Film blends complex themes, characters
By Bret Schulte
Film Critic
In a year where independent films have out
stripped, outperformed and outdone nearly all
major studio efforts, Billy Bob Thornton’s ex
haustive and near-solo effort “Sling Blade”
stands among the best of these non-studio
achievements.
Thornton’s list of credits could threaten
Kevin Bacon’s. But his roles have been notori
ously negligible, including small parts in
“Tombstone,” “Dead Man Walking” and the
regrettably overlooked “Chopper Chicks in
Zombi etown.”
In his writer/director/star debut, Thornton
proves that he is a man of impressive vision
whose multitude of talents are prevalent both
behind and on the screen.
Written with charm, style and subtlety,
“Sling Blade” quietly tells the tale of a men
tally retarded man whose vision of right and
wrong condemns him to a life of solitude and e
institutionalization. h
Physically and mentally abused as a boy, h
Karl Childers (Thornton) spends most of his g
days in a shed tinkering with small motors.
When his mother fails to give him his daily p
Bible lesson, he goes to the house to find her. h
There he witnesses his mother having sex with a
another man, and picking up a sling blade, he
slays them both. b
He is promptly placed in a mental institu- “
tion where he stays until his late 50s. Finally w
released, Karl re-enters a world of strangers, v
He befriends a fatherless boy, Frank, whose lov- n
ing mother is trapped by an abusive boyfriend
(played by Dwight Yoakum with startling in- 7
tensity). c
Karl once again faces a moral problem, this f
time involving the abusive boyfriend who is ti
quickly destroying the lives of Frank and his “
mother.
ACD
The success and appeal of the film, how
/er, is entirely embodied in Karl himself. As
s rediscovers a world of beauty, tragedy and
aman contact, his own nature of unrelenting
snerosity and love is revealed.
Thornton has created an intricate and corn
lex character whose disposition of innocent
^nesty and occasional brilliance is immedi
ely engaging.
The concept of the loveable dumb guy has
sen seen before, most recently in 1994’s
Forrest Gump.” But Thornton’s portrayal of a
ounded-yet-strong figure is both painful and
'arm — lending new dimensions to an old ste
lotype.
The charm continues physically as
hornton’s big-jawed mug fills the screen,
harming the audience with a perpetual peace
i\ smile. His speech is slow, warm and gut
iral — frequently punctuated with the phrase
I reckon.”
“Sling Blade” is as close to a perfect film
Film: “Sling Bla4e”
Stars: Billy Bob-Thomlon, Dwight Yoakum,
J.T. WalslT,\John Ritter, Lucas Black, Natalie
Canderday
Director: Billy Bob Thornton
Rating: R (language, descriptions of violent
behavior)
Grade: A
Five Words: Billy Bob creates modern mas
terpiece
that has been seen since “Pulp Fiction.” It won
derfully blends delicious dialogue, compelling
characters and a stirring story line. Encompass
ing complex themes involving friendship, mo
rality and preconceived judgments, this film
provides new and enrapturing visions of popu
larly held views.
Courtesy photo
TIA CARRERE and Jon Lovitz star as an administrative assistant and a teacher who must
deal with a batch of notoriously unruly students in the urban comedy “High School
High.”
New releases hit highs, lows
in time for spring break rush
By Gerry Beltz
Film Critic
Just in case you’re stuck at home over
spring break with absolutely nothing to do
(aside from homework, housework and so
on), the new release shelves will have some
heavy traffic over the next two weeks. The
pick-of-the-week is actually a rather new
film, but has been mostly ignored or missed
by the critics.
“The First Wives Club” — Three long
time cinematic stars — Goldie Hawn, Diane
Keaton and Bette Midler —join forces in
this comedic caper.
Three friends (Hawn, Keaton and
Midler) have all been jilted by their husbands
only to be replaced by younger women, but
the trio decides to gain revenge ... with hi
larious results.
“The Long Kiss Goodnight” — Most
critics didn’t like this one. I did.
Small town amnesiac schoolteacher
Samantha Caine (Geena Davis) finds her
self being chased by assassins and (even
more strangely) is reflexively killing the bad
guys with automatic weapons, pie pans and
her bare hands.
Other films being released today include
“American Buffalo” starring Dustin
Hoffman, and Disney’s “Honey, We Shrunk
Ourselves” with Rick Moranis.
NEXT WEEK ...
“Supercop”—Jackie Chan is back again,
this time in possibly his best film of the three
recently released in the United States thus
far.
“The Chamber”—Racism and the death
penalty in the same movie; this has got to
be the best conversation-starter movie of all
time.
Chris O’Donnell plays a young, idealis
tic lawyer who takes up the case of his grand
father (Gene Hackman), who is about to be
executed. However, the man has a heart of
stone. His grandson is trying to chisel
through, while at the same time save his
grandfather’s life.
The movie is a little dry, but Hackman
turns in another great performance.
Other films for next week will include
the comedy “High School High” with Jon
Lovitz, “Surviving Picasso” with Anthony
Hopkins and the joyfully bizarre comedy
“Flirting With Disaster.”
PI CK-OF-TH E-WEEK — “It’s My
Party” was released just under a year ago,
but if you blinked, you missed it. In fact, it
never even made it to Lincoln.
Nick (Eric Roberts) tested HIV-positive
a year ago, and was recently diagnosed with
PML(progressivemultifocal leukoencepha
lopathy), which leaves him only days before
losing control of his life. Thus, he decides
to voluntarily take his own life before the
disease can take him over.
Before he leaves, however, he throws one
final party with all of his friends and fam
ily. Everything goes well until his former
partner Brandon (Gregory Harrison) shows
up.
The ensemble cast for “It’s My Party” is
an incredible collection of largely ignored
talent, including the likes of Bruce Davison,
Marlee Matlin and Margaret Clio.
The movie is quite touching and has
some very funny moments. Roberts turns in
an especially great performance.
Check it out.