Review of Bernie (2012) by Dan A — 21 Mar 2013

This kinda snuck under my radar as I usually manage to check out Richard Linklater's stuff. I liked it. It's not brilliant but it's entertaining. It's based on a true story about a popular guy in a small town who ends up committing a serious crime, and how it affects the towns-folk.

It's quite slow to really get going, and I think that's because Richard Linklater cut real interviews with the real towns people into the narrative of the film, and while this is an interesting and different way of doing things, it made the film seem very stop-start to me, which was a bit grating.

Jack Black is good in the role, he manages to be funny and dramatic all at once, I was impressed. The story is funny but at the same time rather dark, and you may end up questioning yourself by the end of the film as to why you laughed at certain places (One point in particular) because you're aware the events depicted are all true.

Overall, I thought it was good.