By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.75 cats
Director: Bennett Miller
Starring: Bruce Greenwood | Catherine Keener | Chris Cooper | Clifton Collins Jr. | Philip Seymour Hoffman
Country: united_states
Year: 2005
Running time: 98
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379725/combined
Michael says: “If I were casting the role of Truman Capote, author of that seminal work of non-fiction, In Cold Blood, Philip Seymour Hoffman is not the first name that would have popped into my head. Fortunately, three high school buddies, Bennett Miller, Dan Futterman, and Phil got together to direct, write, and star respectively in CAPOTE. The results are nothing short of astounding. Capote was a fixture on the New York party scene, and a writer of such novels and plays as Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Grass Harp. His affected manner and unique voice merely punctuated his colorful personality. In the mid-1960’s, Capote decided to write his next work about the brutal murder of a Kansas family. It was his first foray into non-fiction, and the resulting book is thought to have changed the way non-fiction was written.
“Miller and Futterman’s movie chronicles the period of Capote’s life surrounding the creation of In Cold Blood. During a trip to Kansas with his close friend Harper Lee (author of To Kill a Mockingbird) to research the book, Capote spends extensive time with the two young men who committed the crime. He develops a strong bond with one of them, Perry Smith. The writing of the book drags on over a year as Capote waits for a resolution to crime. The pair are found guilty, sentenced to death, are granted an appeal, and so on. Capote is initially supportive of their attempts to save themselves, and even hires them a lawyer, but as time drags on and an ending to his books seems elusive, he starts to wish for a quicker resolution.
“Philip Seymour Hoffman’s acting talents are well known, to Chlotrudis members, and film buffs everywhere, yet his work in CAPOTE is still surprising in its brilliance. Despite the odd, yet spot-on accurate vocal inflections and mannerisms, this is not mimicry; this is true acting, a consummate performance. Phil truly becomes another person, draws the viewer into a difficult character, one that is often off-putting and unsympathetic, and is thoroughly convincing as a well-known figure. Without a doubt there is a Chlotrudis Award nomination in the cards for this role, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there weren’t an Oscar nod in Phil’s future as well.
“Yet this is not a one man show. Catherine Keener is fascinating as Harper Lee. Her performance is gruff yet gentle as she acts as both Capote’s bodyguard and conscience, creating a portrait of the reclusive author that makes me long for a biopic on Lee. Bruce Greenwood, Bob Balaban, and Chris Cooper put in strong supporting performances. Much press might also be rained on Clifton Collins, Jr. as murderer Perry Smith, and his performance is strong as well, yet I would hate for it to take any notice away from Phil’s less showy (if you can believe it, playing Capote) and far more nuanced.
“High marks must be showered on actor Dan Futterman, whose screenplay, based on a biography by Gerald Clarke, is the driver for this film. Capote’s story is a complex one. It must have been tempting to make him less abrasive and self-involved, just so the audience would like him more. Futterman resists this temptation and creates a portrait of the man as he no doubt truly was. Futterman, Miller and Hoffman are not afraid to tell a challenging, multi-dimensional story, and Futterman’s screenplay serves as a strong, detailed roadmap. There’s a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination marked on my list for Futterman.
“Bennet Miller makes his narrative directorial debut with CAPOTE, following his work on the documentary THE CRUISE. He does a nice job, blending some atmospheric moods with a touch of the suspense of a murder and the flamboyance of Capote’s character. He keeps things low-key which serves the film well. He spins the relationship between Capote and Smith with a deft hand where others could have bludgeoned it. If there is anything from keeping CAPOTE from being a perfect film, it does lie in Miller’s hands. There were occasional moments where I felt the director’s lesser experience poke its head through; yet compared to what many other directors even more experienced than Miller might have done with this story, the results are pretty magnificent. 4 ½ cats.”
Bruce says: “Much like MONSTER did for Charlize Theron, CAPOTE offers a once-in-a-lifetime acting opportunity for Philip Seymour Hoffman. Unlike MONSTER, CAPOTE has more to offer beyond a showcase performance. Dan Futterman’s script, an adaptation of a biography by Richard Clarke, is marvelous. Truman Capote was a complex, interesting man. By focusing on a five year span during which Capote befriended killer Perry Smith while gathering fodder for In Cold Blood, the story of two men who senselessly killed a farmer, his wife and two children, Futterman examines Capote inside and out.
“Truman Capote read about the Kansas killings in the news and decided they would make good source material for a new book, something his publisher was anxiously awaiting. Enlisting his good friend Harper Lee as ‘partner in crime’ (prior to the publication of To Kill a Mockingbird), the two of them set off for the great plains in search of answers which no one else had uncovered. CAPOTE gives us a ringside seat as Truman lies, cheats, charms and manipulates his way into the sheriff’s home, the town morgue and Perry’s prison cell. Truman weaves such an intricate web during the fact finding process that he loses all sense of self and reality. Just as the viewer becomes convinced that Truman has compassion (perhaps thinly disguised love or lust) for Smith, Truman shows us his true colors: his cunning ruthlessness and his willingness to distort the truth, give Smith false hopes, and create the outcome of his story through a gigantic sin of omission of not helping the killers in their final plea attempts.
“Bennett Miller does a great job in setting the tone. Miller mixes in New York society scenes nicely to let us witness Truman charming his friends and acquaintances on his home turf. When we first see the wheat fields in Kansas we know how out of his element Truman will be. That nicely sets up scenes to follow, where Truman adapts all his charm and wit to the local terrain in order to get his story. Throughout the film Bennett connects the dots with a minimum of effort.
“With the exception of his outstanding performance in the relatively unknown OWNING MAHONEY, Philip Seymour Hoffman has been more noted for outstanding supporting roles prior to CAPOTE. Hoffman’s performance in CAPOTE proves that he is not only one of the very best leading actors of this generation, but of all time. Catherine Keener (WALKING AND TALKING, LOVELY AND AMAZING and BEING JOHN MALKOVICH) offers a subtle and subdued Harper Lee. Chris Cooper is very good as the austere, star struck sheriff initially in charge of the killers; Bruce Greenwood is Truman’s long time companion Jack Dunphy. Clifton Collins, Jr. is a very convincing Perry Smith.
“CAPOTE illustrates how effective and engrossing a biopic can be when the script is first rate and well-focused. Bennett Miller deserves great credit for bringing this outstanding film to the screen; nonetheless it is Hoffman and Futterman who are the shining stars. 5 cats”