Top 250 Challenge: 120

Sling Blade

Number 198 on IMDb’s Top 250

Nominated by Mick and Kim
Anonymously nominated by Anonymous Ken

I reckon you want to hear ‘bout dat movie there called Kaiser Blade, some folks call it Sling Blade, I calls it Kaiser Blade, umm-hmm. Well, they turned me loose from the nervous hospital there. They say I’s well, umm-hmm. I lernt to read some. I read the bible quite a bit. I got a job at that Bill Cox outfit, umm-hmm. That lady let me stay with her in her garage. The boy wanted me to stay there I reckon, umm-hmm. The lady has a friend played by that John Ritter guy, umm-hmm. He’s not funny ha ha, but funny queer. I aught not to talk like that. They been real good to me. The boy and me made friends right of the bat, mmm. I like them French fried potaters. The lady made me biscuits, umm-hmm. I got a bad feeling ‘bout that Dwight Yoakum when he’s all liquored up, mmm. I reckon he needed killin’. I like mustand on my biscuit, umm-hmm. They was a boy, we made friends. The world was too big, umm-hmm. I reckon that hilarity ensued, umm-hmm.

Trivia: In order to make his walk more awkward and consistent, Billy Bob Thornton placed crushed glass in his shoes. Billy Wilder advised Billy Bob Thornton to write a screenplay where he could exploit his less than perfect features.

Yet again, the voters at IMDb seem to know what they are doing. Sling Blade is a good movie. Billy Bob Thorton was very good as the slow Karl Childers. John Ritter played against his normal type when he tackled Vaughan, Linda's quiet gay friend. Lucas Black was great as Frank who befriends Karl and becomes his friend. But Dwight Yoakum, the Dwight Yoakum with the hat, he was absolutely unrecognisable as Doyle, the abusive boyfriend. Thanks Mick. Thanks Kim. And Anonymous Thanks Anonymous Ken.