Where was the movie sling blade filmed

Billy bobs performance as karl childers is absolutely riveting. 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. Walsh from the movie sling blade where he describes kidnapping and likely murdering a woman away from a man he was jealous of. Stopped in benton arkansas recently to visit some of the filming locations. 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. After it debuted in 1996, sling blade, a film about a mentally challenged man who befriends and becomes the unlikely protector of a fatherless. These scenes were filmed at the arkansas health center, which appears in the credits under its old name, the benton services center. Telly addict andrew collins casts his critical eye over new worlds above, klondike, the trip to italy, endeavour and monkey planet. 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. Feb 11, 2020 billy bob thorton ate here while filming sling blade, and scenes were filmed at garrys. 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. 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.

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. Its dramatic, sure, but it has elements of dark comedy, southern gothic, and even western. 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. 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. 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 one of those must see films for true connoisseurs of film. The cut of the film included on this dvd is the original directors cut, before it was edited down for theatrical exhibition. 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. The movie mentions that the kids father committed suicide.

The oscarwinning movie has an arc that is itself the stuff of movies. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival. Sling blade begins with a remarkable monologue delivered straight to the camera. Sling blade is a remarkable movie for many reasons.

Now i see where john ritter and billy bob got to know each other for their next movie bad santa. 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 movie an academy award for best adapted screenplay as well as a nomination for best actor. Benton at the movies essay goes with sling blade filming. 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. Without a doubt, sling blade is one of the finest pieces of work ever put on film. 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. Sling blade written, directed, and staring billy bob thornton is so well done i cannot count how many times ive seen it. 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. 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. 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. For instance the lawnmower repair shop where karl works been replaced by a bank. I will describe a character from the film, sling blade, and you tell me who played him or her. The film builds to a perfectlyfitting, climactic moment.

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. This home was used as the home of frank wheatley, lucas black and his mom, linda, natalie canerday. Add to this some good directing and you know that thornton has done a very nice job with this movie. Sling blade cast and crew cast photos and info fandango. Based on the marvel comics superhero of the same name, it is the first part of the blade film series.

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. Filmed entirely in benton saline county by arkansas native billy bob thornton, sling blade was one of the most critically acclaimed movies of. Sling blade is a 1996 american drama film written and directed by billy bob thornton, who also stars in the lead role. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing sling blade near you. This weeks film is sling blade, written and directed by billy bob thornton the film also earned him an oscar for the screenplay. The best movie filmed in every state showbiz cheat sheet. 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. 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.

There are three booths and five counter seats and excellent burgers and bar b q. Sling blade 1996 filming locations the movie district. Sling blade official trailer hd 25 years after committing an unthinkable crime, a quiet man named karl finally returns home. Feb 28, 2014 the diner where some key scenes from sling blade were filmed is also still there. You could drive up, get out, and order at the window, or simply go inside. 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. Sling blade 1996 filming locations in 2018 youtube.

The key scene is not overplayed, nor are the ramifications. 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. The visual and auditory composition is a masterpiece. One with such a tragic story but a character you instantly sympathize for. In revisiting the film, its not difficult to see why. 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. Themes from one movie creep into your interpretation of the other. I really enjoyed the movie sling blade, so i created another quiz on this movie. Billy bob thorntons moody sling blade turns 20 years old. Great burgers, crinkle cut fries and almost anything else that you would want. 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. Aug 12, 2017 these are the best burgers in saline county.

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. The entire movie feels very realistic, is quite sober and never tries to be too dramatic. Bottom line, sling blade left an impression figuratively and literally. Sling blade was the movie to make fun of in the late 90s. Trudging through the tumultuous terrain of thorntons sling blade is morally exhausting. Sling blade comes to dvd for the second time now as a 2disc installment of the miramax collectors series line. Here are 15 movies filmed in arkansas youre sure to enjoy. 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. Sling blade similar films to watch if you like sling blade. 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. Sling blade landmarks arkansas roadside travelogue. Although thoroughly institutionalized, karl is deemed fit to be released into the outside world.

Sling blade, winner of the 1996 academy award for best screenplay, is the powerful story of karl. 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. However, fans of the film can take a driving tour of the town and. The movie begins and ends here, in the state mental hospital.

Sling blade is less fast and less furious and more slow and more laborious, but that doesnt make it a bad film. 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. 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. The best movie quotes, movie lines and film phrases by movie quotes. As we get to know him, however, we come to understand the depth of his. Jan 08, 2018 stopped in benton arkansas recently to visit some of the filming locations. The storys about a mentally challenged man named karl childers who, around the age of 12. This is the kind of movie that could have become very preachy, but it hasnt and thats something that i really appreciate. You also saw it in this movie too but without the comedy.

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. 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. The film was written, directed and starred billy bob thornton and costarred, dwight yoakam, j. Sling blade filming location wheatley home in benton, ar. A beautifully realised ensemble piece with gripping and moving performances from everyone. Sling blade was filmed over the course of 12 days on location in benton, arkansas. Et we are showing sling blade, a film that marked the directorial debut of country singer turned actor billy bob thornton. A film that im sure most people dont find as funny as i do. Filming location used in the 1996 drama, sling blade. 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.

Blade is a 1998 american superhero horror film directed by stephen norrington and written by david s. 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. Sling blade and the portrayal of developmental disability ifc. Its called garrys slingblade because parts of the movie slingblade were filmed there.

Jul 30, 2019 disturbing but creepily funny monologue from j. The movie made a star out of thornton, leading to a varied film career thats. Sling blade 1996 filming locations, billy bob thornton, dwight yoakam, j. 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. 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.

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. 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. For years ive been waiting for a film that introduces me to exoctic new cuisine. 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.