Capote (2005)

Director:

Bennett Miller

Writers (WGA):

Dan Futterman (screenplay)
Gerald Clarke (book)

Release Date:

3 February 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama

Plot:

Truman Capote (Hoffman), 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.

Plot Keywords:

Kansas | Writer | Truman Capote | Murder | Execution

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 44 wins & 43 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)

MPAA:

Rated R for some violent images and brief strong language.

Runtime:

114 min | Canada:110 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:M | UK:15 | Germany:12 | Norway:15 | Netherlands:16 | Ireland:15A | Singapore:NC-16 | Finland:K-15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Brazil:14 | Malaysia:U | Argentina:13 | Hong Kong:IIB | USA:R (certificate #41953) | France:U | Sweden:11 | Iceland:16 | Hungary:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

A-Line Pictures

Trivia:

Photographer Richard Avedon is played by the film's cinematographer, Adam Kimmel.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Truman Capote is speaking on the telephone in one scene, the handset is clearly connected by an RJ22 four-pin connector, which was invented in the 1970s.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Laura Kinney: Hello? Nancy?

Movie Connections:

Featured in 2006 Independent Spirit Awards (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Butcher Boy

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.