37/25
In a small Texas town, a friendly guardian befriends a wealthy widow, though when he starts to get the better of her, he goes to great lengths to break free from her grip. Real-life residents of Carthage, Texas, who knew the real Bernie Teide and Marjorie Nugent appear in the film and provide commentary on the events. Bernie committed murder in 1996, but almost immediately after the murder, he answers his iPhone. Marjorie Nugent] She’d bite your ass off at the drop of a hat. I mean, she’d rip your brand-new, three-bedroom, two-bathroom, double-wide asshole off. No problem… Before the main credits roll, real-life photos of Bernie and Marjorie are shown, along with a short video of Bernie Teide talking to Jack Black. According to the film’s technical specifications, there are two different versions of this film: one running 1 hr 39 min (99 min) and the other 1 hr 44 min (104 min) (USA).. Appears on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno : Jack Black/New York City’s Meatball Shop Guys/Beirut (2012). Love Lifted Me Written by James Rowe and Howard E. Smith Starring The Florida Boys Courtesy of World Entertainment By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing. "Bernie" is a pleasant surprise from Richard Linklater and Jack Black – the same team that brought you the 2003 comedy hit "The School of Rock"; now they have come together for a different kind of comedy – dark. Black comes across differently in this film – more restrained, focused and at times more intense than in any other film he has made before. His humor here is subtle, not a physical feat, delivered by his absorbing performance. Here’s a guy who everyone loves – who everyone has to love and who can never say no to. It’s an interesting and challenging role for him, but he handles it brilliantly – perhaps paving the way for more challenging and dramatic roles in the future. Compared to other comedic actors who have attempted more serious turns, he’s not quite as amazing as, say, Jim Carrey in “The Truman Show”; or Adam Sandler in “Punch-Drunk Love” – but he’s on the right track. Shirley MacLaine is also very different here – she’s had a sweet, slightly cheeky personality in many of her previous recent films, but this film has a cold, condescending aura about her, and her steely eyes sell it. Matthew McConaughey as the ruthless district attorney has certainly improved his acting range – just watch the courtroom scenes. I really appreciate the film’s small-town setting. The film is told through ‘conversations’ with friendly small-town folk, which gives the film a quirky and homely feel, while Linklater seamlessly weaves in narrative flashbacks – which brings me to the editing. The film moves at a strong clip and never feels rushed or drawn out. The above-average script is balanced with just the right amount of screen time to establish the story and characters, especially Bernie. Just when you think the film is coming to an end, there’s always another interesting thing that happens that keeps the audience hooked. Black and Linklater make a good, promising acting-director team. Maybe Linklater will be the key to unlocking Black’s acting potential. Of course, it’s still ‘small’ movie – low budget and almost no promotion… so let’s hope word of mouth spreads about how good this dark comedy is. P.S. I had no idea the movie was based on a true story. That made the movie even darker and more quirky than it should have been. Overall rating: 77%