Jack Black 's going to have a tough time convincing mainstream cinema audiences that his latest comedy movie is really something to be laughed at. Comedies based on the theme of murder aren't exactly anything new but when it's based on a real life story, of course, it's a whole different ball game.
'Bernie' is based on the true story of Bernhardt Tiede, a funeral director who was accused of killing Marjorie Nugent, an elderly widow, played by Shirley Maclaine in the movie. Her body was hidden in a freezer for nine months before she was discovered. To prepare for the role, Black even visited Tiede in prison and, in an interview for the Today show, he said "It was scary. I've never been to prison before, and there's a lot of rough customers, as you would expect . a lot of face tattoos, a lot of violence behind the eyes. But the craziest part was just seeing Bernie there, because he's just such a soft, gentle guy. He doesn't really fit there and it was quite surreal."
Talking about the film itself, Jack acknowledges that it's going to be hard for some movie-goers to stomach. "It's heavy, but you know, we were pushing the envelope," he said. "We're going some places no one's gone before." In the segment for the Today show, viewers got to see a clip of the movie, which sees MAClaine's character slowly starting to test the funeral director's patience, insisting on diligently chewing every mouthful of food. even refried beans. "it's very dark, but some people would find it funny," Jack insists.