The Movie Nut




 

 

“Bernie”

Directed by: Richard Linklater Starring: Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey, Shirley MacLaine MPAA rating: PG-13 for violent images and brief strong language Running time: 104 minutes Best suited for: those looking for something unlike anything they’ve seen before Least suited for: those who don’t ever want to see Jack Black playing an actual grown-up

There’s lots of good buzz around “Bernie.” Some may be coming from the quirky cast, especially Jack Black and Shirley MacLaine. When is the last time you saw MacLaine in a film? When is the last time you saw Black play a real adult?

And part may come from the quirky true-life plot. The film is based on a 1998 article in Texas Monthly detailing a crime committed in the eastern part of the state: A mortician killed a wealthy widow and then tried to convince everyone she was still alive.

Whatever the reason, believe the buzz. While this movie can’t decide if it’s a tragedy or a comedy, it’s definitely unlike anything you’ve seen before. Although it may be too slow for younger audiences, if you like “strange,” you could like this.

Bernie Tilde (Black) is a young graduate of a mortuary school in Louisiana when he is hired “over the phone” by Don Legett (Rick Dial), funeral director in Carthage, a rural town in east Texas. From his first day as assistant funeral director, Bernie endears himself to everyone.

At work, Bernie is all sales and service and personal attention, but he also sings in the church choir, directs the local community plays and “can hang wallpaper and make curtains.”

And no one is better at expressing sympathy to grieving families. It’s that quality that brings him into the life of Marjorie Nugent (MacLaine). Her late husband left her a very wealthy widow, but she’s as tight as they come. In the words of the local folk: “She was a mean old hateful (lady).” And “people would have shot her for five dollars.”

Bernie weasels his way into her life, becomes her traveling companion and then the sole beneficiary of her will. As he has access to wealth, he’s as generous as she is cheap. He pays for what the town and its people need. Bernie changes lives for the better in Carthage.

When Marjorie so controls his life that he can no longer breathe, he needs to do something dramatic. When he does, the townspeople aren’t entirely sure he should be blamed. Maybe it was all part of Bernie’s plan to make their community a better place to live?

But the district attorney (Mc- Conaughey) has a plan of his own.

Like any film based on a true story, it’s easy to find out the ending, but this is a movie where the play is more important than the plot, where the construction is more interesting than the final building. Wherever this is headed, there’s fun along the way.

With his pompadour hair, pasted on smile and slightly effeminate ways, Jack Black is a hoot in this role. Everything about him is phony; whenever possible, he simply breaks into a song—and sometimes a dance. He’s enjoying playing Bernie and wants us to share in his joy.

Shirley MacLaine’s Marjorie is all crotchety and wary, but she has so little to do we never really know her. MacLaine’s solution is to overact to draw attention to her role. McConaughey is equally unconvincing as the district attorney. In the east Texas vernacular, he seems “all hat and no cattle.”

The stars here—and the source of most of the fun—are all the townspeople who knew the real Bernie and who talk about him, Marjorie and what’s going on. Although too many are included, they have the wit and down-home wisdom to have you laughing loud and often.

Director Richard Linklater seamlessly mixes in these plainspeaking non-actors with his professional cast to create a film that feels part documentary, part songand dance melodrama, part real crime—and always a lot of fun.

If you go, stay for the full end credits. You will meet the real Bernie, see the real Marjorie and hear from some more good ol’ boys and good ol’ gals who will leave you smiling. And admitting, “Well, that was unusual.”


 

 

 

 

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