BERNIE

US, 2011, 104 minutes. Colour.
Jack Black, Shirley Mac Laine, Matthew Mc Connaughey.
Directed by Richard Linklater.

Adult audiences should find Bernie an interesting and entertaining film.

However, it is best to go into it knowing as little of the plot as possible. There are several very well portrayed character developments.

The film is both comic and serious, the work of director, Richard Linklater, who has had a successful career in independent and smaller-budget films. Matthew McConnaughey? worked with him in one of his earliest films, the slacker comedy, Dazed and Confused. Jack Black worked with him in one of his most popular films, School of Rock. Linklater also made the romantic-conversation films, Before Sunrise and Before Sunset.

It doesn’t hurt to know beforehand that this is one of Jack Black’s best performances. He throws himself into the part without the manic energy that we usually associate with him. He is Bernie personified, even to his stance, his way of walking, his mannerisms. He is a funeral attendant, a fussy but kind man, a little prissy with some dismissing him as a sissy. But, his concern for clients – and for everyone – means that he is very popular in the small Texas town where he lives.

Linklater has based his film on a true story. He also uses the device of having the townspeople give to-camera interviews and testimonies about Bernie. Some of these are very funny, with quite some criticism of Texas, its traditions and attitudes, a mixture of the sardonic and the affectionate. We welcome the testimonies and enjoy Bernie seeing Bernie show how true they are.

The other main character in the film is Mrs Nugent, the widow of a wealthy self-made banker who is gruffness and meanness personified, Mrs Nugent that is. Shirley MacLaine? can do mean disdain and imperiousness with no trouble at all. At almost 78, she is portraying an 80 year old woman. In the photo of the actual Mrs Nugent at the end of the film, she looks far kinder than Shirley MacLaine? does. Bernie treats her well and she takes a shine to him. The actual Bernie seems a very nice man too.

The other main character is the sheriff, played by Matthew McConnaughey? as a good ole Texas boy, someone who dislikes Bernie and casts aspersions on him.

That is probably as much as a review should say, an indication of themes, of treatment, of characters, of tone – and leave the plot itself to please and surprise.

1. Based on a true story? A Texas story and tone? The 1990s?

2. The portrait of eccentric Texas? The map and the districts, the ironic commentaries? Visuals of the history of Texas? The beginnings of wealth? Oil? The use of interviews, the sardonic tone, yet affectionate? Kindness and unkindness in the satire? Portrait of a small town? The testimonies, their insertion, the pace of the film, the changing perspectives on Bernie? The continued perspectives on Bernie?

3. Carthage, Texas? The town, small, homes, shops, restaurants? Church? The funeral home, the cemetery, the countryside? An authentic feel? The musical score?

4. Jack Black’s portrait of Bernie? The strong performance? An idiosyncratic character? The introduction, the demonstration to the class, the praise of the professor, the tone? The flashback to the job interview, his impressing the funeral director? Everything nice, everything good, always kind? Bernie’s live illustrating the testimonies of the townspeople? His conduct of the funerals, prayer, singing? Comfort, hymns, Amazing Grace? The visits after, his sensitivity? His skills as a salesman, the tall customer and the short coffin, persuading them to get the deluxe? Yet with kindness?

5. The chapter headings throughout the film? Their framing? Questions about Bernie himself, his manner, considered a sissy, questions of whether he was gay? Danny Buck and his strong opinions? The Christians and their opinion, given their moral stances? The comment about Jesus, his disciples, St Paul?

6. Texas religion, the Methodists, the services, the congregations, their beliefs, the fundamentalist touches? Sincerity?

7. Shirley Mac Laine’s portrait of Mrs Nugent, the introduction, the explanations, people not liking her, considering her mean? The testimonies? Her husband, the flashbacks to his history, his wealth? His funeral? The family background, her sisters and not talking, her granddaughter? The bank, her stern management, throwing plans in the garbage? Bernie and his visits, slamming the door, responding to his kindness, letting him come in? Her character, wilful, mean, spoilt? Her money, her demands? Her mellowing? The meals – and her chewing and this irritating Bernie? The trips, the postcards? At home, her life, going to the rehearsals with Bernie? Church, the bible group, clutching her bag at the mention of donations? Her becoming more demanding, giving him the pager, the phone calls, sacking the gardener?

8. The pressure on Bernie, his continued kindness, at Mrs Nugent’s beck and call? His participation in the town’s activities, his being welcomed, culture, the opera, the musicals, the rehearsal scenes, The Music Man? His still keeping the funerals? The testimony of the director? The gardener and his helping him? The pager, his being summoned, Mrs Nugent closing the gates on him? Wanting to shoot the armadillo, his not being able to? Her chewing irritating him?

9. His following Mrs Nugent, the pressure, suddenly shooting her in the back? Life after Mrs Nugent? Using her money, the gifts, benefits for the town, the playhouse for the children, the donations to the church? The praise of Bernie as a donor?

10. Lloyd, managing Mrs Nugent’s money, his suspicions, the money, irritated, Mrs Nugent always hanging up on him, his organising the search of the house?

11. Mrs Nugent’s sister, talking with Bernie, the granddaughter, participating in the search, the background of suing her grandmother, her testimony on the cross-examination, her being exposed as not being close?

12. The sheriff, nice, talking to Bernie, the search of the house, the discovery of the truth?

13. Danny Buck, his speeches and testimonies, his attitudes, his stalking the criminals in the town, the competition for hands on the car and his arrest of the defaulting fathers? His attitude towards gays? Anti-Bernie? His vindication at Bernie’s confession? Preparing the case, transferring the case to a less-friendly town, his speeches in the prosecution? His TV interview? Comeuppance?

14. Bernie, his being with the children, his arrest, the interrogation, his admitting the truth? His understanding of what he had done? Yet thinking he was like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde? His remorse?

15. In the court, testimony, his explanations, Danny Buck and his condemnation of Bernie’s high life, the joke about Les Miserables?

16. The jury, the personalities, their faces? The contrast with the people attending the case, protesting Bernie’s innocence? The testimonies and people not being able to believe in Bernie’s guilt? Even though he confessed?

17. The verdict, Bernie going to jail, people’s reactions? The woman visiting him in jail? His work in jail? Doing good for the prisoners?

18. The final information, the photos, the clips of the real Bernie – and with Jack Black?

19. Audiences and their changing estimations of Bernie, personality and character? Issues of appearance and reality? Issue of temporary insanity? Goodness, forgiveness, rehabilitation and service of the community?