I viewed this film everal years ago on my son's BIG screen in his movie room. A terrific film
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Powerful history with a great script
Added 10/5/2009
I learned alot about the tragedy and the writing about it but nothing about the brillant but strange, occasionally hedonistic writer, and his friends.
His roommate is also a successful writer, but what is the dynamic? Is he jealous of his close friend? Is he inspired? His childhood friend writes a brilliant book which becomes a movie and Capote is *not* moved. She acts as Parent to his precocious child.
This film could have explored how an "effeminate" man managed to deal with Midwestern attitudes in the early 1960s and get exactly what he wanted from them.
Hoffmans' performance as Truman Capote is Oscar-worthy, though perhaps too studied and imitative. On the other hand, at times, he just as compelling, pensively stretched out on a couch.
[3.5 * = 4 *].
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'Capote' not 'Infamous'
Added 7/25/2009
There were two films about Truman Capote that were released in fairly quick succession. The first was this one - 'Capote', in 2005, followed by 'Infamous' a few months later in 2006. Both attempted to cover Truman's preparations for the writing of his hugely successful 'factual' novel 'In Cold Blood'.
Both tread the same path more or less, and even share the occasional line of dialogue. Comparisons between the two neatly highlight their strengths and weaknesses and this review may help to indicate which type of Capote 'reader' you are. What do you want from a film about T.C.?
It's easier to start with 'Infamous', curiously subtitled 'The Life Of Truman Capote' (which it certainly isn't). 'Infamous' is the one with the 'all star cast'. There's no doubt that Toby Jones makes an uncanny job of portraying T.C. but he's just a bit too overblown. Capote was certainly flamboyant but even he would not have worn some of the more outrageous costumes that are seen in that film. Toby's Truman is a slightly Disney version of the man. At one point he appears wearing an outfit that makes him look like a dwarf cowboy. This isn't right. Most of his contemporaries described him as extrovert but stylish. Not ridiculous.
The all-star cast in 'Infamous' is actually something of a distraction. Gwyneth Paltrow appears very briefly (and surely miming) as a torch singer. Why is she even there? As a lead actor you expect something else and then she's gone. Sigourney Weaver looks singularly as out of place and Sandra Bullock as Harper Lee? Well that's just plain wrong. She just can't pull it off. There's also a pre-Bond Daniel Craig playing murderer Perry Smith. With a somewhat laboured gruff voice and strangely plucked eyebrows he just ain't right. Perhaps a mistaken casting decision based on his ability to play unhinged characters. Who knows? As the film progresses these little bits of duff casting jolt the viewer back to realising they're just watching a film. Disastrous.
'Infamous' is also described as being based on George Plimpton's book 'Truman Capote' which is a bit silly for two reasons. Plimpton's book covers all of Capote's life (which the film does not) and despite this claim the film shows little of the insight we gain from Plimpton's book. Yes, the film does trot out some of Truman's more famous bon mots but if you are a fan these will just make you groan a bit. It's a bit 'T.C. by numbers'.
The film 'Capote' however, has just the one big name and he won an Oscar for his performance. Philip Seymour Hoffman's portrayal is both restrained and considered. He clearly read an awful lot about Truman and the depth he lends to this performance is both chilling and moving. He understands Capote's razor sharp social skills and the methods he used to get what he wanted. This is a T.C. you can believe in.
Wardrobe also went to some pains to discover exactly what Capote wore and this is indicative of the commitment displayed by all who worked on this remarkable project.
Catherine Keener makes a truly fine Harper Lee and her relationship with Seymour's Capote is spot on. You really know that they've always been close. Theirs is a true friendship, warts and all and unlike Sandra Bullock, Keener doesn't wear a silly wig.
There's also a superb choice for the role of Perry Smith. Clifton Collins Jr turns in a brilliant performance and as this film centres on the relationship between Truman and Smith, his part in the film is absolutely crucial. The moments between this unlikely pair are handled skilfully and never sink to the totally unbelievable scenes between Toby Jones and Daniel Craig.
The look of 'Capote' is similarly classy. Its cinematography far outshines that of `Infamous' (and presumably on a far smaller budget). We believe this is Holcombe; this is Kansas in the late 1950's.
While 'Capote' reaches its 'impact moments' through sheer strength of acting and a fine script, 'Infamous' instead relies on Perry snogging Truman and similarly clumsy events. While Toby Jones' performance is without a doubt a sterling effort, he can't hold 'Infamous' on his own. With Philip Seymour Hoffman's superb efforts and the truly empathic understanding of director Bennett Miller, 'Capote' is the film which will stand the test of time.
'Capote' is a really great film and whilst the award of an Oscar doesn't necessarily denote a fine performance, in this case it truly does. Whilst not perfect this film just may, as it did in my case, have you reaching for 'In Cold Blood' again. It does what it's supposed to do. It's compelling, revealing, shocking and utterly memorable. What more could anyone ask?
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Larger than life
Added 7/12/2009
Anyone thinking that this was a film about the life of Truman Capote would probably be disappointed - it's actually about the events in Capote's life surrounding his most famous book, "In Cold Blood." Starting in 1959 when Capote reads about the Clutter murders in the newspaper, he eventually gets close to the Kansas community that the murder takes place in - despite his conspicuous and gawky other-worldliness - and spends seven years writing the book, in the meantime getting to know the murderers, and maybe even falling into a love/hate relationship with one of them. For anyone who's ever read the book it should be obvious which of the two murderers he tried harder to understand, and this is the central relationship in a book about a man who has difficulty being truly sincere. Perhaps one of the most interesting parts of the movie are about Capote's manipulativeness and how people still sort of love him for it. The relationship with childhood friend Harper Lee is also interesting; Lee famously only wrote one book, and after In Cold Blood Capote stopped publishing as well.
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3 stars out of 4
Added 12/21/2008
The Bottom Line:
Capote avoids the typical structure of a biopic and is all the better for it, eschewing formula to tell the story of one central episode in the main character's life; the film will be more interesting and accessible to those who have read/seen In Cold Blood, but it's nonetheless a worthy film.
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