Linklater treads a very fine line between black comedy and true-life tragedy with real control and balance in this bizarre, slight but intriguing and very watchable tale. Based on real events, and using talking heads of the actual townspeople throughout, Bernie (with some very good character work by Jack Black) becomes a hugely popular figure in the town of Carthage, befriending Shirely MacLaine's mean widower, living the high life and ultimately shooting her and hiding the body as her demands get too much. Black conveys Bernie's unceasing and seemingly genuine goodwill, MacLaine brings some shading to a two-tone role, and Matthew McConaughey delivers another winning turn as the D.A. out to bring down Bernie. It is rarely laugh-out-loud, but the tale is quirky and a lot of joy is to be had from the anecdotes and reactions of the real people involved.
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