Review of Bernie (2012) by Chris M — 05 Dec 2012

A new great actor-director team has been confirmed: Jack Black and Richard Linklater. One of Black's best performances was Linklater's 'The School of Rock', and while 'Bernie' isn't quite a perfect film (sparse moments of lack of vision), we certainly have a new champion for Black's lead status career.

Short, stout, manic Black has understandably lost several fans' patience over the years, but if there is one filmmaker capable of controlling the energy of Jables to expose a deep, sympathetic, truthfully portrayed character study, it's Linklater.

Matthew McConaughey has also rightfully earned attention for his work here, continuing his speciality of playing lawyer roles. I am fond of 'Bernie'; through interviews with actual town-folk of Carthage, TX, we experience the paced construction of controversy and the manipulative power of persuasion.

The Carthage citizens may come off to some as foolish for supporting a confessed murderer. I think this is incorrect. To me, their misguided faith represents an innocent, optimistic hope for a future loophole and nothing more.