“Capote”

Since author Truman Capote’s death in 1984, it seems as though there are as many films about him as there are adaptations of his writing. He led a bizarre life, but “Capote” hones in on the time he spent writing his masterpiece, “In Cold Blood”, a nonfictional account of the grisly murders of the Clutter family.

By the time the film begins, Capote’s already written a number of successful books and screenplays. Then he reads about the murders and has his employer, “The New Yorker”, fly him to the Midwest for research, accompanied by his best friend, Harper Lee. At the time of its release in the 1960s, the book was hailed as brilliant, using fictional techniques to tell a true story.

As a writer of fiction, Capote may have been great, but as a human being, he was highly manipulative, especially toward the murderers he befriends. Philip Seymour Hoffman’s portrayal is complicated; he doesn’t parody Capote’s effeminate mannerisms or prissy voice, which is a difficult task. He also doesn’t apologise for the character’s other glaring foibles.

Equally difficult is Catherine Keener role as Lee. She always seems to know when he’s full of crap, but is gracious and patient when reprimanding him, even when he’s intentionally cruel to her.

In 2005, Philip Seymour Hoffman won no less than twenty major awards, including the Academy Award. But, the actor doesn’t carry the film. With a script by Dan Futterman, director Bennett Miller presents a film with muted emotion, requiring the audience to be totally engaged.