Capote

Capote is based on the true story of Truman Capote who you may recognize as the author of Breakfast At Tiffany's. After that book was turned into a successful film, Capote became increasingly interested in journalism and found the story for his next novel while working for the New York Times. A front page article covered the story of a wealthy family murdered in Holcomb, Kansas which provoked Capote to travel with his childhood friend Harper Lee [author of To Kill A Mockingbird] to the area to interview local people affected by the killings and the murderers themselves. However, during these interviews he became emotionally attached to the murderers and hired a lawyer to increase the longevity of their trial so he could extract the story from them, mainly about the night of the murders. In doing this, Capote invests too much energy and lifeblood and loses sight of friends and lovers and paid the ultamite price. After 6 years working on the novel, despite releasing In Cold Blood to critical acclaim, Capote never writes again and becomes an alcholic and drug addict which killed him in 1984.

He is portrayed in the movie by one of my favourite actors Philip Seymour Hoffman. Initially, the voice of Capote is grating but I would imagine that he's done his homework and by the end of the movie it pulls you in on certain scenes. A slow burner, Capote builds characters and and a clear mental picture of the struggle inside his mind and how his endeavour affects those around him. The acting is supberb on all sides and it's almost a pity that the film doesn't explore what happened after but it does end at a conclusive pivot point to what the film attempts and does convey. Hoffman is up for an oscar in March and he deserves it. Worth checking out.

I would give this film 4 Breakfasts at Tiffany's out of 5