Capote: Boring Clunker **

Rating: 5/10 (7 April 2006)

Philip Seymour Hoffman, ordinarily a tremendous actor, is downright dull in this film regarding Truman Capote's research for "In Cold Blood."
In several ways the film reminded me of the 1951 classic "A Place in the Sun." While violence and death are occurring, we sing interactions among the wealthy in high society. Also, that farewell scene between Capote and the condemned killers was similar in nature to that of Elizabeth Taylor visiting a condemned Montgomery Clift.
The differences were that the characters in "Place" were more alive. The killers in "Capote" were sadistic sickos who definitely got what they deserved. No question whatsoever here in the use of capital punishment.
I was wondering if Capote used the title "In Cold Blood" to describe what was actually done to the killers of the Clutter Family. He lies to one of the condemned murderers when they question him about the title of his book.
Naturally, Capote had formed a homosexual bond with one of the killers. This conflicted him for he fully realized what this guy had done and the guy's own sister condemned him as well.
Katherine Keener, who received a best supporting actress Oscar nomination, for Harper Lee is wasted in this film. Shown as a chain smoking writer, she is given little to do in the movie. Surely, the writer of "To Kill A Mockingbird" deserved better than this. Then again, we deserved a better film as well.