In small-town Texas, affable and popular mortician Bernie Tiede strikes up a friendship with Marjorie Nugent, a wealthy widow well known for her sour attitude. When she becomes controlling and abusive, Bernie goes to great lengths to remove himself from her grasp.

Credits: TheMovieDb.

Film Cast:

• Bernie Tiede: Jack Black
• Marjorie Nugent: Shirley MacLaine
• Danny Buck Davidson: Matthew McConaughey
• Scrappy Holmes: Brady Coleman
• Lloyd Hornbuckle: Richard Robichaux
• Don Leggett: Rick Dial
• Sheriff Huckabee: Brandon Smith
• Rev. Woodard: Larry Jack Dotson
• Molly: Merrilee McCommas
• Carl: Mathew Greer
• Townsperson: Marjorie Dome
• Townsperson: Tim Cariker
• Townsperson: Fern Luker
• Townsperson: Jack Payne
• Townsperson: Sonny Carl Davis
• Townsperson: Chris Humphrey
• Mourner: Jesse Lucio
• Townsperson: Ann Reeves
• Townsperson: Kay Epperson
• Townsperson: Ira Bounds
• Townsperson: James Baker
• Townsperson: Kay McConaughey
• Townsperson: Kristi Youngblood
• Townsperson: Kenny Brevard
• Townsperson: Margaret Bowman
• Townsperson: Mollie Fuller
• Townsperson: Tanja Givens
• Townsperson: Glenda Jones
• Townsperson: Travis Blevins
• Townsperson: Sylvia Froman
• Townsperson: Martha Long
• Townsperson: Jo Perkins
• Townsperson: Reba Tarjick
• Townsperson: Dale Dudley
• Townsperson: James Wilson
• Townsperson: Teresa Edwards
• Townsperson: Billy Vaticalos
• Townsperson: Rob Anthony
• Larry Brumley: Tommy G. Kendrick
• Townsperson: Pam McDonald
• Townsperson: Kathy Gollmitzer
• Townsperson: Cozette McNeely
• Professor Fleming: Richard Andrew Jones
• Friend of Deceased: Charles Bailey
• Mrs. Pebworth: Suzi McLaughlin
• Mr. Estes: Grant James
• Mrs. Estes: Juli Erickson
• Dwayne Nugent: J.D. Young
• Dwayne Jr.: Charlie m Stewart
• Lewie: Joe Stevens
• Esmerelda: Raquel Gavia
• Church Goer: Amparo García
• Oil Worker: Toby Metcalf
• Chainsaw Artist: Doug Moreland
• Pianist: Edward Ji
• Guys & Dolls Performer: Jill Blackwood
• Mel: David Blackwell
• Kevin: Gabriel Luna
• Photographer: Deana Newcomb
• Assistant Director: David Steakley
• Bank Manager: Peter Harrell Jr.
• Deputy Sheriff: Joe Leroy Reynolds
• Truck Driver: Christian Stokes
• Generator Operator: John Hornbuckle
• Sheriff’s Deputy #2: Wray Crawford
• Café Waitress: Margaret Hoard
• IRS Agent: Charles Allen Eskew
• TV Reporter: Quita Culpepper
• Cashier: Mona Lee Fultz
• Judge: Jerry Biggs
• Lead Juror: Robert Works
• Community Theater Group: Chris Barfield
• Community Theater Group: Taylor Bryant
• Community Theater Group: Colin Bevis
• Community Theater Group: Jacqui Bloom
• Community Theater Group: Joshua Denning
• Community Theater Group: Ellie Edwards
• Community Theater Group: Alaina Flores
• Community Theater Group: Jennifer Foster
• Community Theater Group: Leslie Hethcox
• Community Theater Group: Jordan Hill
• Community Theater Group: Berkley Jones
• Community Theater Group: Trevor McGinnis
• Community Theater Group: Mika Odom
• Community Theater Group: Chell Parkins
• Community Theater Group: David Ponton
• Community Theater Group: Gray Randolph
• Community Theater Group: Rachel Hull-Ryde
• Community Theater Group: Ian Saunders
• Community Theater Group: Madelyn Shaffer
• Community Theater Group: Larissa Slota
• Community Theater Group: Daniel Rae Srivastava
• Community Theater Group: Ellen Stader
• Community Theater Group: Lara Wright
• Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant: Betty Andrews
• Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant: Marcia Bailey
• Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant: Umpy Bechtol
• Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant: Nita Bouldin
• Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant: Nellie Hickerson
• Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant: Jeanette Kloppe
• Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant: Geraldine Miller
• Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant: Sharon Rigsbee
• Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant: Debbie Shaw
• Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant: Flo Weiershausen
• Mrs. Senior Carthage Pageant Contestant: Gina Wooten
• Juror: Gary Askins
• Juror: Ben Bachelder
• Juror: Meredith Beal
• Juror: Stacey Bruck
• Juror: Michelle Briscoe
• Juror: Lesa Brooks
• Juror: Gayla Bruce
• Juror: Brenda Bunton
• Juror: Kristi Copeland
• Juror: Jeff Davis
• Juror: Orion Gallagher
• Juror: Kenneth C. Liverman
• Juror: Linda Rudwick
• Juror: Mary Stifflemire
• Deadbeat Dad (uncredited): Richard Linklater
• Robin (uncredited): Valerie Frazee
• Church Patron (uncredited): Veronica Orosco
• Neighborhood Onlooker (uncredited): Gary Teague
• Mortuary Student (uncredited): Heath Allyn
• Restaurant Patron (uncredited): Cheryl Bond Danks
• Mourner (uncredited): Fred Bothwell
• Grim Reaper – Prison Guard (uncredited): Gene Cervenka
• Upscale Shopper / Pageant Attendee (uncredited): Rebecca Chulew
• Sheriff Deputy #3 (uncredited): Erik Collins
• Prison Visitor (uncredited): Franky Coronado
• Hard Body Onlooker (uncredited): Randy Coy
• Prison Visitor (uncredited): Wendy Crouse
• Townsperson (uncredited): Daniel B. Davis
• Church Attendee (uncredited): Richard Dodwell
• Parisian Diner (uncredited): June Griffin Garcia
• Carthaginian Resident (uncredited): Paul Heckmann
• The Corpse (uncredited): Stephen C. Kerr
• Courtroom Witness (uncredited): Robert H. Lambert
• Grieving Widow (uncredited): Rudi Lee
• Funeral Home Patron (uncredited): Floyd Lloyd
• Federal Agent (uncredited): Kevin Machate
• TV News Cameraman (uncredited): Patrick Martin Jr.
• Small Deputy (uncredited): Timothy McKinney
• Mourner (uncredited): Caroline McNeil
• Courthouse Vendor (uncredited): Earl Nottingham
• Press Photographer (uncredited): Mitchell Rad
• Courtroom Visitor (uncredited): Angelita Aronce Sorensen
• Photographer / Churchgoer (uncredited): Heath Young
• Action News Cameraman (uncredited): Daniel Zubiate

Film Crew:

• Casting: Beth Sepko
• Producer: Celine Rattray
• Executive Producer: Don Fox
• Producer: Martin Shafer
• Producer: Liz Glotzer
• Executive Producer: William T. Conway
• Original Music Composer: Graham Reynolds
• Editor: Sandra Adair
• Executive Producer: Michael Bassick
• Unit Production Manager: Ginger Sledge
• Producer: Judd Payne
• Screenplay: Richard Linklater
• Producer: Dete Meserve
• Screenplay: Skip Hollandsworth
• Producer: Matt Williams
• Executive Producer: Jack Gilardi Jr.
• Producer: David McFadzean
• Art Direction: Rodney Becker
• Production Design: Bruce Curtis
• Costume Design: Kari Perkins
• “A” Camera Operator: Dick Pope
• Casting: Sheila Steele
• Stunt Coordinator: Jeff Schwan
• First Assistant Director: George Sledge
• Second Assistant Director: Kayse Goodell
• Production Supervisor: Karen Wacker
• Post Production Supervisor: Nancy Kirhoffer
• Graphic Designer: Ellen Lampl
• Art Department Coordinator: Chia Berry
• Leadman: Aaron Statler
• Music Supervisor: Lisa Brown
• Sound Mixer: John Pritchett
• Boom Operator: David M. Roberts
• Video Assist Operator: Roger Basquette
• First Assistant “A” Camera: Steve Speers
• Second Assistant “A” Camera: Kelly Bogdan
• Chief Lighting Technician: Mark Manthey
• Script Supervisor: Brooke Satrazemis
• Key Grip: Marc Andrus
• Property Master: Jonathan Shaffer
• Makeup Department Head: Pamela S. Westmore
• Key Makeup Artist: Kara Sutherlin
• Hair Department Head: Roxie Hodenfield
• Key Hair Stylist: Charmaine Richards
• Costume Supervisor: Robin McMullan
• Extras Casting: Tina Kerr
• Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Tom Hammond
• Sound Designer: Justin Hennard
• Dialogue Editor: Wayne Bell
• Foley Editor: Susan Fitz-Simon
• Sound Editor: Glenn Eanes
• Music Editor: Buzz Moran
• Stunt Double: Cheryl Wheeler Duncan
• Title Designer: Jason Marlow
• Special Effects Coordinator: Everett Byrom III
• Visual Effects Supervisor: Dale Carman
• Visual Effects Supervisor: Dan Dixon
• VFX Artist: Laychin Lee
• Visual Effects Producer: Leah Garner Orsini
• VFX Artist: Mike Roy
• Set Dresser: Chris Clayton
• Set Dresser: George Dishner
• Set Dresser: Evan Hodge
• Set Dresser: Matt Miller
• Set Dresser: Justin Stegall
• Digital Imaging Technician: Austin Cross
• Second Unit Director of Photography: Shane Kelly
• Camera Operator: Harry Rabin

Movie Reviews:

• DoryDarko: Bernie is a really fun and enjoyable dark comedy, starring Jack Black and Shirley MacLaine. This is actually the true story of what happened between a purely good man and a purely evil woman.
• Jack Black plays Bernie Tiede, an assistant undertaker in the small town of Carthage, Texas. He is loved by everybody for his pure-hearted character, his sympathy for every person he comes across and his willingness to help everyone who needs it in any way, shape or form. He’s just such a good guy, you almost wouldn’t believe it if not for the fact that this character is based on an actual person.
• And then there’s Marjorie Nugent, played by Shirley MacLaine. She is his polar opposite, as hated as Bernie is loved. She is the widow of some rich oil baron, and she is just the most mean and spiteful woman you could ever fear to meet. Everyone in town absolutely hates her guts, and there’s no one who would be sorry to see her go…
• Then comes the day when these two people meet and – all due to Bernie’s good nature – form an unlikely friendship. Until about two years later when Marjorie’s true personality rears its ugly head and even Bernie can’t stand her abuse any longer, when he is reduced to her personal slave and whipping boy. And what no one believed possible, happens… He kills her. (don’t worry, that’s not a spoiler, that’s the story line.) What follows is the strange lengths Bernie attempts to go to, in order to cover up his crime.
• What makes this film work so well is mostly the subtle humour of it. Director Richard Linklater thankfully didn’t choose to make this into the hysterical, caricature of a comedy it easily could have been. Something that really adds to the authenticity of the film is the use of actual Carthage townsfolk, providing commentary on the events in documentary-like interview scenes. This really is a perfect move on the director’s part, because it makes the ‘acting’ completely real and spontaneous.
• I really like Jack Black, but in this case, I’m somewhat glad he left his crazy mannerisms and facial expressions at the door, in order to just play this character true-to-form. He actually acts, rather than just playing another silly, typical “Jack Black character”.
• I always love watching Shirley MacLaine in a mean and vile role such as this one, and in ‘Bernie’, she plays it to a T once again. Imagine her character in ‘Steel Magnolia’s’ and then multiply it by ten. That’s what you get here and it’s an absolute joy to watch.
• Matthew McConaughey plays the county sheriff, dead-set on burning Bernie for his crime. I’m usually not too fond of him, but his role in ‘Bernie’ is pretty funny and he plays it well. He seems to be the only person in town who thinks it’s bad what happened to Marjorie. That’s another really funny aspect to this story – the fact that everybody involved just loves Bernie so much and really hates Marjorie to the bone, that they all seem to take his side in the matter. You might feel like I’m just throwing spoilers at you here, but pretty much the whole story is told in hindsight and flashbacks, so there are no real secretes or mysteries unveiled. Then what’s the point of watching, you might ask, if I already know everything that’s going to happen from the get-go? The point is the enjoyment you’ll get from watching these events unfold.
• The actors are all really well cast, and they play their roles with a certain flair that makes them instantly likable. The dialogue is clever and witty, and like I mentioned earlier, the combination of event re-enactment and documentary-like interviews, is a winning ticket and ‘Bernie’s’ major selling point. The story is well constructed, as is the chronology of how it unfolds. Basically, it’s just very well-made, and it definitely would have deserved a little more credit. But then again, this film also kind of has a “small budget/small audience” feel to it, so that might explain why it practically went unnoticed at the box office. It’s just a shame that charming little comedies like ‘Bernie’ always get overlooked when stuff like ‘The Hangover’ and the like get multi-million dollar appraisal. All I can hope for is that ‘Bernie’ gathers its own DVD-fan base, because it’s certainly worth it.
• Watch this film if you’re in the mood a darkly hilarious comedy that has its heart in the right place. Oh, and stick around for the credits, where you can see pictures of the actual Bernie and Marjorie, and footage of Bernie and Jack Black talking, which is a fun addition.
• All in all, a highly recommended film!
  _(October 2012)_