SoftInloveRox Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

InformationRap This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Catangro After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

Ava-Grace Willis Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Matt Greene Linklater has pulled off something remarkable here: he's turned a real-life tragedy into a laugh-out-loud film. A black-comedy Robin Hood, we follow the unbelievable story of a man in a small Texas town who gets mixed up with a mean recluse of an old woman...& things go awry. Black is beyond killer in this movie, bringing a hidden & deep darkness to what could be a cartoonish character. The deep delusion infesting the small town even seeps through the screen onto the audience.

Matthew D Booth Jack Black's talent shines thru in his role as Bernie. Probably will be up for some awards and such ! Doubt Shirley Maclaine had to rehearse much for her role as Mrs Nugent. She essentially plays the same as Aurora from "Terms of Endearment " Good Flick.

Michael Ledo This is a movie based on a true story. What is unfortunate is that the DVD cover write up assumes that you are familiar with the story and explains the entire plot. Bernie (Jack Black) is a nice guy who hangs wallpaper, does tax returns, directs the choir, directs plays, does needlepoint and makes curtains. He is also the town's assistant funeral director...one that doesn't hang out with girls.Bernie befriends Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLaine) a rich mean woman hated by the town and her own family. The movie is done similar to "Broadway Danny Rose" in that part of it is a mock docu-drama with some funny locals. Jack Black does not come across as someone from East Texas. I doubted the sincerity of Bernie because they tried to make him a little too cute and humorous. That said, it did make the film more entertaining which is what counts in the long run.There were very few laugh out loud moments, but many moments that made me smile. The trial at the end of the film was far too short and a missed opportunity for some comedic moments. The film is witty and entertaining. For those of you with poor eyesight, that is Matthew McConaughey on the poorly designed DVD cover and not Chevy Chase.Parental Guide: 1 F-Bomb that I recall, no sex or nudity.

g-bodyl Richard Linklater is one of cinema's most important and influential filmmakers there is today and this film, Bernie really shows those traits. He really know how to make films based off small towns and their characters. The story that he tackles here is a really unique and strange premise, and that works in the movie's favor. The film is charming, if not somewhat eccentric. The movie has gotten me interested in the real-life situation, so it may be time to hit the research books.Linklater's film is about a man named Bernie Tiede who happens to be this well-loved man that is highly involved with the community. He is even able to befriend an elderly woman named Marjorie Nugent, who is despised in the town of Carthage, Texas. But one day, something clicks in Bernie and he kills Marjorie. The townspeople are shocked after hearing about Bernie being arrested.Jack Black gives his best performance in years. He was magnificent as Bernie and although he gave up a creepy vibe at times, he truly flourished as Bernie. He did a good job in turning into a man who doesn't seem to realize the grave consequences of his actions. Shirley MacLaine does a great job as the elderly Marjorie, and did I ever hate her character! Matthew McConaughey does a good job as the prosecutor who is coming under fire for convicting Bernie.Overall, Bernie is a wacky crime film, but it's entertaining. It's also funny, but not in the riotous kind of way. More of an amusing chuckle kind of way.....which is a great thing. I liked the style of the film and how it was filmed mockumentary-style. The real townspeople being interviewed was a good heads up on Linklater's part. Another reason why he is such a magnificent filmmaker. A very good, unique film. I rate this film 9/10.