A New Front Runner For Most Overrated Film of the Year

Rating: 5/10 (30 October 2005)

In reading the professional reviews for "Capote," I was expecting one of the best films of all time. It got a 95% from Rotten Tomatoes and 87 from Metacritic.
Like many of the critic's darlings, I was bored throughout most of "Capote." Much of the problem might be that I have seen the film "In Cold Blood," which is based on the book that is the subject of "Capote." "In Cold Blood" is a much superior film. I have also read the novel, which is much more interesting than this movie.
The problem is that this film makes Truman Capote out to be shallow and manipulative. There is nothing to like about him. His mannerisms are ridiculous but nobody ever says anything about it. We never find out about what make Truman Capote tick.
The directing and acting are good but there is nothing outstanding. Phillip Seymore Hoffman does a good job of imitating Truman Capote's mannerisms, but they are so distinctive that it is kind of like watching something from Saturday Night Live.
Still this is a decent film. If you haven't seen "In Cold Blood" and "To Kill a Mockingbird," you should see those films first. They play a prominent part in "Capote" and they are much superior films. If you have seen those films and want a look behind the scenes, then you might enjoy "Capote."