This is not a movie for action fans and may be too quirky for those of you who like straight drama. It is a strange picture, based on a true story, done as a mildly tongue in cheek comedy about a murder. Jack Black, who most of us think of as a comedic actor who borders on the silly stuff, plays a closeted gay assistant funeral director, the kind of guy everybody in this small Texas town likes. He hooks up with a vicious, self-centered, and constantly demanding widow (played by Shirley McClaine), and becomes her paramour, her butler and eventually, her murderer. The townspeople all love Bernie, basically hate the widow and as far as they are concerned, shooting the widow in the back 4 times (not 5, as one townsperson takes pains to point out) is pretty much 'self-defense.' Some of the folks interviewed in what amounts to a mockumentary are the real townspeople, according to one article I read, and they are in some ways, the best part. If you thought a movie like "Little Miss Sunshine" was enjoyable, you'll like this. Otherwise, don't bother, because you'll hate me.
