Category Archives: Murder Investigation

2011, Based on true facts, Comedy, Gay theme, Murder Investigation, Satire, Small Town

Bernie (2011)

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From NetFlix:

In this black comedy inspired by real-life events, affable Texas mortician Bernie befriends the small town’s wealthiest widow and then kills her. But despite the suspicious nature of her death, no one wants to think anything but the best of Bernie.

After seeing A Separation (2011), I was grateful I don’t live in Iran. After seeing “Bernie” I am grateful I don’t live in a small town.

At the conclusion of this film you can see the real Bernie and his unfortunately murdered wife.

For the first half of the film I was amused by the small town culture, the east Texas accents, and Jack Black’s excellent portrayal of smarmy Bernie. Moreover, any film that satirizes the predatory practices of funeral directors is a film near and dear to my heart. Also I was surprised by the many politically incorrect turns of speech, tsk, tsk!

About the middle of the film I got tired of watching. What struck me was how anti-climactic the ending was. True to life, Bernie tearfully confesses and is convicted. This is no spoiler because the outcome is what did in fact happen to the real Bernie. Rather the point of the film is how the townsfolk like Bernie and don’t really care that he shot “that bitch”. And indeed Shirley MacLaine is her usual bitchy self.

Somewhat amusing but you can do better.

2011, Clever Plot, Crime, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Dysfunctional Lives, FBI, Grim, Murder Investigation, Mystery Film, Politicians, TV Series, Violent, Wonderful acting

The Killing (2011)

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From Net Flix:

The disappearance of a young Seattle girl sets in motion this moody crime series centering on a detective — Sarah Linden — who’s trying to start a new life in California but is unable to walk away from the mysteries posed by the complex case.

Three years after I first wrote this review (2014), Kathy and I have just finished streaming all 26 episodes of season one plus season two (no, not in one sitting). You must see both seasons to see the entire Rosie Larsen story. Amazon Prime offers four seasons for free. You can also use your Roku to search for all streaming sources for any given film, series, or whatever. There is more than one streaming source for “The Killing”.

This TV series from 2011 is well-written, well-acted, and immensely engaging. How, you might ask, can you spend two TV years investigating just one murder? As soon as you start the series you will understand how the plot intertwines many connected and well-constructed threads.

Rosie Larsen is found drowned in a sunken car. Finding her killer involves her family, her teachers, her friends, two starring detectives, and, possibly most interesting of all, an politician running for the office of Seattle’s mayor against a corrupt incumbent. Searching for that murder brings sorrow, family dysfunction, violence, false leads, FBI involvement, unjustified persecution, and the list goes on.

At times the series seemed to drag. An awful lot of time was spent watching the Larsen family suffer the effects of the murder. Just as much time was spent watching the detective Sarah get so involved with the case that she as a single mother does NOT do a good job raising her son. Thank goodness she has the support of her partner detective Holder.

Many surprises are in store, especially in the last episode. It is perhaps realistic and to the writer’s credit that some of the bad guys get away with their skullduggery.

Watching this series from week to week would have been sheer torture. Thank goodness the NetFlix discs let us watch episode after episode without foolish interruptions such as food, sleep, etc.

DO NOT MISS!