| CAPOTE |
 2005 - USADirector: Bennett Miller
- Reviewed by Jennifer
Capote opens with the murder of a family in the rural town of Holcomb, Kansas. This gruesome event occurs just as Truman Capote is contemplating his next masterpiece. He needs something splashy to follow the success of Breakfast at Tiffany's, and believes the murders will make an excellent topic for a book. He and his childhood friend, Harper Lee (Catherine Keener), pack up and head to Holcomb to do a little research, and soon the world's first true crime novel is gestating. The sweetly insidious way Truman Capote ingratiates himself with people is apparent from the moment he arrives in Holcomb. It's not until you see the same trick again and again (like Harper Lee does) that you begin to figure out his game. If there's something wrong with you, you can bet there's something wrong with Truman too. Trouble fitting in? Mother issues? Chronic hangnails? Truman will one-up you every time, and pretty soon you're feeling all sympathetic, thinking he's someone you can trust, and pouring out your deepest secrets. Capote ultimately weasels his way into the lives of the two young men responsible for the murders. He pretends he wants to help them by telling their side of the story, but he's really after the gritty details. Though he feigns concern, their case is all about him. He's upset when the men are sentenced to death because he's not done talking to them. He's upset when their execution is delayed because he can't publish his book until they're dead. He can't even enjoy the premiere of To Kill A Mockingbird because he's too busy wallowing in sorrow. "They're torturing me," he whines into his drink, and our no-nonsense Harper just has to walk away. The book, now titled In Cold Blood, becomes an obsession, and compromises nearly every aspect of Capote's life. The relationship with his partner (played by Bruce Greenwood) is strained, and Harper's getting sick of his self-serving sycophancy. His schedule hinges upon the fate of the killers—will he get one last interview? Will they finally spill the beans? Eventually the whole situation starts eating at him. He knows he's playing with the lives of two men he's grown attached to, and he knows he's exploiting them for his own benefit.... He just can't seem to stop. The parallel between Capote's calculated manipulating, lying, and eyelash-batting and the killers' random act of violence becomes clearer and clearer as the film progresses. After awhile, you begin to realize there are more than a few cold-blooded creeps in this story. Though Capote comes close to redeeming himself by the time the killers are executed, the whole experience leaves him a damaged man. The film's epilogue leads you to believe that he was somewhat ruined by the experience, but history indicates that he continued to be a prolific writer and lively public figure. What the heck, why not stick with the theme of manipulating the truth for dramatic effect? It worked for Truman. As fascinating as the movie is, the subject matter doesn't lend itself that well to film. There's a lot of talking, and the pace is tiresome at times. Once you know what happens, you're all done. No need to rush out and buy the soundtrack, the poster, and the DVD. That's what Walk the Line is for. |
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I can only think that Philip Seymour Hoffman must have had a blast
playing Truman Capote. In fact, had this movie come out when I was
younger, I would have added Truman to my list of "Favorite People to
Imitate Badly" immediately after viewing it. Impressions of Helen
Keller and Pat from SNL would have taken a backseat, and within a
matter of days I would have driven everyone I knew to the brink of
violence. Alas, I'm old now, and it's hard to imagine anyone speaking
in that high, whining voice with a straight face. The fact that
Philip pulls the whole thing off so seamlessly prevents me from
begrudging him the Oscar I so wanted Joaquin to win.
