Capote (2005)

Directed by Bennett Miller. Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Clifton Collins Jr., Catherine Keener, Bruce Greenwood, Chris Cooper, Bob Balaban, Mark Pellegrino, Marshall Bell. [R]

Unconventional profile of acclaimed writer and social gadabout Truman Capote, played with absorbing and effete precision by Oscar-winner Hoffman. Rather than attempt a traditional biographical character arc, the narrative focuses on Capote’s decision to break the mold by writing a “nonfiction novel” about the brutal murders of a Kansas family that would become the literary sensation known as “In Cold Blood.” Manages the unusual feat of being insightful about a specific facet of a man at a specific point in his life without penetrating any other personal adjuncts (e.g., little is explored in regard to his relationship with partner Greenwood), which gives the experience a moving clarity in relation to the agonies and sacrifices made to create a masterpiece, but creates a chilly distance between him and everyone else. This is especially frustrating in regard to the homoerotic connection that develops between Truman and one of the convicted killers, Perry Smith (Collins)—since the particulars are never pinned down, the relationship remains unbalanced and unconvincing. Low-key and fastidiously-constructed, the film’s veneer never cracks enough to allow the turmoil to bleed through, making it one of those movies that has the potential to “sneak up” on a viewer hours or even days later. Cooper as a rigid Kansas lawman and Keener as Truman’s friend and fellow writer, Harper Lee (a victim of condescension at almost every turn), also do fine work. Amy Ryan appears briefly.

79/100