemed fit to be released into the outside world. This weeks film is sling blade, written and directed by billy bob thornton the film also earned him an oscar for the screenplay. It is not a film that every connoisseur will absolutely adore, but it is a film that simply begs to be seen by those who respect the craft of filmmaking. Sling blade and the portrayal of developmental disability ifc.
A man with a raspy voice, an overshot jaw and a lot of pain in his eyes says he reckons we might like to hear about his story, and so he tells it. Its called garrys slingblade because parts of the movie slingblade were filmed there. These scenes were filmed at the arkansas health center, which appears in the credits under its old name, the benton services center. The movie begins and ends here, in the state mental hospital.
In the movie at the middle booth of garrys drive in was where the lunch scene with karl billy bob and vaughan john ritter was filmed. The movie made a star out of thornton, leading to a varied film career thats. Sling blade is a remarkable movie for many reasons. Sling blade filming location wheatley home in benton, ar. Back in 1995 billy bob thornton filmed the iconic movie sling blade in benton. Sling blade landmarks arkansas roadside travelogue. I wonder if there isnt a potential sling blade prequel about a group of small town passive aggressives who drive the man of the house to selfdestruction. Aug 12, 2017 these are the best burgers in saline county. Benton at the movies essay goes with sling blade filming. Billy bobs performance as karl childers is absolutely riveting. A kaiser blade also called a ditch bank blade, brush axe, or sling blade is a heavy, hooked, steel blade at the end of a wooden handle usually 3 feet to 4 feet long, primarily used for cutting. There are three booths and five counter seats and excellent burgers and bar b q. Sling blade comes to dvd for the second time now as a 2disc installment of the miramax collectors series line. After it debuted in 1996, sling blade, a film about a mentally challenged man who befriends and becomes the unlikely protector of a fatherless.
I really enjoyed the movie sling blade, so i created another quiz on this movie. This is the kind of movie that could have become very preachy, but it hasnt and thats something that i really appreciate. It tells the story of a man named karl childers who has a developmental disability and is released from a psychiatric hospital, where he has lived since killing his mother and her lover when he was 12 years old, and the friendship he develops with a. Sling blade 1996 r 2h 14m dramas a man returns home after being released from a psychiatric hospital, where hed been confined since age 12 for murdering his mother and her lover. You also saw it in this movie too but without the comedy. Its favorite film friday where i get to relive some of my favorite movies and explain why they had such a profound impact on me as a filmmaker.
A film that im sure most people dont find as funny as i do. Sling blade begins with a remarkable monologue delivered straight to the camera. The cut of the film included on this dvd is the original directors cut, before it was edited down for theatrical exhibition. Sling blade was the movie to make fun of in the late 90s.
Set in rural arkansas filmed in benton, arkansas the film tells the story of a man named karl childers who has an intellectual disability and is released from a psychiatric hospit. Sling blade is a 1996 american drama film written and directed by billy bob thornton, who also stars in the lead role. Karl childers is a mentally disabled man who has been in the custody of the state mental hospital since the age of 12 for killing his mother and her lover. A story of a friendship so powerful that i fall in love with this film over and over again. Thats what happens when you watch sling blade while heathers is still in your memory. Filmed entirely in benton saline county by arkansas native billy bob thornton, sling blade was one of the most critically acclaimed movies of 1996 and earned thorntonwho wrote, directed, and starred in the moviean academy award for best adapted screenplay as well as a nomination for best actor. Filming location used in the 1996 drama, sling blade. Themes from one movie creep into your interpretation of the other.
Sling blade official trailer hd 25 years after committing an unthinkable crime, a quiet man named karl finally returns home. Comedians imitated karls voice, people dressed as karl for halloween, and a lot of people just called karl sling blade, as if that were his name. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. Add to this some good directing and you know that thornton has done a very nice job with this movie. Billy bob thorntons moody sling blade turns 20 years old. Nov 28, 2016 the character first appeared in the 25minute short film some folks call it a sling blade, filmed in 1994. Both john and billy bob had chemistry which made bad santa so funny. Filmed entirely in benton saline county by arkansas native billy bob thornton, sling blade was one of the most critically acclaimed movies of.
The film was written, directed and starred billy bob thornton and costarred, dwight yoakam, j. From major motion pictures, like sling blade made by arkansas native billy bob thornton in central arkansas, and madefortelevision movies in the south to miniseries and television shows, such as the blue and the gray, the natural state is wellrepresented. Sling blade cast and crew cast photos and info fandango. Bottom line, sling blade left an impression figuratively and literally. A southern gothic tale about a man named karl thornton, whos just been released from an asylum some 25 years after he committed a gruesome crime. In sling blade, a firstrate drama opening today at the lumiere, karl is brilliantly played by billy bob thornton, a writer and actor who also makes his directing debut. Once there, hes befriended by a fatherless boy and his mother, but when his newfound peace is shattered by the mothers abusive boyfriend, karl is suddenly placed on a collision course with his past. Sling blade 1996 filming locations in 2018 youtube. Sling blade is one of those must see films for true connoisseurs of film. The best movie filmed in every state showbiz cheat sheet. Sling blade 1996 filming locations, billy bob thornton, dwight yoakam, j. The film builds to a perfectlyfitting, climactic moment. As we get to know him, however, we come to understand the depth of his.
Sling blade 1996 filming locations the movie district. Sling blade marked the directorial debut of country singer turned actor billy bob thornton, who also authored the script expanding george hickenloopers acclaimed short some folks call it a sling. Sling blade written, directed, and staring billy bob thornton is so well done i cannot count how many times ive seen it. The oscarwinning movie has an arc that is itself the stuff of movies. If you ever needed a convenient definition of the term mood music, the soundtrack to billy bob thorntons 1996 film sling blade fits the bill nicely. This home was used as the home of frank wheatley, lucas black and his mom, linda, natalie canerday. The movie mentions that the kids father committed suicide. One with such a tragic story but a character you instantly sympathize for. Aug 29, 2010 the plot of the movie sling blade involves a man who has been in a mental hospital for years after witnessing his parents get attacked when he was a child. A 1996 drama directed, written and starring billy bob thornton, based on a short film called some folks call it a sling blade, in which he also starred.
Great burgers, crinkle cut fries and almost anything else that you would want. Sling blade is exhausting yet exhilarating, troubling. A beautifully realised ensemble piece with gripping and moving performances from everyone. When sling blade was released to theaters in 1996, it was met with critical acclaim and much box office success, launching writerdirectorstar billy bob thornton from forgettable bit player to hollywood icon. Sling blade is a strong, devastating film that could have been even stronger had more screen time been devoted to linda and doyle and less to karl and frank, whose friendship is more readily. The film was based on george hickenloopers acclaimed short some folks call it a sling blade and brought thornton into hollywoods spotlight and, perhaps, to angelina jolies attention. Trudging through the tumultuous terrain of thorntons sling blade is morally exhausting. Feb 28, 2014 the diner where some key scenes from sling blade were filmed is also still there. Set in arkansas filmed in benton, arkansas the film tells the story of a man named karl childers who has an intellectual disability and is released from a psychiatric hospital, where he has lived since killing his mother and her lover when he was 12 years old, and the.
The film was adapted by thornton from his previous screenplay for the short film some folks call it a sling blade, directed by george hickenlooper. These days, sling blade is remembered more for the character of karl than it is for the plot of the movie, or the critical acclaim it received. Jan 08, 2018 stopped in benton arkansas recently to visit some of the filming locations. The plot of the movie sling blade involves a man who has been in a mental hospital for years after witnessing his parents get attacked when he was a child. The key scene is not overplayed, nor are the ramifications. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival. In revisiting the film, its not difficult to see why. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing sling blade near you.
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