What do you get when you mix Texan manners, a mortician, a murder, Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey and Shirley MacLaine into a comedic crime thriller? You get Richard Linklater's "Bernie," another fascinating stylistic detour from the filmmaker, marking his first feature film since 2008's "Orson Welles And Me."
Penned by Linklater and Skip Hollandsworth, "Bernie" is actually based on a true story and centers on the titular character (Black), a beloved mortician in a small Texas town who befriends a mean old widow (MacLaine) and commits a horrific crime. McConaughey plays the D.A. looking into the case. The film has been making the festival rounds for the past little while, most recently popping up at SXSW, and has been warmly received, though don't expect it to be a mainstream crossover hit for the director like "The School Of Rock." That said, it moves to it's own odd and unique rhythm, and combined with a quasi-documentary approach, it should be a fascinating one to watch.
The film will hit theaters on April 27th, but before that date arrives, get a feel for the film with new images below. Nice frames, Wooderson.