Capote

Featuring one of the most effective performances of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s career, Capote revolves around the famed author’s trials and tribulations while writing his masterwork In Cold Blood. Along with friend Harper Lee (Catherine Keener), Capote begins investigating the brutal murder of a family of four – which leads him to charismatic murderer Perry Smith (Clifton Collins Jr). The film essentially plays out like a typical Hollywood biopic, as director Bennett Miller imbues the film with an austere, visually inert sense of style (except in one pivotal sequence towards the end, where he inexplicably breaks out the old shaky-cam). And while it’s never boring, Capote never quite becomes the fascinating portrait one imagines it’s supposed to be – although Hoffman’s meticulous performance goes a long way towards keeping things interesting throughout. Fortunately, however, things start to pick up with Capote finds himself conflicted by his camaraderie with Smith and his need to finish writing the book (which, obviously, can’t happen until Smith is executed). In the end, Capote is an effective look at an exceedingly complicated man – yet it’s hard not to wish the movie had been as spellbinding as Hoffman’s performance.

**1/2 out of ****