Linklater has given us a true story told in a delightful way that has the faint bouquet of Wes Anderson about it. Jack Black plays Bernie Tiede of Carthage, Texas, who was the town's lovable assistant funeral director and all around do good who was loved among the older ladies of the community.
Enter Shirley McLaine who is the towns newest and richest widow. Bernie goes out of his way to take care of her after her husband's funeral and was rebuffed, at first. McLaine's widow was the meanest woman in town whose own family sued her to get their father's share of inheritance. Needless to say she needed a real friend and Bernie's persistence put him right in that spot.
Folks around town constantly wondered about the true nature of their relationship that took them from Acapulco to NYC to Europe and back--first class, of course. Bernie ended up quitting his funeral parlor job to be with McLaine full time until he killed her. Yes, McLaine finally drove him to it.
Enter Matthew McConaughey, DA for Carthage, who is intent on getting Bernie life in prison. Soon he runs into so much pro-Bernie sentiment that he had to file for a venue change to avoid an acquittal. Granted that, Bernie is tried by a jury that "has more tattoos than teeth".
This film has a great deal of charm from the use of real hometown characters mixed with a few actors who add truth to the matter with stinging regional colloquialisms. In short, it is a hoot.
Jack Black did very well in this. I had to be narly whipped to go see this but I would now say this is a great film for the "mature" audience.
Extremely humorous with rural charm this is mandatory for Texans and just about everybody else.
As the narration explains: East Texas is where the South begins and the Pine Forests protect it from the rest of Texas.
3.9 outta 5 servings of hot grits.
PS. Like a good true story we see the real Bernie and Marjorie during the credits and smile wryly as they were better looking than the actors who portrayed them.
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Topic - 'Bernie': A celebration of Texas redneckary . . . . - mr grits 13:56:48 06/01/12 (3)
- Actually, the reverse is true: the pine forests protect Texas from the South's bad influence. (nt) - Audiophilander 04:04:20 06/04/12 (1)
- Yer a Texas redneck who thinks he's smart.....Ft Worth is where . . . - mr grits 09:58:49 01/24/13 (0)
- Like "The Corndog Man"?. - Below_Me 12:48:36 06/02/12 (0)