Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film

*Rough Cut: CAPOTE*
by Amanda Weir-Gertzog

Just returned from a 7:30pm sneak peek of the rough cut of CAPOTE courtesy of Independent Film Festival of Boston at the Kendall. I knew that the film was in the works, but knew very little about it. (And, full disclosure here, knew very little about Truman Capote and the surrounding story which may have worked to my advantage while watching the movie??? Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Truman Capote starting on November 15, 1959 the day of the In Cold Blood Murders and ending on April 14, 1964 when the Murderers are executed. He may be getting the Raging Bull award of 2005 for this role. He dropped 40 pounds to play Capote, as well as worked for months perfecting his affected speech. Those in the audience that were familiar with with 'accent' said that it was eerie. The director claimed that Capote's biograher Gerald Clarke says it is spot on.

The film follows Capote's willingness to sacrifice anything and everything for his story: friendships, love life, mental and physical health. In November 1959 he reads a small blurb in NYC about a Kansas farming family having been murdered and the next day he is on a train with his best gal pal Nell Harper Lee (yes! that Harper Lee!) to investigate what he thinks will be one article for The New Yorker. Thus, begins his 4 1/2 year journey towards his infamous book In Cold Blood.

Excellent performances abound: particularly a turn as Harper Lee by Catherine Keener. Bruce Greenwood, Bob Balaban, and Chris Cooper are also in the cast. And Clifton Collins, Jr. has a breakout role as Perry Smith one of the convicted killers that Capote befriends for his story (?) Capote tells Harper at one point that he feels like he and Perry grew up in the same house, but that he went out the front door and that Perry went out the back. With Capote the literary socialite, and Perry the journaling, sensitive killer it is often hard to tell exactly who is manipulating who.

Music, sound, length... and audio are still being edited and adjusted. 4.5 cats. (Get thee to this movie as soon as you can:-)

Rough Cut: CAPOTE