 Capote
 
Starring:
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Clifton Collins Jr., Bruce Greenwood,
Mark Pellegrino, and Chris Cooper,
Directed by: Bennett Miller
Soundtrack
Review Bluntly
speaking? Capote is another full-house flush hand performance by Philip
Seymour Hoffman. Really, what can't this guy do? The film moves a tad slow; like
cold maple syrup from a chilled spike. But, it is forgiven it's grandiose detail,
as it is completely apropos of its literary subject, Mr. Truman Capote. Story
goes…it's 1959. A family has been found murdered, in cold blood, in rural
America. It's one those hard-to-fathom execution-style slaughters that includes
tucked in children (shudder). Back
in the city that puts the Gotham into urban dwelling, Truman Capote (PSH) is entertaining
his gaggle of highbrows with one of his signature tales at some swanky soiree.
He's the toast of the intelligenté and a charming and witty, if acidic,
guest. Post
party, Truman finds an article in the morning news about the killings hundreds
of miles away. He calls his editor and skadattles off, with his friend/assistant
soon-to-be-legendary auther Nelle Harper Lee (Catherine Keener) to Podunk America.
This "city boy" senses a story in the fields of wheat. Capote
will waltz into a land unfamiliar to his adult self, blatant in his Joe Cairoesqueisms.
But, in truth, this small town is a place a smidge too familiar to, and from,
his own dark childhood.
He'll research the killings and gain remarkable
access to the murderers (Clifton Collins Jr. and Mark Pellegrino). Through his
anything-for-a-story and burrowing charm, Truman befriends killer Perry Smith
(Collins Jr.). The quazi-friendship,
horrific event, and the years of research that follow, will produce one of Capote's
most incredible works - and some say, change the way non-fiction is told, ' In
Cold Blood.'
The real Truman Capote was an odd man in many ways; flamboyant,
proud, egotistical, blunt. This is true. But, he was also true talent -
his small drool voiced frame oozed the stuff like velvetta at an Alabama hodown.
Few actors could have pulled this off without stepping into Saturday Night Live
Land. But, the impeccable Philip Seymour Hoffman, himself a rare talent of our
time, disappears into this cover of Capote. It's not just an impersonation; Capote
had umpteen idiosyncrasies ala Bogie one could hook into and mimic for the amusement
of friends swilling swell cocktails. Hoffman's work, his personal production of
the legendary elfin writer, is delicately projected from the inside out. The cast
surrounding "Capote," is pristine, but Hoffman steals every frame he
twinkles through. The
film does seem long in truth, but you forgive its length, because the over-all
feel is just incredible - the story unique, yet true. And the musical punctuation
by Mychael Danna helps the tone of the film and Mr. Hoffman's latest "creation,"
subtly beautifully, hauntingly unfold. Enjoy
Snack
recommendation: Martinis with garlic stuffed olives, pinky most certainly
erected.
Discover
Truman Capote->
Rent Murder by Death - a forgotten masterpiece...filled
with a cast that'll make you squeal.
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