Sling Blade

  As writer, director and star of the film, Thornton became as close to an     "overnight sensation" as it gets, quickly earning the sincere respect of his peers in all three categories . Though he's always been something of an outsider to the Hollywood machine,  he's still managed to fit in quite nicely.   Karl  Childers (Billy Bob Thornton) is a mentally disabled man who has been in the custody of the mental hospital since the age of 12 for having killed his mother and her lover.  He soon finds a job fixing lawn mowers and farm implements and makes friends with Frank (Lucas Black) ,a lonely boy whose mother  (Natalie Canerday)  lets Karl move into the garage.  Her boyfriend Doyle is an abusive man who torments Frank and Karl  when she is working at the dollar store.   As the story progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that Karl has got himself into a fix similar to the one that led to his earlier crimes. This story unfolds in many layers ,with friendship and love woven between bigotry and cruelty.   Billy Bob Thornton was excellent in his portrayal .  With his stooped shoulders, tight-lipped smile, jutting jaw, vacant expression and guttural throat-clearing, Karl became the butt of so many jokes back when the movie first came out that it's easy to forget what a truly amazing character - and job of acting - Thornton has pulled off here.   As a director, he proves himself a master of rhythm and pacing, setting the mood and allowing the scenes to play themselves out without recourse to overstatement . This is the kind of movie that could have become very preachy, but it hasn't and that's something that I really appreciate.