Billy Bob Thornton’s directorial debut, ‘Sling Blade’ is an impressive landmark in independent filmmaking. Thornton wrote, directed and starred in the film which follows a mentally handicapped man who is released from a mental institution after seventeen years.
The main character, Karl Childers, is depicted as cold yet still caring which aided the film exponentially due to its contrast from other films from the time dealing with the same topics. Thornton’s choice to depict the character in this way made the performance incredibly believable, stripping away any pretenses the viewer has from the actors’ later work.
All of the characters in the film behave realistically; this helps to create the realism that the filmmaker seems to have strived for. The other choice in creating this sense of realism comes from the brilliant cinematography. The camera often views characters from one stagnant angle for entire sequences creating a deeper sense of presence from the viewer.
The brilliance of the cinematography does not come from just this, however; there are occasional moments in which Karl breaks his cold demeanor and lets emotion slip through the cracks. In this instance, the camera also breaks character by switching to a handheld or a close-up.
The score helps to create a similar sense of tension. It is entirely instrumental but is not a traditional orchestral soundtrack. This gives the music itself a sense of presence in the scene despite a majority of it not being diegetic. We understand Karl’s emotion through the use of music and it never feels overly intrusive.
Despite being such a grounded film, the world of ‘Sling Blade’ does take some liberties in its realistic presentation. There are a few sequences in the film in which lighting choices change the tone. Typically in the thematically darker scenes, the lighting takes inspiration from noir film with its use of high-contrast lighting and blocking. The scenes that resemble a noir film will create a different atmosphere than the rest of the film but run the risk of removing that sense of presence that was so carefully built up through the more grounded choices in its presentation.
While there are inconsistencies in the presentation, there is still very little to criticize about ‘Sling Blade.’ With amazing performances, clever uses of cinematography, and a fantastic score, Billy Bob Thornton’s ‘Sling Blade’ will remain a work of brilliant filmmaking for years to come.
Benjamin Martins can be contacted at
bmartins@kscequinox.com
