02-15-2006, 09:50 PM
Capote -- Philip Seymour Hoffman
Catherine Keener -- Harper Lee
Clifton Collins Jr. -- Perry Smith
The performances were so strong, especially by the 3 above,
that it was hard to see them as actors. A very intelligent and in places moving and disturbing work.
I sometimes had trouble understanding Capote. My hearing isn't that great anymore. Lady Cranefly had problems as well. Still, most of it works visually.
Capote is depicted as brilliantly manipulative. Though he's capable of deep emotion, his priorities are skewed towards writing.
The movie is based on a book about Capote, and there's more of a morality play to it than I'm willing to buy, at least without knowing more about Capote the man. In particular, just before the final credits, there is summation text on the screen: 1) that In Cold Blood made Capote America's most famous author, 2) Capote never wrote another book, 3) Capote died in '85 of alcohol-related causes. The implication is that the guilt he suffered while researching/writing the book destroyed him.
But from what I have read in the past, Capote was extremely sociable, and he loved to party. This, in and of itself, could explain points 2 and 3.
Whatever, it is a great movie, a bit haunting. And Lady Cranefly and I are both leaning towards reading In Cold Blood (actually she read it in her teens, but wants to revisit it; me, I skipped all the classics).
Catherine Keener -- Harper Lee
Clifton Collins Jr. -- Perry Smith
The performances were so strong, especially by the 3 above,
that it was hard to see them as actors. A very intelligent and in places moving and disturbing work.
I sometimes had trouble understanding Capote. My hearing isn't that great anymore. Lady Cranefly had problems as well. Still, most of it works visually.
Capote is depicted as brilliantly manipulative. Though he's capable of deep emotion, his priorities are skewed towards writing.
The movie is based on a book about Capote, and there's more of a morality play to it than I'm willing to buy, at least without knowing more about Capote the man. In particular, just before the final credits, there is summation text on the screen: 1) that In Cold Blood made Capote America's most famous author, 2) Capote never wrote another book, 3) Capote died in '85 of alcohol-related causes. The implication is that the guilt he suffered while researching/writing the book destroyed him.
But from what I have read in the past, Capote was extremely sociable, and he loved to party. This, in and of itself, could explain points 2 and 3.
Whatever, it is a great movie, a bit haunting. And Lady Cranefly and I are both leaning towards reading In Cold Blood (actually she read it in her teens, but wants to revisit it; me, I skipped all the classics).
I'm nobody's pony.