Review of Bernie (2012) by Denise S — 26 Jul 2013

This movie should be a cult classic by now. I feel sure that it belongs with the micro cultural view of society pics such as "Napoleon Dynamite" or even "Clerks".

"Bernie" is better than anything to which I might find a suitable comparison. Jack Black is ALL KINDS of talented. He sings with the clarity of a bell and the warmth of a mother's hug. He is simply trans-formative, hitting every mark to portray Mr. Bernie Tiede in elegant truth.

Shirley McClain is a personal favorite of mine so I was delighted (to say the least) that she played Mrs. Margorie Nugent. I am sure no one could have done it better.

The fact that this is a true story, and the wonderful interviews with the townspeople, made this film truly interesting for me. I find myself continuing to care about all of these individuals.

I also wonder about underlying moral questions raised in movies going back to Logan's Run and beyond... is it ok to kill someone if most of the people involved/infected by the murder believe it is right?

I recall reading an article about an old Texas law that provided a legal defense if the murder victim "needed killing." In other words, the general consensus was that anybody who was acting like a complete ass could be legally murdered. It can't be on the books anymore but what might life look like if it were?

Although it won't answer that question, this movie is funny, interesting, thought provoking, and a little bit Black-magical. I recommend it.