Jack Black movie filmed in Carthage, Texas...
Posted by Mike Slater
on August 22, 2019, 8:48 pm
I was looking for something to watch on Netflix last night,and came across a movie from 2011 named "Bernie" starring Jack Black, Shirley Maclaine and Matthew McConaughy. I read the synopsis of the film to see what it was basically about and was surprised to read that the story takes place in Carthage and Panola County,Texas where Jim was from and where his gravesite is. After learning this, I had to watch it. It's based on a true story about a man named Bernie, the town's assistant funeral director who is very beloved by the residents of Carthage. He teaches Sunday school, sings in the Church choir and lends a hand to any of the town folk who are in need of something. Shirley Maclaine plays one of the town's residents who is hated by everyone. Along the way, Bernie befriends this woman and they become very close. After watching the first half hour or so of this film, I had no idea where the story was going, but it started getting really good. The story started to go in a direction I was not expecting. I won't say anymore in case anyone out there is interested in seeing it. Throughout the film, of course, I looked for any mention of Jim or maybe a scene where you can see Jim's gravesite, but there was nothing. However, there is a scene near the beginning where Jack Black is driving down a road, and he passes a building called "The Country Music Hall Of Fame and Tex Ritter Museum". I had never heard of this before. Carthage has a museum dedicated to Tex Ritter and nothing for Jim?! I know that Tex was from Carthage as well, but why would he be mentioned in the name of this museum and not Jim? Apparently,Jim was even overlooked by his own hometown! Anyway, the movie was very good, and was certainly worth seeing. It was done as kind of a black comedy or satire. Throughout the movie, some of the town folk are interviewed about their thoughts on Bernie and how much he means to them. I noticed in the end credits that these people are actual residents of Carthage who were given parts in the film. I also noticed in the credits that one of these residents is named Ann Reeves. Is this just a coincidence, or could she be a relative of Jim's? I also noticed in the credits for the film crew that there is a man with the last name Reeves. You also get to see the real life Bernie in the end credits and the real life woman that Shirley Maclain portrayed...
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