• It’s a stunning portrait of Truman Capote with a triumphant performance by Phillip Seymour Hoffman
  • I wish there was some of it but there’s some strong juxtaposition of establishing shots and transition editing with the open cold Kansas prairie landscapes with the posh NYC skyline (and then beautiful Spanish vacation spot later)
  • PSH is the reason this film is excellent—it goes far beyond impersonation and mimicry—of course the voice and the laugh is studied—but PSH absolutely disappears- one of the greater “chameleon” performances showing an actor’s range

  • CAPOTE, Philip Seymour Hoffman, 2005, © Sony Pictures Classics/courtesy Everett Collection

  • Keener is very solid as Harper Lee- she grounds Truman and her insight guides us as the audience
  • The scenes at parties where Truman is entertaining are excellent—charisma, narcissism, and he’s manipulative, effeminate and genius– it is studied and dissected here by Miller and PSH
  • Many intimate scenes—complex – well arched and nuanced characters in complex relationships (Perry played by Clifton Collins Jr. is excellent)
  • Bennett Miller makes very good films—strong writing, great acting
  • R/HR border