Stars hit red carpet at Bernie premiere

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin looked more like Tinseltown as heartthrob Matthew McConaughey and funny man Jack Black walked the red carpet for the Bernie premiere at the Paramount Theatre Wednesday afternoon.  Both star in the film.

The movie , partially shot in Bastrop,  is based on a 1998 Texas Monthly magazine article,"Midnight in the Garden of East Texas," that chronicles the 1996 murder of 81-year-old millionaire Marjorie Nugent in Carthage, Texas by her 39-year-old homosexual companion, Bernhardt "Bernie" Tiede . Nugent was shot in the back four times with a rifle by Tiede, who confessed to the 1996 murder.

Directed by Richard Linklater, also of Dazed and Confused fame,  the also movie stars Shirley McClain as Nugent.

McClain did not attend Wednesday's premiere, leaving McConaughey and Black to bask in the limelight.

Black, who arrived alone and first, spoke of using his triple threat acting skills in this comedy.

"I have moves, moves you have never seen before," joked Black.

Singing gospel music and dancing were part of this role.  Bettering his portrayal of the mortician, Black actually met with Tiede who is currently serving a life sentence.

As Black was peppered with questions, McConaughey rolled up along with his fiance Camilla Alves.  Alves, who did not want to walk the red carpet, was escorted by her leading man into the theatre.

McConaughey, however, dressed in true Texas wear was clad with cowboy boots, jeans and a button up, white shirt.  He did return to the red carpet for photos and interviews while fans screamed for autographs.

"It is one of those dark, twisted really funny tales of something that really happened and it happened here in Texas," explained McConaughey of his movie.

McConaughey was joined on the red carpet by his mother.   She scored a mini role in the movie and said she wound up on screen simply because she was 'asked to do it.'

And, Austin could be seeing more of McConaughey, his fit wife and their two adorable children.  The Texas native is rumored to be living in Austin full-time.

"I have a home here and then mine in Malibu, but I spend most of my time here," McConaughey told KXAN.

As for Black, he is jetting back out to L.A. where he was born and raised.  He does however 'love' Austin and would consider moving to the area.

If he did move, he would join other celebrities like Dennis Quaid, Sandra Bullock and Willie Nelson to name a few.