Capote - ACE Train Movie Review

In 1959, Truman Capote was a critically acclaimed novelist who had earned a small degree of celebrity for his work when he read a short newspaper item about a multiple murder in a small Kansas town. Capote had long believed that in the right hands, a true story could be molded into a tale as compelling as any fiction, and he believed this event could be just the right material. Capote traveled to Kansas and while his artsy and mannered personal style stuck out like a sore thumb, in time he gained the trust of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation agent investigating the murders and with his help, Capote's magazine piece grew into a full-length book. Capote also became familiar with the petty criminals turned killers, Dick Hickock and Perry Smith, and in Smith he found a troubling kindred spirit more like himself than he wanted to admit. After attaining a sort of friendship with Smith under the assumption that the man would be executed before the book was ever published, Capote finds himself forced to directly confront the moral implications of his actions with regards to both his role in the man's death, and the way that he would be remembered.

Wow, this movie was worthy of all the attention and award nominations it has received. It was so interesting that I would have kept watching if it was twice as long. I didn't know who Truman Capote was before this film, but I'm definitely interested in learning more about him. I'll read his book In Cold Blood shortly. Capote was a very original, fascinating and eccentric person and based on the footage of him included in the DVD special features, Philip Seymour Hoffman had his whole being down pat. It takes a second to get used to the way he speaks, but it just adds to his unconventional and whimsical personality. The story itself is mind-blowing and would never be allowed to take place in the present day since security is on high alert and I doubt a journalist would be allowed to have unlimited access to a convicted killer and be allowed to view the crime scene notes from the head of investigation. In any case, this film is a breath of fresh air - it's great to see some originality still exists, even if the film's namesake has been dead for 20+ years.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Clifton Collins, Jr., Chris Cooper

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.