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. –IMDb
Not a very good film. Worth seeing only for Keener's role. INFAMOUS was better.
For once Hoffman got a character that actually needed his hyper-realistic, over the top acting.
Uh, I'd argue that Hoffman is more often a pretty subtle actor. He's remembered for bigger performances, but look at his work in "Moneyball" or "Mission: Impossible III" or "Love Liza." Incredible range.
Personally, I prefer Infamous. There's an underlying sense of playfulness to Infamous that this movie lacks. Hoffman is fine as Capote, but it feels like an impersonation to me, whereas Toby Jones BECAME Capote, in my opinion. Also, I'm not sold on Keener's Lee. She's all schoolmarm and no feisty charm.
Before November 1959, Holcomb, Kansas was a peaceful farming town in the American heartland. On that date, it became the site of a brutal family murder which was chronicled by Truman Capote in In Cold… read review
(Originally written March 10, 2006)
Philip Seymour Hoffman’s performance as the eccentric author of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and In Cold Blood is beautiful, conveying the sharpness, wit, and quirks… read review