Bernie — 6/10

BERNIE (2012, Richard Linklater): 6/10

I don’t have much to say about Linklater’s new film. It’s amusing and well-done (mixing in real Texas locals with the actors for the doc-like interviews), and Jack Black is as good as he’s been in years. MacLaine is quite good, though it’s only McConaughey’s third-best performance of 2012. I didn’t get a lot out of the true crime story (I’m also not into those Investigation Discovery shows either) and the tone was steadily slight, but I would have preferred a bit more edge. Maybe the problem is that it was all a bit distant from the material, and Linklater is at his best when he’s earnest and passionate (DAZED & CONFUSED, BEFORE SUNRISE).