Sling Blade Blu-ray

Sling Blade

 (1996)

Drama



The tale of Karl Childers, a mildly retarded man faced with a complex moral dilemma. As a child, Karl was severely abused by his fanatically religious parents, who considered him a punishment from God. When he found his mother sexually entangled with the town bully, Karl believed their actions were wrong--and killed them, swiftly and brutally, with a sling blade. Now, against his will, Karl has been released from an asylum to return to society after twenty-five years. A gifted mechanic, Karl finds work in his small Southern hometown, where he meets young Frank Wheatley. Frank is the first person ever to accept him without fear or judgment; the two become instant friends, and Frank convinces his mother Linda to let Karl live with them. But there's trouble in the Wheatley home: Linda's abusive, narrow- minded boyfriend. Groping to reconcile his own simple moral code with everything he has been taught about right and wrong, Karl must decide whether to stand by and watch, or step in to protect Frank.

For more details about Sling Blade on Blu-ray, see the Sling Blade Blu-ray Review

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Lucas Black, Dwight Yoakam, John Ritter, Natalie Canerday
Director: Billy Bob Thornton

Sling Blade Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


Sling Blade wanders onto Blu-ray with a top-flight 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfer. Though not as completely spellbinding as the format's very best (see The International), it nevertheless shows fantastic resolution and looks marvelous in its own regard. The film revels in small background details that complete most every frame throughout the film. The cheap curtains, white tile, and chipped green paint as seen inside the hospital during the film's opening shot; the warmth and the nicely-defined knickknacks in Jerry's office; Karl's blue shirt that reveals not just the stitches but several small stains and fades; the small dents and scratches in the area around the service window at the Frostee Cream; the cracks, scratches, and grime that define the paint job on the outside of the Wheatley home; and the brush, twigs, and leaves that dot the ground at Frank's secret place; are all just some of the examples of the intricate level of detail the transfer showcases throughout. Colors, too, are strong; the aforementioned blue shirt that Karl wears throughout stands out nicely in every well-lit frame; greenery scattered throughout Millsburg sparkles; and the orange-colored floor of Hoochie's Dollar Store looks marvelous. The film offers up plenty of dark scenes and several hazy shots that hold up well with no blatant issues. The many dark backgrounds also offer up a consistently good black level, and flesh tones never stray too far from a natural shade. The film sports a moderate to heavy layer of grain that remains throughout and finishes off a wonderful film-like transfer. The negatives are extremely few and far between. A small bit of contrast wavering and a few miniscule spots on the transfer in one or two scenes are all that really detract from the experience. Sling Blade on Blu-ray is a revelation, easily the best the film has ever looked on home video.

Sling Blade Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


Sling Blade debuts on Blu-ray with a DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. There's not much to Sling Blade's aural presentation. The track is generally reserved quiet, and contemplative, marked only by several musical cues and a few deep lows that signal some of the film's darker pronouncements. The strong low end -- for instance the repeated thumps that accompany Karl's monologue that recounts his story for the journalist -- seep into the listening area and gradually build to a disturbing and powerful repeating thud that vanishes with the conclusion of the story. Some of the film's lighter music -- a country love song or the beats that accompany Karl's initial exploration of his old hometown of Millsburg -- float through the soundstage with a crystal-clear and lively delivery. The track features some atmospheric effects that help set the scene in several shots, for instance cars passing along in the background while Karl orders at the Frostee Cream, or the chirping of birds in several exterior shots. Dialogue is superbly produced, whether Karl's guttural pronouncements or Doyle's spiteful, in-command, self-assured dialect. Though not a particularly active or engaging track, Sling Blade sounds wonderful in context.

Sling Blade Blu-ray, News and Updates

• Today on Blu-ray - August 4th - August 4, 2009


• Full Details for Sling Blade Blu-ray Revealed - July 15, 2009


• Sling Blade, Miracle, and Greatest Game for June 16th - March 6, 2009

Sling Blade Blu-ray, Forum Discussions

Topic

Replies

Last post