Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 09/30/05 (LA & NY) 10/28/05 Home Video 03/21/06 MPAA Rating Rated R for some violent images and brief strong language Running Time 1 hour 38 minutes Genre Drama Director Bennett Miller Writer Dan Futterman Cast Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Chris Cooper, Clifton Collins Jr. Studio United Artist and Sony Pictures Classic |
CAPOTE
SYNOPSIS
In November, 1959, Truman Capote (Philip Seymour
Hoffman), the author of Breakfast at Tiffany's and a
favorite figure in what is soon to be known as the
Jet Set, reads an article on a back page of the New
York Times. It tells of the murders of four members
of a well-known farm family—the Clutters—in
Holcomb, Kansas. Similar stories appear in
newspapers almost every day, but something about
this one catches Capote's eye. It presents an
opportunity, he believes, to test his long-held theory
that, in the hands of the right writer, non-fiction can
be compelling as fiction. What impact have the
murders had on that tiny town on the wind-swept
plains? With that as his subject—for his purpose, it
does not matter if the murderers are never caught—
he convinces The New Yorker magazine to give him
an assignment and he sets out for Kansas.
Accompanying him is a friend from his Alabama
childhood: Harper Lee (Catherine Keener), who
within a few months will win a Pulitzer Prize and
achieve fame of her own as the author of To Kill a
Mockingbird.
In November, 1959, Truman Capote (Philip Seymour
Hoffman), the author of Breakfast at Tiffany's and a
favorite figure in what is soon to be known as the
Jet Set, reads an article on a back page of the New
York Times. It tells of the murders of four members
of a well-known farm family—the Clutters—in
Holcomb, Kansas. Similar stories appear in
newspapers almost every day, but something about
this one catches Capote's eye. It presents an
opportunity, he believes, to test his long-held theory
that, in the hands of the right writer, non-fiction can
be compelling as fiction. What impact have the
murders had on that tiny town on the wind-swept
plains? With that as his subject—for his purpose, it
does not matter if the murderers are never caught—
he convinces The New Yorker magazine to give him
an assignment and he sets out for Kansas.
Accompanying him is a friend from his Alabama
childhood: Harper Lee (Catherine Keener), who
within a few months will win a Pulitzer Prize and
achieve fame of her own as the author of To Kill a
Mockingbird.
Though his childlike voice, fey mannerisms and unconventional clothes arouse initial hostility in a part of
the country that still thinks of itself as part of the Old West, Capote quickly wins the trust of the locals,
most notably Alvin Dewey (Chris Cooper), the Kansas Bureau of Investigation agent who is leading the
hunt for the killers. Caught in Las Vegas, the killers—Perry Smith (Clifton Collins Jr.) and Dick Hickock
(Mark Pellegrino)—are returned to Kansas, where they are tried, convicted and sentenced to die. Capote
visits them in jail. As he gets to know them, he realizes that what he had thought would be a magazine
article has grown into a book, a book that could rank with the greatest in modern literature. His subject is
now as profound as any an American writer has ever tackled. It is nothing less than the collision of two
Americas: the safe, protected country the Clutters knew and the rootless, amoral country inhabited by
their killers. Hidden behind Capote's often frivolous façade is a writer of towering ambition. But even he
wonders if he can write the book—the great book—he believes destiny has handed him. "Sometimes,
when I think how good it could be," he writes a friend,
"I can hardly breathe." -- © Sony Pictures Classics
the country that still thinks of itself as part of the Old West, Capote quickly wins the trust of the locals,
most notably Alvin Dewey (Chris Cooper), the Kansas Bureau of Investigation agent who is leading the
hunt for the killers. Caught in Las Vegas, the killers—Perry Smith (Clifton Collins Jr.) and Dick Hickock
(Mark Pellegrino)—are returned to Kansas, where they are tried, convicted and sentenced to die. Capote
visits them in jail. As he gets to know them, he realizes that what he had thought would be a magazine
article has grown into a book, a book that could rank with the greatest in modern literature. His subject is
now as profound as any an American writer has ever tackled. It is nothing less than the collision of two
Americas: the safe, protected country the Clutters knew and the rootless, amoral country inhabited by
their killers. Hidden behind Capote's often frivolous façade is a writer of towering ambition. But even he
wonders if he can write the book—the great book—he believes destiny has handed him. "Sometimes,
when I think how good it could be," he writes a friend,
"I can hardly breathe." -- © Sony Pictures Classics
David
Capote tells the story behind the story of the writing of In Cold Bold, his "non-fiction" true-crime
bestseller. Truman Capote (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is a pudgy Southerner with a voice like a child.
Capote heads to Holcomb, Kansas with his childhood pal Nelle Harper Lee (Catherine Keener) , after
reading an article in the New York Times about the brutal murders of the Clutter family. He dives into his
research, befriending accused killer Perry Smith (Clifton Collins, Jr.) with whom he feels a connection
after hearing his life story. Capote says, "It's as if we came from the same house, except I went out the
front door and he went out the back." He hopes Smith will give him the moment by moment account of
what actually happened on that hideous night. The cast is superb but it's Hoffman's movie. Hoffman has
starred in 39 movies in 15 years and has gone unnoticed until now. Sure to gather some nominations.
Capote tells the story behind the story of the writing of In Cold Bold, his "non-fiction" true-crime
bestseller. Truman Capote (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is a pudgy Southerner with a voice like a child.
Capote heads to Holcomb, Kansas with his childhood pal Nelle Harper Lee (Catherine Keener) , after
reading an article in the New York Times about the brutal murders of the Clutter family. He dives into his
research, befriending accused killer Perry Smith (Clifton Collins, Jr.) with whom he feels a connection
after hearing his life story. Capote says, "It's as if we came from the same house, except I went out the
front door and he went out the back." He hopes Smith will give him the moment by moment account of
what actually happened on that hideous night. The cast is superb but it's Hoffman's movie. Hoffman has
starred in 39 movies in 15 years and has gone unnoticed until now. Sure to gather some nominations.
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
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