'It's the book I was always meant to write'

Rating: Null/10 (29 June 2010)

I had seen Douglas McGrath's 'Infamous' before Bennett Miller's 'Capote'. Even though both films focus on Capote and his persistence to write about the grisly murder, they differ in treatment and execution. Miller's film looks gloomier mostly because of the washed out colours and it lacks humour while McGrath's film has a good dose of humour. On the technical side, both movies are very well made as they successfully capture the essence of the time period. Also, the relationship between Perry Smith and Capote are portrayed vary in both movies. Actually the Perry Smith characters are different. Yet, I like both movies. While Miller's direction is commendable, it is Philip Seymour Hoffman who stands out in the title role. Tobey Jones did an equally outstanding job in 'Infamous' and it is interesting to compare both performances. Jones's version of Capote is more flamboyant and expressive while Hoffman's version is more toned down. Clifton Collins Jr, Catherine Keener (though unfortunately she does not have much screen time) and Chris Cooper do solid jobs as the supporting cast. In the end, 'Capote' and 'Infamous' are both fascinating portraits of the same enigmatic man and how a violent crime that didn't even remotely have anything to do with him, changed his life. Capote eventually became an alcoholic and died a lonely death.