Bernie (15.)
Directed by Richard Linklater.
Starring Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey, Brady Colman, Richard Robichaux and Rick Dial. 105 mins
Bernie Tiede is a man who is so kind, generous, thoughtful and selfless that much of the population of the Texas town of Carthage would be happy for him to get away with murder. This is remarkable in two ways. Firstly Bernie is a rather camp mortician, a closet homosexual who has a tendency to form unusually close relationships with elderly widows. Secondly he is played by Jack Black.
Jack Black is, in my opinion, a bumptious, objectionable show-off and his performance in King Kong alone would be enough to cast him into the ranks of the never-to-be-forgiven. He is though very fine in this, partly because the role channels his blustering self-assurance and gives a pathetic poignancy to his obsessive need for approval; but also because he is very talented. When he first hits town Bernie wins everyone round but his troubles start when he becomes close to the mean, joyless but extremely rich widow Marjorie Nugent (MacLaine.)
Richard (Before Sunrise, A Scanner Darkly) Linklater’s film is a comedy. It is the kind of comedy that you want to attach a qualifying adjective to - though neither Dark not Tragi quite fit – but it is still funny. It is also a perceptive and innovative take on the Based on a True story movie. The film is rooted in three star performances by Black, MacLaine and McConaughey as the District Attorney who pursues and prosecutes Bernie. Around them though are a lot of real life Carthage residents who speak directly camera.
This is not original but I don’t think it’s been used quite as extensively as this and it adds immensely to the film. Early on a local outlines the five different areas within Texas and the differences between the people and lifestyles in the different areas. It is a throwaway moment but it informs your viewing in so many ways. Even though the film is quite clearly slanted in favour of its main character it seems balanced and comprehensive.
For Black this is the equivalent of Robin Williams’s performance in World’s Greatest Dad - it spins around his reputations, wipes away all those grim memories and will probably be seen by next to nobody.
Jack Black Reviews:
Be Kind Rewind
Kung Fu Panda
Directed by Richard Linklater.
Starring Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey, Brady Colman, Richard Robichaux and Rick Dial. 105 mins
Bernie Tiede is a man who is so kind, generous, thoughtful and selfless that much of the population of the Texas town of Carthage would be happy for him to get away with murder. This is remarkable in two ways. Firstly Bernie is a rather camp mortician, a closet homosexual who has a tendency to form unusually close relationships with elderly widows. Secondly he is played by Jack Black.
Jack Black is, in my opinion, a bumptious, objectionable show-off and his performance in King Kong alone would be enough to cast him into the ranks of the never-to-be-forgiven. He is though very fine in this, partly because the role channels his blustering self-assurance and gives a pathetic poignancy to his obsessive need for approval; but also because he is very talented. When he first hits town Bernie wins everyone round but his troubles start when he becomes close to the mean, joyless but extremely rich widow Marjorie Nugent (MacLaine.)
Richard (Before Sunrise, A Scanner Darkly) Linklater’s film is a comedy. It is the kind of comedy that you want to attach a qualifying adjective to - though neither Dark not Tragi quite fit – but it is still funny. It is also a perceptive and innovative take on the Based on a True story movie. The film is rooted in three star performances by Black, MacLaine and McConaughey as the District Attorney who pursues and prosecutes Bernie. Around them though are a lot of real life Carthage residents who speak directly camera.
This is not original but I don’t think it’s been used quite as extensively as this and it adds immensely to the film. Early on a local outlines the five different areas within Texas and the differences between the people and lifestyles in the different areas. It is a throwaway moment but it informs your viewing in so many ways. Even though the film is quite clearly slanted in favour of its main character it seems balanced and comprehensive.
For Black this is the equivalent of Robin Williams’s performance in World’s Greatest Dad - it spins around his reputations, wipes away all those grim memories and will probably be seen by next to nobody.
Jack Black Reviews:
Be Kind Rewind
Kung Fu Panda
