Summary

Author Truman Capote (Philip Seymour Hoffman) sees a story in the New York Times detailing the slaughter of a Kansas farmer and his entire family. Deciding that this would make an intriguing article for the New Yorker, he travels to Kansas with childhood friend Harper Lee (Catherine Keener) to begin researching it. He is drawn to one of the killers, Perry Smith and thus begins the six year odyssey that will result in Capote’s magnum opus, IN COLD BLOOD.

Steve says:

CAPOTE is one of those prized instances where all of its elements come together in perfect harmony to create a masterwork. What is truly remarkable is that director Bennett Miller has only one film to his credit, a little known documentary called THE CRUISE.

Better known as an actor (THE BIRDCAGE, TV’s JUDGING AMY) writer Dan Futterman is a novice with this, his first screenplay. Yet his adaptation of Gerald Clarke’s book is extremely skillful, turning the inner turmoil that Capote experiences in the latter half of the film into engaging drama.

The project was shepherded by its star, the mega-talented Philip Seymour Hoffman and he is truly the one to beat for best actor next year. His performance as the tortured author is one of sheer perfection, never missing a beat or sounding a false note. While his impression of Truman Capote is spot on, it is far more than imitation. Hoffman seems to channel the late writer back to life. There are some shots in the film when you will swear you’re looking at the genuine article. As he has built his nody of work, Hoffman has slowly and quietly moved up the ladder to become one of the most respected and gifted character actors working today. Truly, this is a performance not to be missed.

The always-reliable Catherine Keener notches another success on the heels of her comic performance in THE 40 YEAR-OLD VIRGIN. She portrays Capote’s life-long friend, Nelle Harper Lee, who goes on to her own literary success with the classic TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. Keener is a welcome presence in an any film and CAPOTE is no exception.

Clifton Collins, Jr. (formerly billed as Clifton Gonzalez-Gonzalez) scores big-time in the role of Perry Smith who, along with Richard Hickock, systematically murdered four innocent people because he believed a jailhouse story that they had $10,000 in the house. While Collins has built a solid resumé in supporting roles, his multi-layered portrayal of Smith should vault him into the ranks of leading roles.

The most interesting aspect of the film is how Capote’s writing of his greatest work ultimately destroyed his career. In a coda to the film, we are reminded that, even though Truman Capote lived for eighteen years after the publication of IN COLD BLOOD, he never finished another book. He became best known as a talk-show raconteur and even parodied himself in a movie, Neil Simon’s MURDER BY DEATH.  But this literary lion became shackled by his own demons, not the least of which was alcohol.

See CAPOTE and I can practically guarantee that you will want to run, not walk, to your nearest bookstore and buy IN COLD BLOOD, even if you’ve read it before. The film serves to remind us of what a towering achievement that book was, creating a new literary genre, the “non-fiction novel.” This movie, and the astonishing work of Philip Seymour Hoffman, also remind us that Truman Capote was so much more than that familiar, whiney-voiced effeminate guest on The Tonight Show. He was in one of the most important literary voices of the twentieth century.


CAPOTE rates a solid five kernels.

Patty says:

My memories of Truman Capote were of his appearances on the Tonight Show.  Carson seemed to enjoy Capote’s wit and self absorption.  Having been totally riveted by Capote’s IN COLD BLOOD, I found no congruence between the man and his work.  If CAPOTE is a factually driven, then Capote’s personality alone should defy any effort on his part to entice these hardened killers to give him grisly details of the murders.  He was arrogant, insincere and narcissistic; yet somehow,  Capote maintained a lifelong friendship with Nelle Harper Lee. Lee was a master student of human nature who created literary characters who virtually dripped in their humanity.   She must have had an amazing capacity for compassion to have put up with Capote’s boorish behavior. 

The fact that I’m writing about this in a film review is a testament to the remarkable portrayal of Capote by Philip Seymour Hoffman.  He literally nailed Capote’s speech, mannerisms and well defined lack of charm.  Most actors would be compelled to exaggerate Capote’s effeminate demeanor, but Hoffman’s constrained performance was perfectly consistent with my fading memory of the odd little man. 

Catherine Keener was compelling as Harper Lee. Her theatrical range is as broad as her instinct to pick roles that establish her as a versatile actor.  As Capote’s friend and colleague, Lee grounded him, much as the steady performance of Keener grounded Hoffman’s Capote.

Don’t expect riveting suspense, tasteless gore, tumultuous sex or a racing story arc.  CAPOTE is simply the story of a tortured writer who held the attention of an entire country and made us afraid of the dark.  It ain’t fast, it ain’t pretty, but oh baby, it’s well done.