Well That Explains Everything!: "Bernie" Explains Texas

I am still sad Bernie never made it to the big screens. I honestly feel it was one of the best movies I saw so far this year. It is not only Jack Black's career best performance (no seriously, he's actually acting this time), but it is a terrific addition to director Richard Linklater's filmography. It manages to cover a whole gamut of emotions effectively, from being very funny to very sad to surprisingly thought provoking. And of course you have to point out the terrific supporting turns by Shirley MacLaine and Matthew McConaughey.

One of its best achievements, however,  is the integration of the real life townspeople involved in the event the film is based on. While a few of them are actors, the majority of them were genuine people who personally knew the real Bernie Tiede. I am not sure how Linklater directed them, but he managed to show them in a humorous and sympathetic light. It added a whole other layer of interest to the film.

Here is one of my favorite clips from the film, where an older man explains how Texas is not just one singular state. Very funny: