I Could Use Some New Shirts

...by all accounts, I live a relatively low-key existence. I don't go out much these days. My outings consist mainly of wandering the bookstores for music, graphic novels, regular novels and weird items. That or just wandering. I barely ever drink. Actually, I haven't touched anything in almost 18 months. I don't have the desire. Since I've been experiencing GERD-like issues for the past month or so, having a cup of coffee without incident is a triumph akin to placing in a marathon. This might explain my taste in entertainment.

Last night, I was feeling a movie marathon coming on. I scroll through my Netflix queue in its entirety probably 2-3 times a week. I have movies in there that I bookmarked 6 years ago that I've still not watched. Exciting as it might sound, I just can't bring myself to get pumped for a 2 1/2 hour documentary about Ralph Nader. I've bookmarked countless standup specials from comics that I know I won't like just so I can complain about them later. After another period that dragged of looking for something, I settled on Anger Management.

I don't know why I continue with Adam Sandler. I will fully cop to liking Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore and The Wedding Singer. Even Big Daddy had its moments. Outside of the first three, I wouldn't call even his watchable films "good". It's been said a billion times but by and large, Adam Sandler is basically a one-note tune. Lots of screaming and such but not a ton of clever jokes. All of that said, even by those standards, Anger Management is a humorless dud.

The thing is....I knew it would be going in. I hadn't heard a plethora of comments on it being a classic from anyone. I know where my own humor lies and it's at the opposite end of the spectrum. I think I was just looking for something...anything that I could simply shut down during. With my powering down complete, I still found myself bored and suddenly craving something odd. Enter Bernie.

I am no fan of Jack Black. In my mind, he's in the same school of comedy that Adam Sandler tends to reside in. It was the synopsis of a church going man who is both the pillar of the community and a murderer that intrigued. Even with the stereotypical Adam Sandler persona out in the world, there also exists generally good performance in films like Punch Drunk Love and Reign On Me. Maybe Bernie would be that dichotomy for Jack Black.

Luckily, it did turn out to be a nice role reversal for Jack Black. Though I wouldn't say it was the kind of performance where he disappeared and became his character, he blended well into the story and it's settings. Interestingly, it was Matthew McConaughey as the District Attorney that stole his scenes once again. Does this mean that I have to watch The Lincoln Lawyer again? Maybe I will just wait for him to star in The Buick Banker.

Turns out that Bernie is based on actual events which is weird because even with it's darkened core, there are some uncomfortably funny moments. The story works well because everything about it feels authentic. Generally, horror movies with excessive low-budget gore can be funny because they can disarm you with their ridiculous nature. Bernie was hardly violent or gory, but there was a rumbling sense of "Should I be laughing at this?".

I like stories of complicated, strange humans. I like stories that feel messy and frayed around the seams and edges. I like conclusions where things don't necessarily work out. So, as it turns out, I like Bernie. Weird guy. Right in my wheelhouse.

Read: The Sandman

Listen: Intronaut Habitual Levitations

Watch: Morgan Murphy Irish Goodbye