Summary
In small-town Texas, affable and popular mortician Bernie Tiede strikes up a friendship with Marjorie Nugent, a wealthy widow well known for her sour attitude. When she becomes controlling and abusive, Bernie goes to great lengths to remove himself from her grasp.
Cast
Jack Black
Bernie Tiede
Shirley MacLaine
Marjorie Nugent
Matthew McConaughey
Danny Buck Davidson
Brady Coleman
Scrappy Holmes
Richard Robichaux
Lloyd Hornbuckle
Rick Dial
Don Leggett
Brandon Smith
Sheriff Huckabee
Larry Jack Dotson
Rev. Woodard
Merrilee McCommas
Molly
Mathew Greer
Carl
Marjorie Dome
Townsperson
Tim Cariker
Townsperson
Fern Luker
Townsperson
Jack Payne
Townsperson
Sonny Carl Davis
Townsperson
Chris Humphrey
Townsperson
Jesse Lucio
Mourner
Ann Reeves
Townsperson
Kay Epperson
Townsperson
Ira Bounds
Townsperson
James Baker
Townsperson
Kay McConaughey
Townsperson
Kristi Youngblood
Townsperson
Kenny Brevard
Townsperson
Margaret Bowman
Townsperson
Mollie Fuller
Townsperson
Tanja Givens
Townsperson
Glenda Jones
Townsperson
Travis Blevins
Townsperson
Sylvia Froman
Townsperson
Martha Long
Townsperson
Jo Perkins
Townsperson
Reba Tarjick
Townsperson
Dale Dudley
Townsperson
James Wilson
Townsperson
Teresa Edwards
Townsperson
Billy Vaticalos
Townsperson
Rob Anthony
Townsperson
Tommy G. Kendrick
Larry Brumley
Pam McDonald
Townsperson
Kathy Gollmitzer
Townsperson
Cozette McNeely
Townsperson
Richard Andrew Jones
Professor Fleming
Charles Bailey
Friend of Deceased
Suzi McLaughlin
Mrs. Pebworth
Grant James
Mr. Estes
Juli Erickson
Mrs. Estes
J.D. Young
Dwayne Nugent
Charlie m Stewart
Dwayne Jr.
Joe Stevens
Lewie
Raquel Gavia
Esmerelda
Amparo García
Church Goer
Toby Metcalf
Oil Worker
Doug Moreland
Chainsaw Artist
Edward Ji
Pianist
Jill Blackwood
Guys & Dolls Performer
David Blackwell
Mel
Gabriel Luna
Kevin
Deana Newcomb
Photographer
David Steakley
Assistant Director
Peter Harrell Jr.
Bank Manager
Joe Leroy Reynolds
Deputy Sheriff
Christian Stokes
Truck Driver
John Hornbuckle
Generator Operator
Wray Crawford
Sheriff's Deputy #2
Margaret Hoard
Café Waitress
Charles Allen Eskew
IRS Agent
Quita Culpepper
TV Reporter
Mona Lee Fultz
Cashier
Jerry Biggs
Judge
Robert Works
Lead Juror
Chris Barfield
Community Theater Group
Taylor Bryant
Community Theater Group
Colin Bevis
Community Theater Group
Jacqui Bloom
Community Theater Group
Joshua Denning
Community Theater Group
Ellie Edwards
Community Theater Group
Alaina Flores
Community Theater Group
Jennifer Foster
Community Theater Group
Leslie Hethcox
Community Theater Group
Jordan Hill
Community Theater Group
Berkley Jones
Community Theater Group
Trevor McGinnis
Community Theater Group
Mika Odom
Community Theater Group
Chell Parkins
Community Theater Group
David Ponton
Community Theater Group
Gray Randolph
Community Theater Group
Rachel Hull-Ryde
Community Theater Group
Ian Saunders
Community Theater Group
Madelyn Shaffer
Community Theater Group
Larissa Slota
Community Theater Group
Daniel Rae Srivastava
Community Theater Group
Ellen Stader
Community Theater Group
Lara Wright
Community Theater Group
Betty Andrews
Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant
Marcia Bailey
Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant
Umpy Bechtol
Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant
Nita Bouldin
Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant
Nellie Hickerson
Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant
Jeanette Kloppe
Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant
Geraldine Miller
Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant
Sharon Rigsbee
Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant
Debbie Shaw
Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant
Flo Weiershausen
Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant
Gina Wooten
Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant
Gary Askins
Juror
Ben Bachelder
Juror
Meredith Beal
Juror
Stacey Bruck
Juror
Michelle Briscoe
Juror
Lesa Brooks
Juror
Gayla Bruce
Juror
Brenda Bunton
Juror
Kristi Copeland
Juror
Jeff Davis
Juror
Orion Gallagher
Juror
Kenneth C. Liverman
Juror
Linda Rudwick
Juror
Mary Stifflemire
Juror
Richard Linklater
Deadbeat Dad (uncredited)
Valerie Frazee
Robin (uncredited)
Veronica Orosco
Church Patron (uncredited)
Gary Teague
Neighborhood Onlooker (uncredited)
Heath Allyn
Mortuary Student (uncredited)
Cheryl Bond Danks
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Fred Bothwell
Mourner (uncredited)
Gene Cervenka
Grim Reaper - Prison Guard (uncredited)
Rebecca Chulew
Upscale Shopper / Pageant Attendee (uncredited)
Erik Collins
Sheriff Deputy #3 (uncredited)
Franky Coronado
Prison Visitor (uncredited)
Randy Coy
Hard Body Onlooker (uncredited)
Wendy Crouse
Prison Visitor (uncredited)
Daniel B. Davis
Townsperson (uncredited)
Richard Dodwell
Church Attendee (uncredited)
June Griffin Garcia
Parisian Diner (uncredited)
Paul Heckmann
Carthaginian Resident (uncredited)
Stephen C. Kerr
The Corpse (uncredited)
Robert H. Lambert
Courtroom Witness (uncredited)
Rudi Lee
Grieving Widow (uncredited)
Floyd Lloyd
Funeral Home Patron (uncredited)
Kevin Machate
Federal Agent (uncredited)
Patrick Martin Jr.
TV News Cameraman (uncredited)
Timothy McKinney
Small Deputy (uncredited)
Caroline McNeil
Mourner (uncredited)
Earl Nottingham
Courthouse Vendor (uncredited)
Mitchell Rad
Press Photographer (uncredited)
Angelita Aronce Sorensen
Courtroom Visitor (uncredited)
Heath Young
Photographer / Churchgoer (uncredited)
Daniel Zubiate
Action News Cameraman (uncredited)
Crew
Director, Screenplay
Richard Linklater
Screenplay
Skip Hollandsworth
Reviews
DoryDarko
February 19, 2017
8
Bernie is a really fun and enjoyable dark comedy, starring Jack Black and Shirley MacLaine. This is actually the true story of what happened between a purely good man and a purely evil woman.
Jack Black plays Bernie Tiede, an assistant undertaker in the small town of Carthage, Texas. He is loved by everybody for his pure-hearted character, his sympathy for every person he comes across and his willingness to help everyone who needs it in any way, shape or form. He's just such a good guy, you almost wouldn't believe it if not for the fact that this character is based on an actual person.
And then there's Marjorie Nugent, played by Shirley MacLaine. She is his polar opposite, as hated as Bernie is loved. She is the widow of some rich oil baron, and she is just the most mean and spiteful woman you could ever fear to meet. Everyone in town absolutely hates her guts, and there's no one who would be sorry to see her go...
Then comes the day when these two people meet and – all due to Bernie's good nature – form an unlikely friendship. Until about two years later when Marjorie's true personality rears its ugly head and even Bernie can't stand her abuse any longer, when he is reduced to her personal slave and whipping boy. And what no one believed possible, happens... He kills her. (don't worry, that's not a spoiler, that's the story line.) What follows is the strange lengths Bernie attempts to go to, in order to cover up his crime.
What makes this film work so well is mostly the subtle humour of it. Director Richard Linklater thankfully didn't choose to make this into the hysterical, caricature of a comedy it easily could have been. Something that really adds to the authenticity of the film is the use of actual Carthage townsfolk, providing commentary on the events in documentary-like interview scenes. This really is a perfect move on the director's part, because it makes the 'acting' completely real and spontaneous.
I really like Jack Black, but in this case, I'm somewhat glad he left his crazy mannerisms and facial expressions at the door, in order to just play this character true-to-form. He actually acts, rather than just playing another silly, typical "Jack Black character".
I always love watching Shirley MacLaine in a mean and vile role such as this one, and in 'Bernie', she plays it to a T once again. Imagine her character in 'Steel Magnolia's' and then multiply it by ten. That's what you get here and it's an absolute joy to watch.
Matthew McConaughey plays the county sheriff, dead-set on burning Bernie for his crime. I'm usually not too fond of him, but his role in 'Bernie' is pretty funny and he plays it well. He seems to be the only person in town who thinks it's bad what happened to Marjorie. That's another really funny aspect to this story – the fact that everybody involved just loves Bernie so much and really hates Marjorie to the bone, that they all seem to take his side in the matter. You might feel like I'm just throwing spoilers at you here, but pretty much the whole story is told in hindsight and flashbacks, so there are no real secretes or mysteries unveiled. Then what's the point of watching, you might ask, if I already know everything that's going to happen from the get-go? The point is the enjoyment you'll get from watching these events unfold.
The actors are all really well cast, and they play their roles with a certain flair that makes them instantly likable. The dialogue is clever and witty, and like I mentioned earlier, the combination of event re-enactment and documentary-like interviews, is a winning ticket and 'Bernie's' major selling point. The story is well constructed, as is the chronology of how it unfolds. Basically, it's just very well-made, and it definitely would have deserved a little more credit. But then again, this film also kind of has a "small budget/small audience" feel to it, so that might explain why it practically went unnoticed at the box office. It's just a shame that charming little comedies like 'Bernie' always get overlooked when stuff like 'The Hangover' and the like get multi-million dollar appraisal. All I can hope for is that 'Bernie' gathers its own DVD-fan base, because it's certainly worth it.
Watch this film if you're in the mood a darkly hilarious comedy that has its heart in the right place. Oh, and stick around for the credits, where you can see pictures of the actual Bernie and Marjorie, and footage of Bernie and Jack Black talking, which is a fun addition.
All in all, a highly recommended film! _(October 2012)_
Media
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$5,000,000.00
Revenue:
$9,206,470.00
Keywords
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