Billy Bob Thornton wrote, directed, and starred in this serio-comic look at the trials (literally and figuratively) of an eccentric Alabama family. Struggling musician Claude (Thornton) and his wife Ruby (Laura Dern) get the news that Claudes uncle Hazel (Jim Varney) has been accused of murder and is in jail awaiting trial. Claude and Ruby head for the Alabama town where they grew up, and, before long, theres a friendly (and sometimes not-so-friendly) war of words among the factions of the family, including Claudes mother Jewel (Diane Ladd), father O.T. (Andy Griffith), and sister Rose (Kelly Preston). Daddy and Thems supporting cast includes Jamie Lee Curtis and Ben Affleck as a pair of married attorneys, Brenda Blethyn as Hazels wife Julia, and Jeff Bailey, and John Prine as Claudes brothers. While Daddy and Them was shot in 1999 -- and would have been his first directorial effort after his breakthough hit Sling Blade -- the film stayed in the editing room for several years, and wasnt released until after his third feature, All The Pretty Horses. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide