Strong and Moving!

Great Film overall

The first must-see film of the year.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Jack Black's talent shines thru in his role as Bernie. Probably will be up for some awards and such ! Doubt Shirley Maclaine had to rehearse much for her role as Mrs Nugent. She essentially plays the same as Aurora from "Terms of Endearment " Good Flick.

This is a movie based on a true story. What is unfortunate is that the DVD cover write up assumes that you are familiar with the story and explains the entire plot. Bernie (Jack Black) is a nice guy who hangs wallpaper, does tax returns, directs the choir, directs plays, does needlepoint and makes curtains. He is also the town's assistant funeral director...one that doesn't hang out with girls.Bernie befriends Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLaine) a rich mean woman hated by the town and her own family. The movie is done similar to "Broadway Danny Rose" in that part of it is a mock docu-drama with some funny locals. Jack Black does not come across as someone from East Texas. I doubted the sincerity of Bernie because they tried to make him a little too cute and humorous. That said, it did make the film more entertaining which is what counts in the long run.There were very few laugh out loud moments, but many moments that made me smile. The trial at the end of the film was far too short and a missed opportunity for some comedic moments. The film is witty and entertaining. For those of you with poor eyesight, that is Matthew McConaughey on the poorly designed DVD cover and not Chevy Chase.Parental Guide: 1 F-Bomb that I recall, no sex or nudity.

Jack Black is funny, he's charismatic, and from the charm he brings on screen; he's proved to be a respectable and entertaining actor. Whether he's strumming his guitar like a true rockstar, doing the voice of Po in Dreamwork's 'Kung Fu Panda', or just being the hilarious comedian he is, he rarely disappoints. This black comedy inspired by true events that made Texas headlines in 1996 however, is a step to a slightly different world with a mixed bag of both laughs and dark, morbid humor. Black steps on screen to demonstrate what is by far one of his most ingenious performances of his career, if not the most. Reuniting with director Richard Linklater after their first collaboration in the feel-good comedy 'School of Rock', Black portrays an average man with a heart of gold but was forced to battle his inner demons after one not-so-smart choice was made. The actor plays Berrnie Tiede, a mild-manner Gospel singer at a church choir and mortician in the small town of Carthage, Texas. The kind-hearted man is easily the most loved man in town, judging by the interviews by various residents given throughout the film; all the women adore him, everyone at his church speaks highly of him for everything he does them. The man is basically considered family everyone in town including the mean-spirited Marjorie Nugent (played by Shirley MacLaine), an old 80-year old who is the very opposite of what everyone calls kind. When Bernie befriends the old woman, she demonstrates cruel and sour demeanor that before too long, drives Bernie up the wall to the point where his actions lead to unexpected consequences.This isn't your average laugh-out-loud or hysterical Jack Black many fans are accustom to. Yes, there are some funny moments to be offered here but they're funny in a dark, morbid manner in what takes grim, tragic story and turns into a light-hearted fare. But what is a black comedy without a fair share of substance? Director Richard Linklater grants this picture with not only great smarts but a small pinch of inventiveness, presenting the story in a mockumentary style with minor characters and extras shown in interviews often describing the titular character or bad-mouthing Mrs. Nugent for her demeanor. The story as a whole is nothing short of wit and cleverness, and the script by Richard Linklater is thank for this. The film strives not for a intriguing narrative merit but also with an artistic style. It is beautifully shot with a production design that expresses a retro feel as the story is set in 1996. The makeup and hairstyling done on Jack Black to represent the ironic mortician is nice to look at and doesn't look cheesy one bit. Overall, the real gem of Jack Black's character is his darkly funny and sharp performance. Just a step away from his typical cheery character stereotype, Jack Black gives a charismatic portrayal in his role, and plays his character with both sincerity and charm. The same can almost be about Shirley MacLaine but with more cruelty and less humor as the sour apple of a lady. Matthew McConaughey also takes on the role of lawyer but with less screen time and in role that is not likely to be a memorable one his filmography.Bernie is a smart, ingenious dark comedy with both morbid humor and moody style but doesn't shine without the fantastic performance by the ever-likable Jack Black as the titular character. It is a sweet, stylish effort by director Richard Linklater, and can easily stand as one of the the Jack Black role to remember.

Director Richard Linklater is known for his small movies and the quirky characters within them, as well as the realistic portraits he captures. In Bernie, Mr. Linklater captures the essence of a small Texas town and the true crime story of the bigger-than-life character loved by all.Mr. Linklater perfectly casts Jack Black (with whom he had done School of Rock) as the community's favorite citizen Bernie, Shirley MacLaine as the rich, bitter widow with whom Bernie becomes entwined, and Michael McConaughy (another Linklater alum, on the cusp of his career makeover) as the district attorney who must prosecute Bernie despite public opinion that Bernie should go free. All three stars give wonderful performances – most of all Mr. Black who restrains himself from his usual attention-grabbing antics and gives a well-controlled performance, including several songs that were quite unexpected.This beautiful character study has its moments of comedy, but it is the finely detailed performances that make it something special.