Review of Infamous (2006) by Jenny M — 26 Feb 2007

I could see this coming already. When it was announced that two countries were releasing the same movie the same year, it was inevitable that one had to be pushed back. So, naturally, they went with the American production and that won the Oscar, leaving the English film in the dark. That's the real shame, because this is the movie out of the two that does Capote's reputation and personality justice.

If you've ever met Truman Capote (which is quite the feat nowadays), you will know just how openly gay he was. I was watching one of the featurettes on the Capote DVD that stated he had formed lasting relationships with everyone connected to the murder. But I was looking at Hoffman, thinking, "Uuuuuuh, you could've fooled me." I think I understand what they did though. If the producers of 'Capote' had shown deeper connections between Capote and the townsfolk, they would've had to depict an even deeper relationship between Capote and Perry Smith, and how could they do that without making it seem too gay? Obviously, this movie answers that question with: "You CAN'T." But that's my whole point - he WAS gay, which made him all the more interesting to those who met him. Douglas McGrath kept saying this over and over and I couldn't agree more: "What else, besides a forbidden love affair, could've driven Truman Capote over the edge?".

A few other things: Sandra Bullock - her performance was superb, not ok. This movie sets her apart from most of the others she's done. In those movies, she's seen as a flirty hair-flipper. Not this time. She acted with more grace than I've ever seen her do.

And of course, Gwyneth Paltrow. I guess some didn't realize McGrath did an audio commentary on his film. One thing he discussed was that first scene in the restaurant with Gwyneth all dolled up, singing that classy Cole Porter song "What Is This Thing Called Love?" She made a fool of herself for a reason. What McGrath revealed about the scene was 1) the sophisticated upper-class society of New York in Capote's time and 2) a preview of what Truman himself was about to experience. The song is asking 'What is this thing called love?' Truman asks himself that very question when he encounters Perry Smith - and it stops him dead in his tracks, just as Gwyneth did. But there's a difference - she recovers. Truman does not.

It's easily understandable why the 'Capote' producers wanted to back away from all this controversy. But - some advice: read Capote's biography by Gerald Clarke, listen to commentaries when they're available and above all else, do NOT jump to conclusions about anyone in any movie without knowing the facts. And that's just it with both 'Capote' and 'Infamous': remember why they made the movies in the first place. Like most everything else about the two, the mystery is the same - was his downfall driven by heartache for Perry? Or guilt?