Missed Masterpiece #4: Bernie

Missed Masterpiece #4 – Bernie

Starring: Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey, Shirley Maclaine

Director: Richard Linklater

Running Time: 104 mins

It is entirely possible that very few of the people reading this have even heard of Bernie, which is a real shame as it was certainly one of the more pleasant surprises of 2012, and arguably trumped every other comedy that year. It almost went unnoticed when it was released which is unusual for a film consisting of Jack Black, Oscar winner Shirley Maclaine and Matthew McConaughey, at the start of the ‘McConaissance’ era which would shoot him into Oscar winning stardom.

Bernie tells the true story of Bernie Tiede, a mild mannered mortician, beloved by the community of Carthage, Texas who forms a friendship with, recently widowed, Marjorie Nugent. Nugent frequently acts abusively towards Bernie, which results in him murdering her.

Considering the subject matter the film could have backfired dramatically but the act of murder from the central character takes a backseat and we’re treated to a study on death and murder but also how a society acts within a small town, closed community where everyone seems to know everyone.

This is made even more effective as the entire film is shot as part mockumentary style with floating heads of the various townsfolk during the aftermath of Bernie’s trial, which adds to the sense of community spirit. The rest of the film focuses on the relationship between Bernie and Marjorie followed by the investigation McConaughey’s Buck Davidson.

But this doesn’t in any way detract from the comedy, but you’ll struggle to find a film that grabs its humour from anywhere darker. A particular highlight is the titular character in a conversation with Nugent about arranging her funeral and how it will be the ‘event of the season in Carthage.’ The comedy remains jet black throughout the entire film with the entire community struggling to accept Bernie’s crimes often rallying to his defence.

Black’s performance is darkly comic who remains a strange smiling mortician, which is a welcome reprieve from Jack Black, being Jack Black. It’s about as far away from a ‘generic’ Jack Black performance, showing more of a High Fidelity –esque performance than Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny. He went on to pick up a Golden Globe nomination in this his career best performance, which in an enormous contrast to his last collaboration with director Richard Linklater School of Rock.

It’s understandable that the film didn’t get an enormous release, with a tiny budget of just $6 million (taking in $9 million), but I urge you to take the time out to watch it. Do not be put off by the presence of Black, he is *deep breath* the best thing about the film. More of the same in the future JB, please.

Top 10: Film Comebacks

Top 10 Film Comebacks

As a follow up to our previous Top 10 Film Insults, this week we count down the top 10 film comebacks. Expect burns a-plenty!

10: Pitch Perfect

Whilst attending a party, Bumper attempts some unsuccessful flirting with rival a Capella group member, and self-titled, Fat Amy.

The Opener: ‘I have a feeling we should kiss. Is that a good feeling or an incorrect feeling?’

The Comeback: ‘Well…sometimes I get the feeling I can do crystal meth, but then I think, mmm…better not.’

9: Happy Gilmore

Golfing rivals Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) and Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald) engage in serious(ish) trash talk after the latter purchases Gilmore’s grandmothers’ house from right under his nose.

The Opener: ‘I eat pieces of shit like you for breakfast’

The Comeback: ‘You eat pieces of shit for breakfast?’

8: Superbad

Foul-mouthed Seth (Jonah Hill) picks up best friend Evan (Michael Cera) for school, but not before staring lustfully at his mother.

The Opener: ‘I am truly jealous you got to suck on those tits when you were a baby’

The Comeback: ‘Yeah, well at least you got to suck on your dad’s dick’

7: The Big Lebowski

A rival bowling team, led by Jesus Quintana (John Turturro) approaches The Dude and his teammates and begins to intimidate the trio. In steps The Dude with possibly the most intellectual comeback of all time.

The Opener: ‘You ready to be fucked, man? I see you rolled your way into the semis. Dios mio, man. Liam and me, we’re gonna fuck you up.’

The Comeback: ‘Yeah, well, you know, that’s just, like, your opinion, man.

6: The Dark Knight

The Joker (Heath Ledger) interrupts a meeting with a mob, in whom he has previously ripped off, with his plans to eliminate Batman. Naturally there’s a little tension in the room until Gambol erupts with anger leading to a simple but brutally effective comeback from our favourite psychotic clown.

The Opener: ‘You think you can take all of our money and just walk away?!’

The Comeback: ‘Yeah.’

 

5: Airplane

With a jumbo jet full of sickened passengers and crew, Dr. Rumack (Leslie Nielsen) asks former fighter pilot Ted Striker (Robert Hays) to take control of the plane and land it safely.

The Opener: ‘Surely you can’t be serious?’

The Comeback: ‘I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley.’

4: Mean Girls

Janis is no stranger to bullies therefore has a fair amount of ammunition in her locker when they insult her.

The Opener: ‘Nice wig, Janis. What’s it made of?’

The Comeback: ‘Your mom’s chest hair!’

3: Easy A

After being labelled a ‘skank’ at her school, Olive Penderghast (Emma Stone) decides to live up to her reputation by wearing a selection of revealing outfits to school, which does not go down well with the school Christian community.

The Opener: ‘Perhaps you should embroider a red A on your wardrobe, you abominable tramp.’

The Comeback: ‘Perhaps you should get a wardrobe you abominable twat.’

2: Avengers Assemble

After being thrown together by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), the motley group of superheroes find it difficult to get along, particularly Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Rober Downey Jnr).

The Opener: ‘Big man in a suit of armour. Take that away and what are you?’

The Comeback: ‘Genius, Billionaire, Playboy, Philanthropist.’

1: The Social Network

Socially awkward genius Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) is sat in his lawsuit trial, facing allegations of intellectual property theft from the Winklevoss (Armie Hammer) twins claiming he stole their idea for Facebook. It’s safe to assume that the trial does not have the full attention of Mr Zuckerberg.

The Opener: Okay, no. You don’t think I deserve your full attention.

The Insult:’ I think if your clients want to sit on my shoulders and call themselves tall, they have the right to give it a try - but there's no requirement that I enjoy sitting here listening to people lie. You have part of my attention - you have the minimum amount. The rest of my attention is back at the offices of Facebook, where my colleagues and I are doing things that no one in this room, including and especially your clients, are intellectually or creatively capable of doing. Did I adequately answer your condescending question?

Did we miss any of your favourites? Have your say below.

Review: The Imitation Game

The Imitation Game

Director: Morten Tydlum

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Mark Strong, Charles Dance.

Running Time: 114 mins.

You’d be forgiven for having the assumption that The Imitation Game would be a straight up espionage thriller in light of the subject matter. This assumption, however, would be both right and wrong. The Imitation Game focuses on, until recently, unsung war hero and mathematical genius Alan Turing (Cumberbatch, who is making the role of a socially awkward genius entirely his own!), whose work on tackling the German Enigma code swung the pendulum in the favour of the allies during the Second World War. This is not a subject that has remained untouched in cinema with Michael Apted’s Enigma being released in 2001, however it was largely criticised for its highly fictitious approach to what is a fascinating subject.

It would be easy for The Imitation Game to follow a tried and tested, linear approach as seen in many a spy film over the years, and chances are it may have been a moderately successful, if not a very refreshing film.

It also could have easily slipped into a post-Downton, tea drinking, posh talking, and polite piece of filmmaking, furiously cramming the Union Jack down the audience’s throats; however with Norwegian Tydlum at the helm; he brings a realistic approach to wartime Britain and catches the period perfectly, and is not a million miles away from his last film, Headhunters. Coincidentally, it’s not the first time that a Scandinavian film director has taken charge on a spy thriller with an inherently British sensibility with Tomas Alfredson’s excellent Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), ironically also starring Cumberbatch as a closeted homosexual. TTSP however was about as far away from a British stereotype as you can get, with a dark, gritty, uncomfortable edge surrounding the entire film.

Here’s where The Imitation Game, sets itself apart from your average espionage flick. Whilst it manages this expertly with its tale of cracking the mysterious enigma code, it also focuses on the internal struggles facing Turing, battling with his own identity within a society that would otherwise have cast him as a criminal. Edited in a non-linear fashion it focuses on three periods of Turing life; his education at a boarding school, his employment and work on the Turing machine during the Second World War and finally (or firstly in this case), his life after the war had ended.

It also goes beyond that by asking the bigger questions, others may have overlooked. In one of the more emotional scenes Turing and his group must decide which deciphered Nazi attacks they are to intercept, resulting in the potential cost of thousands of lives. It is an emotionally poignant moment focusing on the fragility and responsibility of greater power and the greater good, an aspect that would be very easy to overlook.

The performances are also a blessing. It’s common knowledge now that this is Cumberbatch’s film, and he is the stand out performance, however it’s the supporting cast that provides the biggest surprises. Solid support is provided by the always trustworthy Matthew Goode and Mark Strong, and Charles Dance brings his grizzly authority from Game of Thrones into the preceding. However the most pleasing surprise goes to Kiera Knightley who manages to go beyond the irritating, prim and posh young lady of Pirates of the Caribbean we’re all used to and brings humanity and heart into the story.

This all comes together to form one an edgy, yet simultaneously, emotional thriller, one of the best of the year so far. Granted it may not be one of the most historically accurate films ever, and certain aspects of Turing’s life are skimmed over, but this is a minor blot on what is an impressive step up from Tydlum and a career highlight from Cumberbatch (so far).