Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2013

The title mortician was a pillar of the east Texas community of Carthage. Bernie befriended the 81-year-old and astoundingly mean widow Nugent (Shirley MacLaine, in full battle mode), and gained her trust and access to her millions. But as he opened her world, she closed and controlled his. When he confessed to having killed her, none of the townsfolk (actual townsfolk, in mock-doc interviews) would believe it. They still don’t. This offbeat true-crime dark comedy from Richard Linklater stars Jack Black in a groundbreaking, original role, his best since School of Rock. Tricky material, but nicely finessed.