← Back to Reviews
in
Bernie (2011)
Richard Linklater, the creative force behind Dazed and Confused and Boyhood hits a squirm worthy bullseye with a bizarre black comedy from 2011 called Bernie, which is, incredibly, based on a real story that could only become a bizarre black comedy.
Jack Black stars as Bernie Tiede, a sweet-natured funeral director who begins a friendship with wealthy Marjorie Nugent (Oscar winner Shirley MacLaine) after assisting in the burial of her husband. The friendship blossoms into a full-blown relationship where Mrs. Nugent gives Bernie complete access to her life, including her sizable bank account, but there's a price for her generosity. Mrs. Nugent soon becomes grasping and possessive of Bernie, to the point where his whole life revolves around her and finds that he has to free himself from her iron grip.
Naturally, I was drawn to this film by the cast and especially the director because this seemed like really foreign territory for Linklater. Yes, Dazed and Confused was a comedy, but that comedy was told with a straight face. This story is told in the form of a documentary, sprinkled with cleverly written commentary from various townspeople that was so effective because the population of Carnage, Texas, the story's setting, seemed to be divided almost exactly down the middle regarding their feelings about what Bernie did. As a matter of fact, I was initially confused by the comic documentary set-up the film initiates because there was a sweet innocence to Bernie and Marjorie's relationship at first and foul play is the last thing we're expecting.
Linklater's screenplay with Skip Hollandsworth is a marvel in its presentation of this leading character. Bernie Tiede's character is very sweet, almost effeminate, to the point where a lot of the townspeople suspected he was gay. We are shocked when we learn what he's actually done, but the story also makes him sympathetic by having him spread Mrs. Nugent's money all over town doing all kinds of good for the community.
Linklater's casting of Jack Black in the title role was a master stroke. The actor has never been better in what is a surprisingly complex role that even allowed Black to show off his musical talents. Matthew McConaughey, who Linklater directed in Dazed and Confused also scores as the local DA determined to bring Bernie down as does Richard Robicheaux as Lloyd, Mrs. Nugent's very nervous financial adviser. Linklater even gives a role to McConaughey's real-life mom. And if you have any doubt that this is a true story, there is a shot of Black at the end of the film chatting with the real Bernie, who is still behind bars.
Richard Linklater, the creative force behind Dazed and Confused and Boyhood hits a squirm worthy bullseye with a bizarre black comedy from 2011 called Bernie, which is, incredibly, based on a real story that could only become a bizarre black comedy.
Jack Black stars as Bernie Tiede, a sweet-natured funeral director who begins a friendship with wealthy Marjorie Nugent (Oscar winner Shirley MacLaine) after assisting in the burial of her husband. The friendship blossoms into a full-blown relationship where Mrs. Nugent gives Bernie complete access to her life, including her sizable bank account, but there's a price for her generosity. Mrs. Nugent soon becomes grasping and possessive of Bernie, to the point where his whole life revolves around her and finds that he has to free himself from her iron grip.
Naturally, I was drawn to this film by the cast and especially the director because this seemed like really foreign territory for Linklater. Yes, Dazed and Confused was a comedy, but that comedy was told with a straight face. This story is told in the form of a documentary, sprinkled with cleverly written commentary from various townspeople that was so effective because the population of Carnage, Texas, the story's setting, seemed to be divided almost exactly down the middle regarding their feelings about what Bernie did. As a matter of fact, I was initially confused by the comic documentary set-up the film initiates because there was a sweet innocence to Bernie and Marjorie's relationship at first and foul play is the last thing we're expecting.
Linklater's screenplay with Skip Hollandsworth is a marvel in its presentation of this leading character. Bernie Tiede's character is very sweet, almost effeminate, to the point where a lot of the townspeople suspected he was gay. We are shocked when we learn what he's actually done, but the story also makes him sympathetic by having him spread Mrs. Nugent's money all over town doing all kinds of good for the community.
Linklater's casting of Jack Black in the title role was a master stroke. The actor has never been better in what is a surprisingly complex role that even allowed Black to show off his musical talents. Matthew McConaughey, who Linklater directed in Dazed and Confused also scores as the local DA determined to bring Bernie down as does Richard Robicheaux as Lloyd, Mrs. Nugent's very nervous financial adviser. Linklater even gives a role to McConaughey's real-life mom. And if you have any doubt that this is a true story, there is a shot of Black at the end of the film chatting with the real Bernie, who is still behind bars.