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In Reply to: "Capote:" why all the enthusiasm? posted by tinear on February 8, 2006 at 14:14:58:
Well, I disagree with tinear on this one. I found Hoffman's performance excellent -- a slight underplay of an overplaying character. I don't think this is that easy. Combine this performance with his excellent portrait of Brian Molony in the (okay) "Owning Mahowney", and I think we're talking maybe one of the finest contemporary actors.I was riveted by this film. Found it to be a simple artistic portrait of a distinctive character at a turning point in his life and career.
To me, it's significant that the film is a much better presentation of its subject than the piece of book on which it's based (something like 20 or 30 pages of the biography, if I recall correctly).
I found the cinematography good. The New York scenes, rather realistically set, played off against the Midwest in a thoughtful manner, in my opinion.
How in the world Truman Capote ever got through "In Cold Blood" always puzzled me. Perhaps this prejudices me in favor of the film. For that matter, I suspect that a young audience which knows nothing of the "TV set" Truman Capote may react quite differently than an oldtimer like me.
No disrespect meant at all to tinear, but I think the fact that the scenes don't "sparkle or crackle" is, in this case, intentional -- part of the set, as it were. One thing I respect about "Capote" is just that -- it doesn't try to swat you. I fact, I thought that the one swat -- the brief view of the murder -- was useful in setting itself off against the more contemplative depiction of a sensitive, brilliant, determined, conceited man forcefully facing up to some elements of his past and present. Some, not all, which again seemed significant to me.
I think I'm beginning to run on here, and I'm tired, so I'll stop. Again, I'm not trying to disrespect anyone else's opinion on this one. I suspect it's a film that provokes reaction rather personally.
Bill
Follow Ups:
There are sooooo many places Hoffman's perfromance of Capote could've gone off the rails...but never did.Totally awesome performance IMO. Excellent, understated movie that surpasses its source material.
There were two very worthwhile moments in this film but that an excellent film cannot make: near the beginning when he, almost wounded, says to Nelle, "I never lie."
Of course, we see lying is a common behavior.
Later on, there is a comment about two societies that usually are apart but in this rare instance came together: "regular" and criminally violent ones.
I didn't say the film was worthless, after all, just that I thought the portrayal of Capote shallow, which it was, with not enough scenes that stood out, one from another. Hoffman did as good a job as possible, given he didn't have much to say that was novel or wasn't endlessly repeated.
One can convey, in my opinion, a purposefulness in a film (or show boredom) w/out so slowing down and dumbing down a movie as to exasperate a viewer.
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