His name is Tiede, Bernie Tiede. And in the small town of Carthage, Texas, everyone praises the kindness of this hardened bachelor, with a baby face and a heart of gold. As an undertaker’s assistant in a small funeral home, he is a genius at embalming and an unrivaled master of ceremonies: he sings gospel in church and provides sincere expressions of empathy every day.
Conversely, the entire population of the town seems to hate Marjorie Nugent, a rich widow with a cantankerous character. Tyrannical with her household staff, execrable with all of her fellow citizens, the odious old lady nevertheless becomes friends with the brave Bernie. Rumors will spread… until Bernie, prey to the very possessive Marjorie, finally breaks down. The attorney general will have to get involved.
A true story
Released in 2012 in the United States but unpublished in France, this comedy tells an authentic news story. And mischievously adopts the codes of TV documentaries, in particular the “on camera” testimonies of anonymous neighbors.
Jack Black excels in the role of rotund Bernie Tiede, both endearing and disturbing. The immense Shirley MacLaine seems to be jubilant in the role of the old rich bitch. Finally Matthew McConaughey histrionics to his heart’s content as a demagogue prosecutor, dressed like a square-jawed cowboy.
But it took the finesse of a delicate director to tell this story without sinking into potache. Author of a beautiful trilogy with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy (“Before Sunrise”, “Before Sunset” and “Before Midnight”) and especially of the masterpiece “Boyhood” (shot over a period of 11 years with the same actors), Richard Linklater achieves this miracle here: we laugh and have a lot of fun at the acidity of this lively and colorful candy.
“Bernie” by Richard Linklater, with Jack Black and Shirley MacLane. Duration: 1 hour 36 minutes. In theaters January 8.
