(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. The audience is able to see Truman Capote come to life rather than watch an actor doing his best Capote imitation. This meditative film is engaging because of the way it investigates the psychological rollercoaster of Truman Capote during his research of the murders. The film questions the purity of intentions and recognizes that one can never truly understand motives. The film never attempts to be technically showy, and this subtlety works to create a haunting atmosphere. The images are also very memorable, including murderer Perry Smith’s recollection of crimes he committed. The film never attempts to fully control the emotions of the audience but, rather, paint a brilliant picture of an intriguing man and ask us questions about the value of human life.