My Movie Journal is Better Than Yours

Notes History

Date Viewed	Venue	Note
03.09.13	Netflix	This interesting little film is almost a documentary. It's structured kind of like one with real townspeople who knew the real Bernie giving interviews throughout the film. Jack Black plays Bernie in extended bits of reproduction. Really the only reason why I don't call it a doc is that there's way more reproduction footage than interview footage and several key players like the DA and Sheriff are played by actors. Although I think McConaughey's pretty great in this movie, his interview footage plays more humorous like a mockumentary. Still, the line's very gray here, especially considering the performances that Linklater gets out of a few of the locals. The guy explaining the five states of Texas was great as was the funeral director. One could question why include all the interview footage but it's pretty clear to me that you have to work really really hard to get that authentic east texas coloquialism that these real townsfolk exude. They're too good not to include, really. So although it makes the movie kind of weird and minor, it also gives it an real charm for me. I liked it a lot. Jack Black was also great by the way.