Bernie sits squarely in the middle of Linklater’s indie-mainstream spectrum – an experiment in marrying drama and documentary, which inevitably satisfies neither.

| May 8, 2024

[Linklater] tenderly embellishes the entire situation by subtly expressing the dichotomy between the law and real life. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 8/10 | Jan 2, 2024

While some may bridle at a serious event being treated in a glib fashion for comic effect, Linklater never openly ridicules the situation or his subjects – and serial-mugger Black is remarkably restrained.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Apr 21, 2023

Linklater’s film is one of the best comedies and most interesting films of the year.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Sep 27, 2022

Black is really good, McConaughey is great, and the entire assortment of interviewed locals are guaranteed to make you laugh.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 19, 2022

One day we will all come to the realization that Jack Black is one of the great actors of our time. Bernie could be his masterwork.

| Original Score: A | Jun 9, 2022

A film that could have gone wrong so easily, had it not mastered the tone of a tricky story and even trickier protagonist- but master it he did (10th anniversary)

| Original Score: 4/5 | May 2, 2022

Bernie is not an instant classic, but I still think most people will enjoy it.

| Mar 24, 2021

It is pleasing to see Richard Linklater returning to intriguing subject matter rooted in "in the actual business of human life," as a novelist once put it. We hope he continues and deepens his efforts.

| Feb 12, 2021

A true crime story that falls into the stranger than fiction category.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 31, 2021

A production of medium affectations and general neutrality.

| Original Score: 4/10 | Dec 1, 2020

It examines people and social perceptions, and how those perceptions alter the interpretations of the law to fit their own framework.

| Original Score: B | Aug 3, 2020

With 'Bernie', Richard Linklater is once again in charge of keeping our minds busy with the situation presented to the main character. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 7/10 | Jun 25, 2020

Bernie was charming, packed with genuine laughs, and structured in an interesting documentary style. I really enjoyed myself while watching it and also found myself thinking about the ethical dilemmas that the film brings up.

| Mar 31, 2020

Bernie is a highly entertaining little romp, if mostly due to an exceptional performance from Jack Black.

| Jul 24, 2019

There's something heartbreaking about this tale and its bizarre central protagonist, expertly portrayed by Black; it's just a shame that it's caught between so many layers of awkward quirkiness.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 25, 2019

Bernie lacks the edge of malice one might reasonably expect from so nasty a tale.

| Feb 22, 2019

Black isn't the only one who surprises us in Bernie. Director Richard Linklater... has delivered a purely entertaining film.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jan 3, 2019

This film certainly has something that most movies coming out of Hollywood lack: originality. Apparently, truth is stranger than fiction.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Nov 9, 2018

Clearly, director Richard Linklater has a non-visual sense of humour. He finds amusement in words and people's personalities rather than sight gags or slapstick.

| Sep 8, 2018