Capote (2005)

Truman Capote, during his research for his book In Cold Blood, an account of the murder of a Kansas family, the writer develops a close relationship with Perry Smith, one of the killers.

Director:

Bennett Miller

Writers:

Dan Futterman (screenplay), Gerald Clarke (book)

Stars:

Allie Mickelson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener

Won 1 Oscar. Another 54 wins & 46 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Allie Mickelson	...	Laura Kinney
Kelci Stephenson	...	Nancy Clutter
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Truman Capote
Craig Archibald	...	Christopher
Bronwen Coleman	...	Barbara
Kate Shindle	...	Rose
David Wilson Barnes	...	Grayson
Michael J. Burg	...	Williams (as Michael J. Berg)
Catherine Keener	...	Nelle Harper Lee
Kwesi Ameyaw	...	Porter
Andrew Farago	...	Car Rental Agent
Ken Krotowich	...	Courthouse Guard
Chris Cooper	...	Alvin Dewey
R.D. Reid	...	Roy Church
Rob McLaughlin	...	Harold Nye (as Robert Mclaughlin)

Storyline

In 1959, Truman Capote, a popular writer for The New Yorker, learns about the horrific and senseless murder of a family of four in Holcomb, Kansas. Inspired by the story material, Capote and his partner, Harper Lee, travel to the town to research for an article. However, as Capote digs deeper into the story, he is inspired to expand the project into what would be his greatest work, In Cold Blood. To that end, he arranges extensive interviews with the prisoners, especially with Perry Smith, a quiet and articulate man with a troubled history. As he works on his book, Capote feels some compassion for Perry which in part prompts him to help the prisoners to some degree. However, that feeling deeply conflicts with his need for closure for his book which only an execution can provide. That conflict and the mixed motives for both interviewer and subject make for a troubling experience that would produce an literary account that would redefine modern non-fiction.

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Plot Keywords:

book | writer | kansas | truman capote | friend | 

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violent images and brief strong language

Details

Official Sites:

Gaumont Columbia Tristar [fr] Sony Classics [us]

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 February 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Truman Capote

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$181,319 (Brazil) (3 March 2006)

Gross:

$28,747,570 (USA) (21 April 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sony Pictures Classics, A-Line Pictures, Cooper's Town Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min 110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Michael J. Burg plays Capote's cousin, playwright Tennessee Williams. He has also played Capote himself in two other films: The Audrey Hepburn Story, and The Hoax.

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Goofs

When we see the "prints" of the Richard Avedon photographs, the type of film can be seen in the black border - it reads as "Agfa APX 400". Agfa did not begin manufacturing their APX line of films until the 1990s. Moreover, Richard Avedon's preferred film for shooting portraiture at the time was Kodak Plus-X.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Laura Kinney: Hello? Nancy?

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Natalie Portman/Fall Out Boy (2006)

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Soundtracks

"Cherry"
(1928)
Music by Don Redman (as Donald Redman)
Lyrics by Ray Gilbert
Performed by Alan Paul
Courtesy of Peer-Southern Productions, Inc.

User Reviews

Humanizing Capote

This moving film lives and breathes on the powerful shoulders of Phillip Seymour Hoffman's stunning performance in the title role. Hoffman captures all of the unique physical characteristics that made Capote such a familiar public figure in his lifetime and invests them with a humanity that is almost unbearably poignant. The film focuses on Capote's research on the book "In Cold Blood" and the personal journey that his relationship and identification with killer Perry Smith became (Capote says at one point that it was like they grew up in the same house, and he went out the front door while Perry went out the back), a compelling and complicated relationship that this uncompromising film presents in moving detail. But what truly makes it a unique work of art is the brilliant work of Hoffman - always an interesting actor - whose performance as Truman Capote should elevate him to the pantheon of film giants.