Brightlyme i know i wasted 90 mins of my life.

SpecialsTarget Disturbing yet enthralling

Ketrivie It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

Ogosmith Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Matt Greene I love how, though there is a plot, Thornton's direction never seems in a hurry to get to it. Instead, his steady & strong hand just meanders around this wonderful town. The performances are authentic and the characters engaging; you just wanna stay with them as long as you're welcome. And that conversation at Ritter's doorstep about God not sending him to hell sent gave this the official 5-star bump for me.

Syl I wished Billy Bob made more films like this story. Billy Bob Thornton won an Oscar for adapted screenplay but his performance as Carl Childers should have won an Academy Award. Carl is a mentally challenged man who spent 25 years in a mental hospital for killing his mother. He is released to the public where he befriends a fatherless Frank Wheatley and his mother Linda. Linda's boyfriend Doyle can abusive to both Frank and Linda. Carl stays in the garage and works fixing lawn mowers. Linda's boss and best friend is Vaughn (played wonderfully by John Ritter). Vaughn is gay in a small Arkansas town. The film was done entirely on location in Arkansas. Natalie Caraday did a terrific job as Linda. Robert Duvall and J.T. Walsh have memorable roles in the roles. J.T. Walsh was one of America's best character actors and died too soon. The film is an authentic representation of Americana life and not the Hollywood/New York version. I wished Hollywood made more films like this.

abhishek-lohit "Ahem Ahem" says it all. The finest ever role ever by an actor. Hats off Billy bob thorntan . Just outstanding piece of acting . One of the best acted role ever I guess. The story of a man who suffers with mental illness is depicted in a way that makes the movie out of the league. Storyline is peaceful and the character played by Billy is just amazing work. Just glue your eyes to the way he enacted the role with utter perfection.Its rare that you see such a perfection in a role which is performed with so much realism . Its a billy thorntan's movie all the way. Just watch it and watch how simplicity defines perfection. Its a excellent movie that's all I can say

fawn_jane After watching this movie, I just think, "wow, I'll never forget this..."You just have to see to understand. The plot is nothing riveting on paper. The merit of this movie is all about the wonderful acting performances. Besides Billy-Bob of course, I especially thought the actor who played the young boy was amazing. Ritter's portrayal of a flaming gay man is charming without being over-the-top.I can see someone disliking the movie, it is kind of slow-paced, and full of simple, unglamorous southern people living their unglamorous lives.To me this movie is about how difficult it is to live in this dangerous, complicated world with an open heart. It's about the banality of evil, and the struggle to cope with a world that's full of that evil: A world where the employer abuses the worker, then the worker comes home and beats his kid, and then the kid grows up to be someone who continues the cycle. A world where those with mental disabilities have nowhere to go, and where mothers are forced to depend on abusers to provide for themselves and their kids.Karl is supposed to be "mentally challenged" and "different", but I interpret his role as representing the inner child inside of all of us. Throughout the movie he demonstrates a simple kind of wisdom, he is the voice of common-sense. I thought the movie would be about him getting into conflicts due to misunderstanding, or people rejecting him. Instead his character behaves quite rationally, and he is adept at connecting with and winning the trust of the people around him. He acts odd but he demonstrates a level of social intelligence that many "normal" people lack. His characteristic tone of voice seems to represent someone who speaks from their gut, but is struggling and subconsciously hesitant to express themselves because they are just so full of feeling that they just shut down somewhere along the line because they had nowhere appropriate to direct and express all that emotional energy.Watching Thornton play Karl is touching because it connects you that simple, innocent, yet dangerous part of yourself. The heart of you that just wants to live life, enjoy the simple things, the part of you that dares to long for a world where children don't suffer, where there are answers and justice.