BERNIE

This is a 'black comedy thriller', according to Wikipedia, directed by Richard Linklater, based on real events and people.  As is often the case, it falls between two stools, being neither very funny nor very thrilling.

The plot is pretty simple.  39-year old Bernie (played by Jack Black) is a mortician and pillar of the small-town community that is Carthage, Texas.  He becomes the constant companion of 81-year old millionaire Marjorie (Shirley MacLaine) but her possessiveness and unpleasantness drives him to kill her.  He manages to keep this hidden for nine months by pretending she has gone away, but eventually the truth comes out, and he is convicted of murder.

It's well acted and well directed, and features interviews with some actual townspeople from Carthage. 

It's all fine but I couldn't help thinking that if it wasn't based on real events it wouldn't have got made, and would that have been much of a loss?

RATING: x Find Something Better To Do