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).