Review of Bernie (2012) by Anthony D — 04 Sep 2013

A good solid film, mostly amusing and periodically laugh out loud funny, this story starring Shirley Mac Laine and Jack Black soars with a fictionalized tale of a true story of a well liked southern 'gentleman' ('gentleman' even through the murder of his longtime companion, played by Mac Laine) and allows the viewer to see both sides of the coin, namely, how could he murder her, and due to her severe abuse of him...how could he not murder her.

Culturally, we all know its bad to kill someone, however, for the film to be funny, it needs to 'prove' why its understandable that he did shoot her.

This proving is the funniest and funnest (forgive me) part of the film illustrated through numerous fast paced interviews with local townsfolk illuminating the variety of opinions of the town of Carthage after this ordeal and, thank god, these interviews parallel the possible ways for the audience to think on it, too.

Even if the build up of the relationship and the eventual downfall is not enough to succeed in having us believe he should've shot her, the interviews provide enough humor and fun to carry us along for a great time. The end, at the very end of the credit tag shows us the real Bernie, in prison, coming across almost exactly how Jack Black depicted him; Without any dialogue, and within 5 seconds, the real Bernie comes across as sweet, funny, sad, still unknowing to us, and possibly himself. We'd like to save him, and we know we cannot. This last shot finally reveals a surprise allowing for the most complex emotions, for the audience to feel, to come through. A great way to end any film.