Capote

Insightful look at the later years of writer Truman Capote. Extremely well acted, and well paced. The film deserves the positive critical response that it garnered during it's initial release.

It’s a shame that Philip Seymour Hoffman passed away because he was a brilliant actor and Capote was one of his brilliant films that he did. Capote was an over indulgent, oversexed, insecure, “catty old woman” at any age. He shared secrets, talked behind backs in high society threw outrageous parties, went to outrageous parties. Now he is getting reading to go to Kansas with to investigate a quadruple homicide with friend Nelle Harper Lee acting as a liaison between Capote’s flamboyant personality and city paced personality and Nelle could provide with her more slow paced, southern, approachable and trustworthy personality, a complete opposite. He makes a connection with Alvin Dewey who is working on the case through his wife, Marie, who is a fan and that gives him access to The case. When Perry Smith and Dick Hickcock are caught, Capote forms a bond with Smith, sometimes at the expense of Hickocck. Capote continues to visit both inmates until they are executed by hanging. The rest of the movie goes downhill with Capote slowly decomposing as this man he loves in his own way prepares for execution. Last appeal rejected, Capote cannot bring himself to see him one last time, Ironically, he is a witness for both Perry and Dick’s hangings. The end of the movie gives him the epigraph he would have chosen for Answered Prayers. “More tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones.” St Teresa of Avila. The years he spent from day one he spent investigating to the very end witnessing the executions, Capote becomes a recluse writing Answered Prayers as a thinly veiled high society gossip column and they weren’t happy about it. He was shunned by some circles of high society and was a terrible alocoholic

In a way "In Cold Blood" is Truman Capote's epitaph or at least the epitaph of his writing genius. He never wrote anything of worth afterwards and he slowly sank into alcoholism while his friend Harper Lee was lionized for her book "To kill a Mockingbird." Her star rose as Truman's set. It might even be said that murderer Perry Smith and Truman Capote died together.The recent death of Phillip Seymour Hoffman galvanized me to see him in "Capote" and his portrayal of the iconic author is superb, from his physical appearance to his speech patterns to his gestures, You forget right away that you are listening to and watching an actor. Hoffman becomes Truman Capote. Capote was in many ways a very strange man, and Hoffman grasps his personality, his very oddness, but you feel his genius hovering there beneath the surface of his often frivolous remarks. Simultaneously, you detect a latent depression, feelings of inferiority which he tries to cover up with alcohol and a sort of cheeky bravado.You learn that "cold blood" according to this film, refers not to the actual senseless murders of the Clutter family, but the ruthlessness Capote had to force himself to employ as a means of extracting the truth from the two murderers about the killings- he manipulated Smith and Hickok. I don't agree with this premise. In "cold blood is the senseless murders and Capote did not manipulate the killers. That he fell in love with Perry Smith is certainly implied but he courageously had to at least harness his feelings in order to do the research for "In Cold Blood" and to weave his tapestry out of the threads of those researches.The gloomy atmosphere and the starkness of the Great Plains which envelop the murder victims' house, the monotonous browns of winter, the gaunt skeletal branches of the leafless trees, the cawing of crows, the hollow sounds of the wind, create an environment that can make you shiver right in your computer chair. The ugliness of Leavenworth Prison in the grey snow is truly terrifying.The movie departed from real life in picturing Capote at the hanging of Perry Smith. but although Capote was able to withstand the hanging of Hickok who went first, he left the building quickly when he saw Perry shuffle by in his leg chains, which certainly shows the depth of his feelings.The movie downloads easily and the visual quality is excellent. If you want to see Truman Capote almost come to life again, give this video a whirl, you'll be glad you did, trust me!

I was law enforcement for years, and saw the crime scene photos of the four murders during a course taught by a CSI agent. It was the most gruesome thing I've ever laid eyes on. These people were purposely shot in the face with a 12-gauge shotgun. They weren't just killed to silence them. There was some real rage behind the murders. Most likely because the men couldn't find the money they were told was in the house, and felt like the family wasn't giving it up.I read the book after retiring just to find out the back story. The idea that anyone could fawn over Perry and go to such lengths to help him with attorneys and appeals just about makes me ill. TC supposedly was shown the crime scene photos as well, so I have to surmise that he either was so mercenary in writing the book of his career that he was able to look past the horrid violence perpetrated by these animals, or he just didn't care about some farm family in rural Kansas. The perps surrendered their humanity the moment they put the barrel up to these people's heads and pulled the trigger. Too bad the hanging was so quick. And too bad they could only be hung once, and not four times.

Capote featuring Philip Seymour Hoffman is about the author’s famous story on the murder of the Clutter family in Kansas that became his true crime novel In Cold Blood. Hoffman does a great job with the role. He plays Capote as an intellectual socialite who is touched by the crime. He goes to great lengths to research the story. He even becomes attached to one of the killers played by Clifton Collins Jr but can’t get to the truth he’s looking for. During that period he starts mixing the personal with the professional by playing with the lives of the two killers so he can write his book. The performance is so strong this could have been a one man play and it would be just as compelling.

Loved this movie.

Who and what was Truman Capote? I bought this DVD to find out. The enigma remains for many people, including myself. What made him an icon in literary societies in the nineteen fifties and especailly the sixties following the publication of his novel:'In cold Blood'? This film(DVD)answers some of those questions: it covers his obsession with writing the truth about horrendous multiple murders in western Kansas; it covers many aspects of Capote, the man: his goal to be popular, to become associated with the literary elite; his passion for fame, for truth and honesty. Yet, he is a lonely man, haunted by personal demons, clings to people, especilally Nelle Harper Lee on whom he is dependent throughout the investigation. Capote is depicted as a competent investgative journalist. But was he a literary giant? That question will be debated for decades. What is not in doubt is that he will remain a signifciant cog in the history of the US literature. A talented man with never-ending drive; a person thriving for supreme recognition. his mind a dark cloak covering a constant fight to overcome a massive inferority complex. The actors and the production team of this DVD portray the man, his friends plus the society of that period with subtlety.

`Capote' explores the life of Truman Capote as he wrote his most well known book `In Cold Blood'. It follows him as he befriends one of the killers of a horrible murder and gains his trust to get information for the book. Capote (the man) comes across as narcissistic, egotistical and manipulative and yet you can't help but also find him at times both charming and funny. The film also looks at his friendship with Harper Lee and how they supported one another's literary careers. Philip Seymour Hoffman deserves every accolade he received for this film and his performance is spell binding, you are truly riveted by his every look and inflection. You may not have the most respect for Capote by the end of this film, but as far as bio-pics go this one is outstanding. If you've read `In Cold Blood' then this makes for interesting and relevant viewing and if not then I highly recommend you do so, it is an incredible piece of writing and puts this film in greater context. A film that is deserving of all it's praise and well worth a look.Feel free to check out my blog which can be found on my profile page.

A depressing movie but one to love for the absolute brilliance of Hoffmans performance.It makes you realise what a sad loss his early death was.He was the finest actor of his time.

The novel "In cold blood" has been sold in some one million copies... This film shows what was behind the writing of the book, how Truman Capote collected information and got in touch with the characters. If you liked the book, you'll be interested by this film.

If you're a fan of cerebral films and something a bit different from shoot 'em ups, then this is for you. Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman in an Oscar winning performance, it tells the story of the four year period in which Truman Capote, author of Breakfast At Tiffany's, was researching for his factional novel In Cold Blood, about two killers who slaughter a family of four in Kansas, believing the farmer dad has $10k in the house. They get away with $40-$50.The way Hoffman plays Capote gives the writer a very chilling, sinister air. Hoffman has the mannerisms perfectly, but it's not just that. Watching Hoffman's performance, you get the impression that if Truman Capote hadn't been a writer, he'd have been a serial killer. In fact at one point, Capote says of Perry Smith, one of the killers, 'It was like we were brought up in the same house and he walked out the back door whilst I walked out the front'.Capote is obsessed with Smith, and seems to genuinely like him (perhaps in a sexual way) but is not averse to manipulating him to get the story he wants. He lies to Perry about what the book is called even when Perry is told and calls him on it, claiming it was the title chosen by his publishers and he hasn't decided if that's going to be it yet. Capote also uses his celebrity to get access to documents and people, including the records of the police chief who you can tell doesn't want to co-operate but is dazzled by Capote's status (though he does tell Capote that if he gets the men off he'll track him to Manhattan).When the killers' death sentences go to appeal several times, Capote complains that it's tough on him. If they lived, he was convinced it would ruin his story. He only attended the execution because his friend Harper Lee (of To Kill A Mockingbird fame) shamed him into it. You get the impression that Capote is genuinely upset, and it says something that he never finished another novel after In Cold Blood, but you're still left with an impression of a man who will stop at nothing to get the story, even if his feelings do become involved.Hoffman's performance is very understated, except when Capote is showing off to people at a party, and you get the impression of someone who had to be the centre of attention (as shown by his lousy behaviour at the premiere of Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, which he felt was 'a lot of fuss about nothing'). What's interesting is that both Capote and Harper Lee were writers who had a very quick ascent, Capote through In Cold Blood and Lee with Mockingbird, then wrote very little else afterwards. And yet both endured in the public imagination, despite not turning out anything new. Maybe that's the trick. Write one good book then retire...