There is no doubt that Philip Seymour Hoffman is one of the finest actors of his generation. And if there was any doubt, his new film Capote puts an end to it. Hoffman plays author Truman Capote in the film about how his most famous work, In Cold Blood, came to be. While the film is well done, it is Hoffman’s portrayal of Capote himself that makes it memorable; I have seen few other characters on film that I found less sympathetic or less redeemable than Hoffman’s Capote, which is what makes him so watchable. Hoffman makes no effort to portray this man as anything other than a calculated, manipulative, and ego-centric maniac – you want so badly to find some reason to root for him and yet, unapologetically, there is not one.
The film follows Capote as he discovers what will become his most famous work - the story of the murders of a Kansas family one night as the slept in their farmhouse. Sensing a story that can become the work of his life, Capote becomes deeply involved in learning all he can about the murders, wedging himself into the lives of all involved, including the chief investigator on the case (played by the ever-brilliant Chris Cooper) and the murderers themselves. But while Capote’s days are consumed by these murders, he is careful to never let his emotion or passion for the project get in the way of his biggest obsession - the obsession he has with himself.
A good crime-story combined with Hoffman’s unsettling yet stellar performance makes this one worth checking out!
Capote is currently playing in NY and LA.
