Phillip Seymour Hoffman Delivers as Truman Capote

Rating: 10/10 (3 September 2015)

The true story of famed writer Truman Capote's work on his last finished book "In Cold Blood" is told brilliantly in Capote, starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Esteemed writer and popular socialite Truman Capote learns about a brutal murder in a small town and decides to investigate the story for an article in The New Yorker. He travels there with his best friend from childhood and long into adulthood, Harper Lee. Harper Lee is, of course, the author of the classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, but at this time hasn't even written it yet. Now, Mr. Capote goes to this town and interviews many people. He talks with the police, with local residents, and even friends and family of the victims. But something happens when he meets the alleged killer. He develops a sort of empathetic connection to him, although he still does just seem to want a story. He decides to write a "non-fiction novel" instead of just an article as he gathers so much info. This is where we see a despicable side of Truman Capote start to arise. He hires a lawyer to help fight the killer's case, but mostly because he doesn't want the kid killed until he can get a confession out of him to write in his book. He acts like he's the kid's friend in front of him, but lies and treats him like garbage behind his back. And the movie also focuses over the fact that Truman starts to become impatient over his 4 year process because he cant finish his book until the killer convicted, set free, or executed. We also see Truman's fall from friendship with Harper Lee due to his increasing alcoholism and his insane jealousy over the success of her famous novel.
This movie does something great for the biopic genre as a whole. It shines light on a person's life, but doesn't romanticize it. This movie shows Truman Capote for what he was. Fun, and intelligent, but also deceitful and slightly corrupted. Phillip Seymour Hoffman runs away with this role portraying every detail associated with the author. Mr. Hoffman perfectly portrays the voice and lisp of Truman Capote, and also embodies all of his little mannerisms and traits. He becomes Capote in such a way that you forget it is an actor on screen. The man on screen IS Truman Capote, and that is beautiful. The story is excellent and truthful. It isn't romanticized like it could have been. An excellent movie. Must-see.
10/10