Capote 2005 Movie Review

Director: Bennett Miller
Writers: Dan Futterman (screenplay), Gerald Clarke (book)
Stars: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Clifton Collins Jr., Catherine Keener
Release Date: February 3, 2006

In 1959, Truman Capote learns of the murder of a Kansas family and decides to write a book about the case. While researching for his novel In Cold Blood, Capote forms a relationship with one of the killers, Perry Smith, who is on death row.

One of my favorite books is Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, so when a movie was made on Truman Capote’s reporting of the Clutter murders, it was only natural that I would be looking forward to it.

Hollywood has been known to blow nudity and violence out of proportion in movies so I was nervous that they would make the murder scenes too graphic.  Despite the brutality of the murders the sights where very minimal, a staging of Nancy was shown and a brief look during the confession.  I also like that actual photos of the Clutters were Incorporated (alive and crime scene) Alvin Dewey the lead KBI agent and even Truman Capote.  Anyway, I appreciated these small touches.

Away from the true crime factor I thought the muted colors of cinematography and costumes was appropriate and set the tone for the film, serious colors for a serious theme.  Even though Truman Capote was flamboyant, I think adding bright colors to his wardrobe would have ruined the design of the film, with outlandish clothing drawing attention away from the subject matter.