Review of Infamous (2006) by Nathan H — 18 Dec 2007

Pleasantly surprising film. You can't watch this movie, of course, without comparing it to "Capote," which came out a few months beforehand, but while the story is very similar, the two movies couldn't be more different in tone. While "Capote" was dark and brooding, its every shot painted in melancholy, and its lead--Hoffman--a conniving egotist who cared only about his art and not at all about humanity, "Infamous" take a different approach. It feels lighter, more focused on Capote's obsession with celebrity, and his quest to portray his characters with "kindness.".

It is this aspect that really sets "Infamous" apart from "Capote," I think: the focus on kindness. "Capote" was set on creating a world of selfishness that it seemed to hate the very characters it created on-screen; conversely, "Infamous" loves its characters, and Toby Jones is brilliant as the flawed Truman Capote.

Is this a better movie overall than "Capote?" Structurally, no. But it is more enjoyable, more honest, and more kind to the people involved. Both Truman Capote films were brilliant, I thought, and both actors were great, but while Toby Jones is a joy to watch, while Hoffman was a drag.