Sling Blade

Sling Blade is just as significant and remarkable an indie film as Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs or the best from Jim Jarmusch. This is the type of film I value the most – human and personal, written, directed and excellently acted by a single person, moreover without a chance of commercial success. The fifth star is for the respectively cute cameo by Jarmusch and a unique one by Robert Duvall. (15.01.2008)

A peculiar indie effort with no chance of commercial success, for which it is too slow, intimate and intellectual. And practically the same could be said of its artistic values, for which it’s too sedentary and sentimental. However, it plays the emotional strings more than well. A unique one man show from Billy Bob Thornton, who is completely distinctive both behind and in front of the camera. (10.10.2021)

First of all, Billy Bob Thornton is phenomenal, and his incredibly focused performance awakens in me an angry astonishment that an actor of his calibre can be so ignored by critics and fans alike. He’s one of the few actors who can get as close to the audience as possible with his performance and erase any optical difference between reality and film, which he demonstrates here in the role of the retarded Karl (I would easily compare his creation to such icons as Jack Nicholson in The Shining or Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump – with reservations, of course). The film itself is not groundbreaking, it’s clear from the beginning how it will end, and it’s somewhat marred by some slightly extortionate screenwriting clichés (the little brother in the garbage can?), but it still impresses with its very personal, human and accessible form, which makes everyone forget for at least a moment how authentic and believable Billy is. This is much more than a fairy tale with a clear course, let the Oscar nominations speak for themselves. 85% (13.02.2014)