With some help from the hospital warden, Karl finds a job as a mechanic and begins an uncomplicated life. Whenever Doyle isn't bullying Linda or Frank, he picks on Karl or Vaughn, a gay friend of Linda. Sitcom actor John Ritter is a nice surprise as the sweet, fearful Vaughn. The movie, shot in the small town of Benton, Ark., southwest of Little Rock, relies too much on medium shots. It offers few close-ups and lacks interesting camera perspectives.
Scenes progress slowly and go on too long.
Stilted acting by Yoakam and minor cast members also weakens the film's power. Even so, Thornton's debut as director, writer and lead actor in a feature-length film is an original effort worth the price of a ticket. And Thornton's Karl is an unforgettable character, a lonely descendant of the vivid Southern characters found in William Faulkner's novels. Send questions and comments to The Webmaster .