Review of In Cold Blood (1967) by Robert D — 25 Feb 2011
Mostly faithful to Capote's novel, Richard Brooks's adaptation of In Cold Blood is as noir as noir can get. From the opening scene, it is a film permeating with blackness, with the evil that lurks in the hearts of men.
Featuring outstanding acting, superb direction, and black-and-white cinematography that can only be described as sublime, In Cold Blood takes us into the heart of senseless violence while simultaneously taking us on a ride through the illogical structure of the American justice system.
Like Capote's novel, the film neither exonerates nor condemns the two killers, but it does take time to demonstrate the many idiosyncratic, inexplicable aspects of the penal system. While the film never quite evoked the horrors that novel did--probably because it doesn't depict them--it is still a harrowingly realistic portrayal of murder and its punishment.
A powerful exploration of the killer's mind and environment that produces a killer, In Cold Blood was way ahead of its time and remains an American classic.
This review of In Cold Blood (1967) was written by Robert D on 25 Feb 2011.
In Cold Blood has generally received very positive reviews.
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