5 out of 5

Director: Richard Linklater

I’m not a Linklater fan, and I’m not a Jack Black fan. But this film works precisely because while both of these players are recognizable, Linklater’s generally slackerfied structure is strengthened by, I suppose, having some real life source material to go off of, and Jack Black’s self-conscious smirk is smoothed out by… ? Linklater? Respect for the person he’s portraying? Perhaps both. Whatever way, he strikes the most perfect chord as Bernie, the nicest man alive, who loves to give and give and seems to take kindly to the elderly, which goes along with his being a mortician. There’s also some aspect of him that sees the best in people, which ends up linking him to the rich and hated-by-the-town Ms. Nugent (also excellently portrayed by MacLaine). After a several year relationship, Bernie kills her. And hides the body. The town DA (McConaughey) seeks justice and press, but the town… well, they just love Bernie. Linklater lets these characters and the story speak for itself, sitting back and capturing interviews with the locals about Bernie. Things threaten to cross the mockumentary line a bit too far at brief moments, but thankfully it never quite topples over. Some focus for Linklater and dialing it back (in a way) for Black produced an excellent, smart, interesting film.