I must say, when I went to see Sling Blade, I had no idea what it was about. But from the moment Billy Bob Thornton appeared on the screen, I was hooked. I, like many people, had never heard of Billy Bob before this movie came out, and I hope to see a lot more of him in the future. His performance was simply amazing. Sling Blade is a story about a slightly mentally retarded man, played by Billy Bob Thornton (who also wrote and directed), who was sent to a mental hospital after killing his mother and another man. It takes place right after he gets released from the hospital, and follows his new, free life. Immediately after being released he meets up with a young boy and they become friends. The boy lost his father to suicide a while back, and his mother is dating a guy who doesn't treat either of them well. The man by the way, is played by Dwight Yoakum, and to be honest, I had no idea it was him until I saw it in the closing credits. The boy sees Billy Bob as a protector, someone to look up to and protect him from mom's new boyfriend. It's a movie about love and friendship, and how sometimes, a hero can come from an unexpected place. This movie had me locked from beginning to end. It is not a film all people are going to like, but if you want to see one of the finest acting performances you'll ever see, go and see Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade.
