Review of Capote (2005) by Filipeneto — 25 Jul 2020

I confess that I hated this film the first time I saw it, because I hated the main character. Truman Capote seemed to me only an excessively selfish, narcissistic man, willing to write a successful novel at the cost of a tragedy where people died. I was always in doubt if he was really interested in helping those men in prison, or if he was just taking an advantage of them... I always wanted to punch him in the face. Only more recently, when I saw the film a second time, did I manage to overcome this moral disgust and see the overall quality of the film.

In fact, the film is difficult to digest, or at least it was for me! Truman Capote is portrayed as an excessively narcissistic person, fascinated by the limelight, the luxury and the glamour of the rich people to whom he has always sought to associate himself, with his loose voice and polished and effeminate manners. The film shows the process of creation and writing that led Capote to write "In Cold Blood", based on the story of a real crime in Kansas. He goes to Kansas and has several interviews with the killers, and seems to promise help with lawyers just to get the whole truth. The film purposely leaves this open, each one who thinks what they wants.

Despite my feelings about the character, Philip Seymour Hoffman is excellent in the difficult task of bringing Truman Capote to life. I don't know him to the point of finding out if he was faithful to the real writer, but I read that he was and I give credit to my sources, and also to the Oscar for Best Actor that he collected thanks to this work. Another actor that deserves to be highlighted positively is Clifton Collins Jr., who gave life to the most human and psychologically rich of the killers.

Technically, it is a very good film, with a very pleasant cinematography, with little contrast, some shadows and washed colors without this being a reason for demerit. Editing and post-production seem to have been very well done. Being a period film set in the 1950s, the sets and costumes are very important to situate us temporally and they do it very well. The film circulates from prison corridors to elite parties without losing pace or quality, and the soundtrack follows the movement perfectly, with excellent incidental music and an interesting original soundtrack dotted with excellent jazz themes.