Film Summary DCCXCV (Bernie)

 

It's another film where I was disappointed to learn that it was based off of a real story. 

Now that doesn't mean that it's any less of a film; or that the story in any way is bad. 
Far from it. 
It's captivating. 

I just had this idea in my head that somebody wrote this elaborate kooky story; who came up this framework all on their own. 
But no. 
It's just like that movie about the serial killing British Doctor. It's not quite as creative as I thought it was. 
Although as stated before it's still captivating. 

Story:

Bernie is a man who moves to a small town in Texas called Carthage. 

He ends up becoming something of a local favourite amongst the town folks. Because of his professional demeanour, overly generous nature and all-around uplifting personality. 

Everybody loves him and he in turn loves everyone else. 

He works as a assistant mortician. Helping to preserve bodies and conduct eulogies. 

In some cases he becomes very close with the afflicted family members of the Dead and try's to cheer them up with good gestures. 

In one case he starts courting a woman named Marjorie (played by Shirley MacLaine) who for all intensive purposes is the town's equivalent of a Ebenezer Scrooge or Henry F. Potter. 

She's a vindictive, unhappy, miserable wretch  woman. 

Who has absolutely no redeeming qualities and is devoid of love from everyone around her. Especially since her husband died. 

But she starts to come around just a little. 

When she starts to connect with Bernie. 

But this only goes so far as she starts abusing the man by smothering him with her presence. 

Becoming overbearing and controlling of Bernie's life. 

Essentially forcing him into a servant servitude. A makeshift  prisoner on her own property. 

At some point Bernie just kind of snaps and he shoots this woman in the back to relieve himself of the ever encroaching hell he's been roped into.

There was nothing he can do without the approval of this Marjorie, her life and issues become centre stage in his life. He was slowly but surely withered down until he inevitably snapped. Killing her than lamenting he's actions. But not truly being upset by them. 

In fact that's kind of plot of the whole movie. 

Nobody cares that this man murdered this woman in the slightest. 

All he ever did was bring joy to the world and the town would do anything to keep him from going to prison. 

Even after learning that he had killed her 9 months previously and stuffed her body into a freezer. Living a life of luxury and lies; while pretending that she was alive in some Hospital out in the middle of nowhere. 

It's a brutal story and you really wouldn't think that you'd ever like somebody like that. But here you are just like everyone in this town absolutely captivated by Bernie and wishing him the best. 

It's a real good trick the movie is able to play on the audience making a sympathize with a guy who was an out-and-out murderer and it's made all the worse when you realized it's based off of a real event. 

Which admittedly got under my skin. 

I'm sitting here thinking I would never rightfully protest this man's innocence when it's so blatantly well-known that he's guilty. But at the same time I can't help but feel sad for a man who's done so much good.

It's a really well put together movie; done in a pseudo documentary-style with commentary from the townsfolk that make up the majority of the humour and real character of the entire story. 

Bernie almost feels like a secondary character at some point. 

It's probably the best thing Jack Black has done in years. (I admit I haven't seen anything more recent of he's.)

Jack's acting was spectacular; along with everyone else's. He was really able to embody the image of this strange homely man who was somehow able to commit murder. 

Subsequently he got to utilize his singing voice For Church choir songs of All Things. 

Pretty impressive all around and definitely worth a watch.