Review of Blue Caprice (2013) by Andrey B — 07 Feb 2016

'Blue Caprice' is a slow moving, linear and intriguing drama about a distorted father-son relationship which facilitated their long and bloody journey across north-eastern US. It is superb in more ways than one. It gets in deep into the nitty-gritty of relationships - friends, family and strangers. The transformation of an impressionable teenager into one cold-hearted killer is captured with brevity. This film investigates the genesis of real-life serial killings from the point of view of the perpetrators. Therein lays its ingenuity which also helps to universalize the narrative. Thus, as a conservative middle-class Indian, I also empathize with uneasiness with the sordid murders. The geographical remoteness of events gets telescoped.

The filmmakers do take some artistic liberty with the events. For example, in real-life the mother of the teenager (Lee Malvo) was well-acquainted with John Muhammad. And they moved to Florida irst not to Washington. But that's ok.

In the end, the film succeeds in getting across a solid story. The acting is splendid from the whole cast. I was really impressed by the character of Jamie- played brilliantly by Joey Lauren Adams. She has that unique voice which matched the character. It's one of my things though - I always give more attention to supporting cast. They are like the props which take lead cast to pinnacle.