Capote is a rare thing: a beautifully shot film that subtly develops its characters through action and dialogue.
And that’s really about it.
The story’s okay, and the acting is good, of course, but those things are not nearly as compelling as the way this film develops the character of Truman Capote. I think what I like best about this character development is that the movie doesn’t try to be an all-encompassing biography. It gives us a snapshot into Capote’s life by showing him during a four-year period, concentrating almost completely on the writing of In Cold Blood. It’s not a biopic by any means, and yet I think it defines Truman Capote much better than most biopics do with their main characters, including the recent Ray. Give me a subtle movie like Capote over a drawn out life of a celebrity any day.
I’m not saying it’s perfect, for in some ways, the story drags on. As Capote waits to find out what happens to the killers, we the audience wait with him, wondering what will happen. It's kind of like being stuck on the ship in the middle of the Atlantic in Master and Commander. The main character’s in limbo, so we’re in limbo, too. But Capote manages to pick up the pace again rather quickly, and we watch with Capote as he witnesses what appears to become a seminal event in his life. The events of the novel Capote writes aren't that interesting, either, and watching Capote become a part of the killers' lives is only partially interesting. It's the way the movie develops Capote with this one event that continually moves me.
Watching this one event unfold and witnessing how it effects the main character is truly fascinating.
Grade for Capote: 7
P.S. For those skeptics, I have a few stinkers I’m waiting to review. They can’t all be good, right?
1 comment:
After reading the book, In Cold Blood, I thought the movie, Capote, was even more fascinating. The movie unfolds in much the same way the book does, building contained suspense and morbid sympathy for the killers. Unbelievably good book.
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