Sling Blade
Sling Blade is a 1996 American drama film written, directed by and starring Billy Bob Thornton. Set in Arkansas, it is the story of intellectually challenged Karl Childers and the friendship he develops with a boy and his mother. Karl was released from a psychiatric hospital where he had grown up due to having killed his mother and her lover when he was 12 years old. It also stars Dwight Yoakam, J. T. Walsh, John Ritter, Lucas Black, Natalie Canerday, James Hampton, and Robert Duvall.
| Sling Blade | |
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Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Billy Bob Thornton |
| Screenplay by | Billy Bob Thornton |
| Based on | Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade by Billy Bob Thornton |
| Produced by | Larry Meistrich David L. Bushell Brandon Rosser |
| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Barry Markowitz |
| Edited by | Hughes Winborne |
| Music by | Daniel Lanois |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Miramax Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 135 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1.2 million |
| Box office | $34.1 million |
The film was adapted by Thornton from his previous one-man show Swine Before Pearls, from which he also developed a screenplay for the 1994 short film Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade, directed by George Hickenlooper. Sling Blade became a sleeper hit, launching Thornton into stardom. Thornton won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and he was also nominated for Best Actor. The music for the soundtrack was provided by French Canadian artist/producer Daniel Lanois.
Sling Blade was filmed in 24 days, on location in Benton, Arkansas, produced by David L. Bushell and Brandon Rosser.