This is a good film; the actors are all great for their roles, the story is involving, the way the film is handled is sincere (sometimes overly sincere) and straightforward. I particularly liked John Ritter as the concerned friend and Dwight Yoakam as the loose-cannon psycho. Who would have thought they had so many dimensions to their personas? Complemented by Thornton and J.T. Walsh, this is one of the best casts assembled in years, and they do it all perfectly. A very affecting, true story with a sadness and weight to it, but also somehow managing to be uplifting without flinching on any of its punches.
Review of Sling Blade
