Bernie (2011)

I had this film recommended to me by a friend of mine (and his wife) who briefly worked in the funeral services industry. I had actually read an article about the true story the film is based on and found it rather different and intriguing. My mother is really into the whole 'True Crime' genera so I'm exposed to a lot of it on television and find I can only take so much before it becomes boring and repetitive to me. Bernie on the other hand while truly a true crime story is very unlike most of the genera, for one thing you really like the murderer.

In the 1990's Bernhardt "Bernie" Tiede II, a mortician and fixture on the local community theater circuit in Carthage, Texas befriended a rich and much reviled local widow, then spent years as her good friend, traveling companion and later employee. The widowed Marjorie "Marge" Nugent became increasing possessive of Bernie and his time until he became her virtual prisoner and slave, at a certain point Bernie just kind of lost it and 'accidently on purpose' shot her in the back four times and killed her. Bernie, who was beloved in his small community proceeded to cover up Marge's death, store her body in a freezer for later burial, and use her money to help the townspeople, saving a local business, paying for an extension on the Methodist church, and lavishing people with gifts, until his crime was finally discovered roughly nine months later.

Berine was so beloved by his neighbors and Mrs. Nugent so detested that the DA had to get a change of venue to ensure the man would be convicted of a murder he had willingly confessed too. Though about a murder the film is surprisingly and enjoyably light and playful. Directed by Richard Linklater who would later make the movie Boyhood, the films is quasi documentary in style, many local residents are interviewed about the events described an these interviews are interspersed throughout the traditional dramatic narrative of the piece. Jack Black plays Bernie and it is a wonderful charming performance unlike anything I've seen Black do before. Shirley MacLaine plays Marge and Matthew McConaughey plays local district attorney Danny Buck Davidson. An enjoyable and unique film I highly recommend it. ***1/2