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

In the movie The Big Lebowski, the photo that the PI shows the Dude of Bunny Lebowski's farm is the photo of the real Clutter home, where the murder chronicled in Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" took place. Two "Lebowski" actors went on to appear in Capote: Philip Seymour Hoffman (Brandt in "Lebowski"), plays Truman Capote, and 'Mark Pellegrino', (Blond Treehorn Thug in "Lebowski"), plays Dick Hickock (one of the murderers of that farm's inhabitants).

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Goofs

Capote's hotel room has a plastic bottle of soda.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Laura Kinney: Hello? Nancy?

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Connections

References Beat the Devil (1953)

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Soundtracks

"Paula's Nightmare"
(1948)
Written by Paula Watson
Performed by Paula Watson
Courtesy of Tuff City Records / Night Train International
By Arrangement with Ocean Park Music Group

User Reviews

Well done, moving account of Capote's life during the writing of 'In Cold Blood'

I saw a press screening of this film recently, and was highly impressed by its moving account of the period in Truman Capote's life during which he wrote 'In Cold Blood'. The direction by the relatively unknown Bennett Miller is personal, evocative and affecting, but without being over-dramatic or saccharine. This is helped immensely by Philip Seymour Hoffmann's incredible performance as Capote, as well as solid acting from Catherine Keener, Clifton Collins Jr., and Chris Cooper. Cooper plays K.B.I. Agent Alvin Dewey with perhaps a bit too much intensity, given his relatively small amount of screen time, but the portrayal nonetheless comes off as heart-felt.

The cinematography by Adam Kimmel is suitably gray and moody, with many evocative views of the flat Kansas plains, but most of the screen time is spent with the camera focused on Hoffmann - all of it time well spent.

While I haven't read the biography by Gerald Clarke on which it's based, the script seems to hit enough salient details to evoke Capote's frame of mind, without inundating the audience with more than would fit in a feature-length film. I suppose one of my only complaints about the film would be that at times the conversations take on a sheen of Hollywood, saying things for dramatic impact that perhaps might not have been said in real life. But then again, I never met Capote, so who knows for sure.

All in all, this was a deeply engrossing film, and one I would highly recommend, especially if you're a fan of Truman Capote.