I knew very little about this film prior to viewing aside from the 3 key actors. All give understated performances, pretty surprising for Jack Black. Both Shirley MacLaine and Matthew McConaughey are also kept under control in terms of dialogue. It is a very story focused film and the presentation is very well crafted. You are drawn in right from the start and are never quite sure where all this is leading to.It's a blend of film noir, interspersed with comedy, and drama. Entertainment in a quirky way. And surprisingly all based on a true story. Well worth watching. Reminded me of a good Coen brothers film – without the violence.

Bernie is filmed in a faux-documentary style that seems to present the small community of Berthage's opinion on Bernie Tiede as realistic and genuine as possible. The talking heads are filmed in their natural environments - residents and cars go on about their daily lives in the background - and some of the segments devolve into petty gossip and slander like an interview might if it had been about a notoriously hated member of the community. In one certain clip one of the 'interviewees' cannot even help herself but laugh at her friend's antics. It seems genuine...a natural born reaction. Yet some of these people are actors. I am reminded of Up in the Air, where Reitman mixed real footage of people being fired and their reactions to it with paid professional actors reading from a script. The intent is all well and good, until JK Simmons pops up on the screen and try as he might, it does not seem anything but artificial. Here Matthew McConaughey fills this role. He has never been shy to disguise or hide his Texan drawl, and here it is in full display both in his public appearances and in front of the camera. And when he makes an impassionate plea to the jury and court, with his precisely chosen words, his moral disgust, his little shake of the head, the "no no no" at the injustice that might be served...there is no doubt in our minds this is a performance. Of course, this is the point; Buck Davidson knows how he must play the case in order to sway even the loyal Carthage crowd, so he acts and acts and intentionally mispronounces "Les Miserables" so that he may get the low-class hicks on his side and, more importantly, laughing at Bernie. But it does begin to leak out of the story itself; it is hard to see anything but Matthew McConaughey after a while. This is not merely an artistic endeavour for Linklater. In 2014, after new evidence emerged of child abuse that may have caused a dissociative episode that lead to Marjorie Nugent's shooting, Bernie Tiede was freed on bail, with a peculiar condition set by the judge that he must live in Linklater's garage apartment. Clearly he knows much of this man, this so-called murderer, that inspired him to make this film as a defense (yes, of Bernie Tiede). I will not ever sit in that courtroom and we may not know the whole and utter truth of the case, but nevertheless it seems that there are whole swathes of the story that remain curiously unexplored in Bernie. The full extent of Bernie's 'abuse', for example, is little more than an old granny shouting herself hoarse, spitting rude put-downs and, shock horror, remotely closing the gates of the estate in order to keep Bernie trapped with him. This does not feel suffocating enough to drive a man to murder. Linklater, however, has devoted much time to establishing the character of Bernie Tiede, to the rest of the narrative's demise. I have no doubt that the opening scene is brilliant; a formal introduction for a man who unequivocally loves his craft, harbours a delightful and darkly humorous approach to it, who simpers his way into the audience's hearts. Jack Black can receive no criticism. He plays Bernie to the full extent of what is asked of him; a rotund, bouncing, eccentric, ever-smiling baby-faced bundle of joy, and ever so carefully treads the line between sincerity and ridiculousness. When he leads the church hymns like a world-class vocalist, when he addresses corpses lovingly, and when he "suggests the Corinthian" (no doubt he picked the name) as if he is recommending a car and not a coffin, it seems bizarre to the viewer, but Black has made us 100% sure of Bernie's sincerity. It makes me wish he did not come with the baggage of his comedic persona, because in small moments it becomes hard to take Bernie seriously. Again it is the problem of the actor shining through the story. Black is by definition charismatic, so he seems perfect for the role, but it feels ungenuine. Linklater has forgone the nuances of characterisation and entire areas of Bernie (the suggestion of homosexuality, for example) to ham up the eccentricities that Black has no doubt graciously provided. See how he waddles in the final shot as he is lead back to his cell. It is a subtle performance, just like it is for McConaughey. Linklater and Black, who spent a great deal of time conversing with the real Bernie Tiede to improve his portrayal, may very well know Bernie intimately and have good reason to believe of his innocence. But all this is hidden under Hollywood artifice.

This movie tried to portray him as a victim. No matter how "mean" she was, he still had no right to kill her. Bottom line is he is a common murderer.I just read where they did not take into account that he was sexually molested as a child and he wants totally freed.The people of Carthidge only liked this guy because he spread the money around of the dead victim. That shows their true colors and Godless ways. To support a murderer because "she was mean and deserved it" really sets the tone of that town How sad. Mass pity for a murderer. What if he had killed a child? He would be burned at the stake. But because it was a woman who the city did not like sort of justifies it? Insanity. IF he was abused as a kid, so what? He clearly went to schooling to become an assistant mortician. He clearly moved on with his life. He traveled the world. He did not hole up because of years of abuse and stay in that world. He knew exactly what he was doing. First class all the way. Giving away her money. Ingratiating himself for attention. He was closeted gay and didn't want to come out. It shows he still made adult decisions, especially when it came to her finances. I credit the stock broker for him even being discovered.I don't like the way the movie portrayed the victim at all. As people grow older they get lonely. Relatives sued her for money and lost. The get old, lonely and Bernie saw an opportunity. He wanted to live a nice lifestyle. Elderly people are often victims of abuse and scams. This movie should have portrayed him as exactly that.The movie had very good acting. The interviews with the towns people made it seem more real. Like everyone wants to see the true behind the scenes dirt on the mean old lady. They are lucky it wasn't them. Remind me never to move or visit that backwoods redneck town. I might get killed and they'd picket to have the murderer released.

At first, upon hearing about this, didn't have high expectations at all. Not a big fan of Jack Black, and the title Bernie just makes it seem like a ridiculous raunchy comedy. But then reviews were pretty great, and I raised my expectations a lot. I kind of wanted more black comedy in it, as it is, it mostly plays straight as a drama with some darkly comedic moments. Jack Black, though, is the real revelation here. I had no idea he had this in him, and it's a pretty fantastic performance. Matthew McConaughey is also pretty fun here, playing his character as straight as the film requires but also making him really funny. This is some strong work.