Capote
2005. Directed by Bennett Miller. Screenplay by Dan Futterman, based on the book by Gerald Clarke. Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Clifton Collins Jr., Chris Cooper, Bruce Greenwood, Bob Balaban, Mark Pellegrino.
"Ever since I was a child, folks have thought they had me pegged, because of the way I am, the way I talk. And they're always wrong."
When I tell you that this is the best work Philip Seymour Hoffman has ever done, bear in mind that I would have easily ranked Hoffman among the ten best actors working today before seeing Capote. The performance, and the film, gets inside this character so vividly and completely; finding a man unhealthily driven by his ambition for fame and greatness. He is a master of manipulation and uses it at any, and perhaps every, given moment. He can be very cruel, but sometimes he seems to see very little choice - he has manipulated himself as harshly as he has the people he seeks information from. His desire to finish his book and close this chapter in his life eclipses the decency in him and becomes far more important than the subjects sitting on death row, one of whom who has given Capote all of his friendship and hope. It is a tale of destruction - of human life and of the soul. Surrounding Hoffman are a group of terrific character actors: Chris Cooper, Bruce Greenwood, Bob Balaban, and Catherine Keener as his friend, novelist Harper Lee, who sees most clearly through his deception. Equally impressive is Clifton Collins Jr. as Perry Smith, the convicted killer awaiting execution who puts his trust in Capote. It is a gripping, astonishing film.
My grade: A.
(My top ten of 2005 has been updated to include Capote at #2, though it could just as easily be #1 - a tough call).
"Ever since I was a child, folks have thought they had me pegged, because of the way I am, the way I talk. And they're always wrong."
When I tell you that this is the best work Philip Seymour Hoffman has ever done, bear in mind that I would have easily ranked Hoffman among the ten best actors working today before seeing Capote. The performance, and the film, gets inside this character so vividly and completely; finding a man unhealthily driven by his ambition for fame and greatness. He is a master of manipulation and uses it at any, and perhaps every, given moment. He can be very cruel, but sometimes he seems to see very little choice - he has manipulated himself as harshly as he has the people he seeks information from. His desire to finish his book and close this chapter in his life eclipses the decency in him and becomes far more important than the subjects sitting on death row, one of whom who has given Capote all of his friendship and hope. It is a tale of destruction - of human life and of the soul. Surrounding Hoffman are a group of terrific character actors: Chris Cooper, Bruce Greenwood, Bob Balaban, and Catherine Keener as his friend, novelist Harper Lee, who sees most clearly through his deception. Equally impressive is Clifton Collins Jr. as Perry Smith, the convicted killer awaiting execution who puts his trust in Capote. It is a gripping, astonishing film.
My grade: A.
(My top ten of 2005 has been updated to include Capote at #2, though it could just as easily be #1 - a tough call).
posted by Keith Allison at 11:28 AM
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