Gore Vidal described his voice as what a brussel sprout would sound like if it could talk. I prefer to think of him as a live action version of Droopy the dog. This fascinating and aggravating man was gayer than Liberace, hanging out with some rather odd high class women (don't you dare refer them as eccentric, even if they do have their maid iron their money!), and ending up in a relationship with a man who has sworn off women after his wife betrayed him. The world of Truman Capote is explored in this colorful drama, focusing on his research on a real murder that influenced "In Cold Blood". When Capote visits the actual scene of the crime, you see how true to life he structured the story.
Toby Jones followed up the excellent performance of Philip Seymour Hoffman with an equally flamboyant one, yet one filled with many layers. Dressed in drag to fool people he wants to interview, he looks like Granny from the Sylvester/Tweety Bird cartoons, but in spite of how animated he is, you really believe that this is exactly Capote lived. Such actresses like Sandra Bullock, Sigourney Weaver and Juliette Stevenson, the cigarette smoking "eccentric" with the money ironing fetish. Bullock is outstanding as the legendary Harper Lee of "To Kill a Mockingbird" fame. Jones is hysterical in a scene where he impresses the locals by mentioning his acquaintances from Hollywood's golden age. True or not, the way he tells it is fascinating.
Having only seen Capote, the real deal, in a few interviews, all I can do is make speculations about what he was like in real life. It gives more insight into what he was as like around normal people, and he is as fascinated by the hicks from Kansas as he is with big city celebrities. With these mid- westerners obviously aware of his sexual orientation yet not shunning him has to be credited to his charm. Capote does get acidic and bitchy at times, but it's more out of frustration than his own inner demons that cause nasty queens in the first place.
His interactions are also quite incisive with the killers, with Daniel Craig and Lee Pace adding individual nuances to the personalities of the killers to where they seem almost human even after committing such heinous acts. Jeff Daniels is excellent as the local law enforcement who is alternately annoyed and amused by Jones. Some crude remarks flung at Capote in the prison cell- block might offend sensitive ears, but a story that Capote tells in regards to how he deals with such ill-mannered advances is hysterical. Period detail is excellent, the writing is something that Capote would applaud, and the history lesson is invaluable. The ending is heart-wrenching as a love of sorts develops between the quietly masculine Craig and the fruity Jones, and reveals something about Capote as he watches Craig face his tragic fate. I never thought I'd have sympathy for such brutal killers, but the writing is so powerful it did just exactly that.
Toby Jones followed up the excellent performance of Philip Seymour Hoffman with an equally flamboyant one, yet one filled with many layers. Dressed in drag to fool people he wants to interview, he looks like Granny from the Sylvester/Tweety Bird cartoons, but in spite of how animated he is, you really believe that this is exactly Capote lived. Such actresses like Sandra Bullock, Sigourney Weaver and Juliette Stevenson, the cigarette smoking "eccentric" with the money ironing fetish. Bullock is outstanding as the legendary Harper Lee of "To Kill a Mockingbird" fame. Jones is hysterical in a scene where he impresses the locals by mentioning his acquaintances from Hollywood's golden age. True or not, the way he tells it is fascinating.
Having only seen Capote, the real deal, in a few interviews, all I can do is make speculations about what he was like in real life. It gives more insight into what he was as like around normal people, and he is as fascinated by the hicks from Kansas as he is with big city celebrities. With these mid- westerners obviously aware of his sexual orientation yet not shunning him has to be credited to his charm. Capote does get acidic and bitchy at times, but it's more out of frustration than his own inner demons that cause nasty queens in the first place.
His interactions are also quite incisive with the killers, with Daniel Craig and Lee Pace adding individual nuances to the personalities of the killers to where they seem almost human even after committing such heinous acts. Jeff Daniels is excellent as the local law enforcement who is alternately annoyed and amused by Jones. Some crude remarks flung at Capote in the prison cell- block might offend sensitive ears, but a story that Capote tells in regards to how he deals with such ill-mannered advances is hysterical. Period detail is excellent, the writing is something that Capote would applaud, and the history lesson is invaluable. The ending is heart-wrenching as a love of sorts develops between the quietly masculine Craig and the fruity Jones, and reveals something about Capote as he watches Craig face his tragic fate. I never thought I'd have sympathy for such brutal killers, but the writing is so powerful it did just exactly that.