Bernie (2011)
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A charismatic local mortician becomes inseparable from a wealthy, abusive widow, leading to a tragic and bizarre crime that captivates a small town.
The story
In small-town Carthage, Texas, Bernie Tiede is a beloved local mortician known for his charisma and community involvement. After being hired by the Leggett Funeral Home, he begins doting on elderly widows, a behavior that leads some to suspect his motives. In 1990, he meets Marjorie Nugent, a wealthy and notoriously irritable woman who becomes his constant companion. As their relationship intensifies, Nugent becomes emotionally abusive and demands Tiede's total attention, eventually forcing him to quit his job to serve as her full-time assistant. The film explores their complex, codependent dynamic and the growing tension within the community.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Bernie Tiede, a charismatic mortician in Carthage, Texas, becomes the companion of Marjorie Nugent, a wealthy and abusive woman. Nugent eventually forces Tiede to quit his job to be her full-time assistant. On November 19, 1996, after Nugent refuses to attend a production he is directing, Tiede shoots her four times and hides her body in a freezer. He spends the next nine months making excuses for her absence while spending $600,000 of her money on local businesses. When her body is discovered during a police search, Tiede confesses, citing her controlling nature. Despite the town's mixed feelings, a trial is held in San Augustine. Tiede is found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life. The film concludes with Nugent buried next to her husband while Tiede continues his social life in prison.
- First release year
- 2011
- Runtime (minutes)
- 99
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Richard Linklater
- Writers
- Richard Linklater · screenplay; Skip Hollandsworth · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Jack Black · Bernhardt "Bernie" Tiede; Shirley MacLaine · Marjorie Nugent; Matthew McConaughey · Danny Buck Davidson
- Genres
- biographical; black comedy; thriller
- Themes
- Codependency; Small-town dynamics; Abuse; Community perception
- Tone and mood
- Mockumentary; Droll; Tragicomic
- Premise and plot tags
- True Crime; Mockumentary; Biographical; Comedy
- Source material / true-story basis
- Skip Hollandsworth's January 1998 article, "Midnight in the Garden of East Texas", published in Texas Monthly magazine
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim for its direction, accuracy, and Jack Black's performance, though it divided local citizens of Carthage who felt it was a dark comedy derived from a real murder.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 88% · review count: 166; Metacritic · score: 75 · scale: 100 · review count: 35
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Tomato · best reviewed comedy released in 2012 · 2012 · win; Best Feature · Gotham Awards · 2012 · nomination; Best Ensemble Performance · Gotham Awards · 2012 · nomination; Best Feature · Independent Spirit Awards · 2013 · nomination; Best Male Lead · Independent Spirit Awards · 2013 · nomination; Best Comedy · Broadcast Film Critics Association · nomination; Best Actor in a Comedy · Broadcast Film Critics Association · nomination; Best Actress in a Comedy · Broadcast Film Critics Association · nomination; Best Supporting Actor · New York Film Critics Circle · win; Best Supporting Actor · National Society of Film Critics · win; Golden Globe nomination · Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was based on an article in Texas Monthly magazine by Skip Hollandsworth, who co-wrote the screenplay with Linklater.; The film mixes documentary conventions with fictional elements, including talking-head interviews.; The film is dedicated in memory of Rick Dial, who portrayed funeral home director Don Leggett.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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