Sling Blade

Sling Blade is a 1996 film which tells the story of a simple-minded man who is released from a psychiatric hospital where he has lived since he was 12. He befriends a young boy, begins a relationship with the boy's mother, and must confront the mother's violent boyfriend. It stars Billy Bob Thornton, Dwight Yoakam, J.T. Walsh, John Ritter, Lucas Black, Natalie Canerday, James Hampton and Robert Duvall.

The movie was adapted by Thornton from his play and previous screenplay called Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade. It was also directed by Thornton.

It won the Academy Award for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, and was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Billy Bob Thornton).