Remarkable Representation

Rating: 9/10 (25 July 2012)

This is a really wonderful film that succeeds on many levels. It's a biography of a great American writer and iconoclast – Truman Capote. It's the struggle of writing a book. And it's about murder. The murder's occurred close to the small town of Holcomb in Kansas in November, 1959 and the entire film has this sombre grey November feel to it (except the scenes of Truman vacationing in Spain).
Phillip Seymour Hoffman gives a complex and emotional portrayal of Capote – we see him as journalist, friend, raconteur, life of the party, and writer. He is presented as successful, brilliant, egotistical, an incisive observer and a deceitful manipulator – a person who could be many things to all the different people he encounters. We witness the struggles he has with completing his book. As Winston Churchill remarked on writing a book: "To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement; then it becomes a mistress, and then it becomes master, and then a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster and fling him to the public." We particularly experience this quote in the latter half of the film when Truman wants to put an end to it all.
If you are at all interested in the book "In Cold Blood" or in the life of Truman Capote this is must film. Phillip Seymour Hoffman deservedly won best Actor for his very strong performance in this film. Perry, (played by Clifton Collins) also gives a strong, but subdued role, as one of the two murderers. There are many eerie and strong one-to-one encounters – particularly when Truman is involved – they add to the tautness and mood of the entire film.
All and all, even with its pervasive melancholia, this is a remarkable film.
Interestingly, another film, on the same topic, was made at the time called "Infamous". Truman's role was played by Toby Jones, but I found his role to be too much of a caricature. I felt it lacked the strength of character of "Capote", but that is just my opinion.