Capote

Rating: 8/10 (6 February 2006)

Capote is based on the book of the same name by Gerald Clarke. The film tells the true life story of author Truman Capote who would later write his biggest hit of all time entitled In Cold Blood. In the movie Truman goes to Kansas in 1959 to research and find out about several people slain in their own house. Eventually the two criminals responsible are caught and Truman goes to interview one of them. His name is Perry Smith. Once they get talking the two of them become friends and Truman can really sympathize with Perry. While getting more information for the book Truman keeps coming back to see Perry even though that due to Perry's jail sentence it won't be for a long time. He also knows that to show his relationship with Perry and what he has learned that he has to write one incredible book. Winner of The BSFC Award for Best Actor (Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who plays Truman Capote), Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener, who plays Harper Lee) at The Boston Society of Film Critics Awards; The BFCA Award for Best Actor at The Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards; The CFCA Award for Best Actor and Most Promising Filmmaker (Bennett Miller) at The Chicago Film Critics Association Awards; The DFWFCA Award for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress at The Dallas Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards; The Golden Globe Award for Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture Drama at The Golden Globe Awards; The Best Film and Breakthrough Director Award at The Gotham Awards; The LAFCA Award for Best Actor, Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress at The Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards; The NBR Award for Best Actor at The National Board of Review; The NSFC Award for Best Actor and Best Film at The National Society of Film Critics Awards; The NYFCC Award for Best First Film at The New York Film Critics Circle Awards; The OFCS Award for Best Actor at The Online Film Critics Society Awards; The Satellite Award for Outstanding Actor In A Motion Picture Drama at The Satellite Awards; The Actor Award for Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Leading Role at The Screen Actors Guild Awards; The SEFCA Award for Best Actor at The Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards and The TFCA Award for Best First Feature, Best Male Performance and Best Female Performance Supporting at The Toronto Film Critics Association Awards. Capote has good direction, a good adapted screenplay, good performances by the entire cast (and I' am positive Phillip Seymour Hoffman will win this year's Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of Truman Capote), good original music, good cinematography and good film editing. The film is well crafted and well made and really focuses on its story and characters showing their good and bad sides and concentrates on what makes them do the things they do. The film also had some very good character study. I also found that the movie had a good pace and was absorbing and compelling. While watching this film I became interested in what was going on and this is one movie where the characters and the things they do and the choices they makes fascinates you. The film is also riveting and a stylishly made film that looks like it just came out of the 50's time period. Overall a compelling and very well made film that I'm sure will continue to win more awards and get the attention of more theatre goers.