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Capote

Actor(s): Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Clifton Collins, Jr., Chris Cooper, Bruce Greenwood
Director(s): Bennett Miller
107

Movie Details

MPAA Rating: R
Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Profanity
Movie Release: 2005
DVD Release: 03/21/2006
Format: DVD - Color,Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned
Audio Tracks: English, French
Subtitles: English, French, Korean, Spanish, Thai
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Number of Discs: 1
Run Time: 1 hrs 54 mins
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Total Copies: 103
Genres: Drama, Period Film, Crime Drama, Biopic [feature]

DVD Synopsis

The creation of one of the most memorable books of the 1960s -- and the impact the writing and research would have on its author -- is explored in this drama based on a true story. In 1959, Truman Capote (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman) was a critically acclaimed novelist who had earned a small degree of celebrity for his work when he read a short newspaper item about a multiple murder in a small Kansas town. For some reason, the story fascinated Capote, and he asked William Shawn (Bob Balaban), his editor at The New Yorker, to let him write a piece about the case. Capote had long believed that in the right hands, a true story could be molded into a tale as compelling as any fiction, and he believed this event, in which the brutal and unimaginable was visited upon a community where it was least expected, could be just the right material. Capote traveled to Kansas with his close friend Harper Lee (Catherine Keener), herself becoming a major literary figure with the success of -To Kill a Mockingbird, and while Capote's effete and mannered personal style stuck out like a sore thumb in Kansas, in time he gained the trust of Alvin Dewey (Chris Cooper), the Kansas Bureau of Investigation agent investigating the murder of the Clutter family, and with his help Capote's magazine piece grew into a full-length book. Capote also became familiar with the petty criminals who killed the Clutter family, Dick Hickock (Mark Pellegrino) and Perry Smith (Clifton Collins Jr.), and in Smith he found a troubling kindred spirit more like himself than he wanted to admit. After attaining a sort of friendship with Smith under the assumption that the man would be executed before the book was ever published, Capote finds himself forced to directly confront the moral implications of his actions with regards to both his role in the man's death, and the way that he would be remembered. Capote also co-stars Bruce Greenwood as Capote's longtime companion Jack Dunphy, and Amy Ryan as Mary Dewey, Alvin's wife who became a confidante of Capote's. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Actors

Philip Seymour Hoffman - Truman Capote
Catherine Keener - Nelle Harper Lee
Clifton Collins, Jr. - Perry Smith
Chris Cooper - Alvin Dewey
Bruce Greenwood - Jack Dunphy

Member Movie Reviews

Jennifer Y. from WAYNE, PA wrote on 11/12/2009...

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

I read In Cold Blood and was interested in seeing this movie, but honestly it's a snooze. It was a struggle to get past Hoffman's voice too. I'm sure that's how Capote spoke, but it is REALLY annoying. I found the movie to be incredibly boring, I didn't even finish watching it. The book In Cold Blood was very good. Read that instead.

Frank E. (realartist) from HENDERSONVLLE, NC wrote on 9/27/2009...

Most of the time I prefer lighter movies. Combat veterans, naturally, spend much of their lives trying to forget/distance themselves from man's darker side. Reality TV was not invented in this generation. The famous and well respected opera "Pagliacci" was based upon the composer's judge father who heard a murder case involving a traveling comedy troupe in which the leader murdered his wife for her infidelity during a live performance.
It was new to opera then, and became known as "verismo". Capote sensed that a real murder would make for some gripping, unforgettable drama; and he was right - it gripped the nation, much the same way the Manson murders did just a decade after the senseless, brutal Kansas massacre of this plain, gentle, simple farm family.
The acting is superb. Phillip Seymour, multi dimensional actor, and not stuck in one character type at all, turns in an excellent portrayal of Truman Capote, who I recall making the 'talk show circuit' back then. The production is a great period piece about the late 50's, and 60's
Beyond the good film work, which makes this movie a 'keeper', It raises a lot of questions about ourselves all at once. For instance, why is it, when we pass slowly through an accident scene on the highway, we can't help trying to get a glimpse of the bloodied victims as we pass? It doesn't speak well about ourselves. Nor does it speak well of a smarmy, self absorbed writer, enjoying his attention in the media, from adoring fans, and otherwise exhibiting what Truman's friend in the movie referred to as "Truman's never ending love affair with himself". The murderers think Truman's popularity and writing skills may save them from a death sentence. And at the same time, Truman is aware that all this will catapult his career into ever greater fame and fortune. Indeed, Truman's interference does manage to get court appeals, and delays...so he winds up a 'player' in a deadly game of life and death.
It may be understandable that Truman developed a cross addiction to Vallium ( readily available in the 60's ) and alcohol. Truman eventually succumbed to death as a result of complications regarding this substance abuse.
That being said, it is about the face of evil. Evil we see more and more of every day on nightly TV..so much so in fact, that we are actually becoming numb to it. It is not a profound national shock to us as it was in the 'simple" 50's- although still quite disturbing.
A famous theologian/psychologist ("T") got an opportunity to interview a serial murderer ("M")while he was on death row awaiting execution. When "T" asked "M" about how he felt after his first murder, "M" related that he was horrified at what he had done; shook uncontrollably; couldn't sleep, etc. But after committing other murders, it became more easy, he explained. So easy, that eventually, he could come home after a murder, and watch TV, and eat potato chips. No big deal, you see?
Yes...there IS such a thing as "evil". It starts out small..and over time, becomes ever more heinous.
It will be some time before I watch another true crime story. Suffice it to say, that the Ten Commandments are not 'suggestions'. Breaking them does have dire consequences.
There is such a thing as "evil"; it has a name, and it has an army bent on bringing down God's favorite creation out of spite to HIM-however long it takes. Choose yoru friends carefully.

Sandi N. (DivaSandi) from CUMMING, GA wrote on 6/17/2009...

Philip Seymour Hoffman once again plays a different character. I think he is one of the great actors in "Hollywood." I have loved all of his movies and really loved how he protrayed Capote in this movie. He really was CAPOTE! Of course the story about the killings in the movie was a true story and Capote really did write a book about the young men involved, as well as the story about the killing. I recommend this movie very highly!

Gail F. from PITTSBURGH, PA wrote on 2/20/2009...

gripping

Eva S. from TOWNSEND, MA wrote on 2/2/2009...

0 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Capote, a thrilling insight into the depths a writer will go to get their story.

Duane S. (superpoet) from FORT WORTH, TX wrote on 6/15/2008...

2 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.

I really enjoyed this movie. It took you through the artist's journey in researching "In Cold Blood". He has many prison talks with the murderers. It was very well done.

Julie V. (julesv251) from WOODSTOCK, GA wrote on 2/23/2008...

3 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.

This movie was great. It told the true tell of how Truman Capote wrote the book "In Cold Blood". Which is one of the greatest books ever written. I can truly see where Philip Seymour Hoffman won as many awards as he did for his performance.