Infamous
There's more to the story than you know.
While researching his book In Cold Blood, writer Truman Capote (Toby Jones) develops a close relationship with convicted murderers Dick Hickock and Perry Smith.
Based on the book Truman Capote: In Which Various Friends, Enemies, Acquaintances and Detractors Recall His Turbulent Career by George Plimpton.
Member Reviews
Not "Capote" But Intelligent Filmmaking - CharleyJames
Is Infamous as good as Capote? No. Infamous is a more surface telling of the story, while Capote was more internal and mysterious. Infamous spells things out; Capote suggested things too complicated to be explained.
That's the nagging thing about Infamous.
Hoffman's Capote was more interesting but I wonder if Toby Jones' portrayal more true to life? He certainly looks and sounds like Capote, and acts as foolish as he routinely made a spectacle of himself. It's difficult to believe that Jones’ flouncing, fluttery, gossipy, ridiculous Capote could have felt, much less written, In Cold Blood. Yet is this a flaw in Jones' performance or an accurate presentation of the mystery of talent?
McGrath’s mock interviews are an unnecessary crutch but I know why he kept them: Sandra Bullock as Harper Lee offers the best acting moments in the picture.
Either by studying Lee or channeling someone else, Bullock adopts mannerisms and facial expressions that are not her own, working them into a well-crafted portrait of a highly internal, observant and deep spirit. It's the performance in the film. Lee accompanies Capote, her childhood friend, on his first trip to Kansas between the writing and publication of her classic novel; Bullock convinced me she wrote To Kill a Mockingbird.
But Infamous deals with Capote's deepening bond with Perry, one of the two murderers and the movie's weak spot. The casting of Daniel Craig as Perry is bizarre. It distorts the dynamic as the real Perry was a little guy with whom Capote shared a little-guy connection. The main problem is that their interaction is unremarkable. Capote is too much of a pushover, seeming more like a man falling in love than an artist in pursuit of the truth. Their scenes are blustery and dramatic but without much subtlety.
Still, by the standards of most films, this is intelligent, thoughtful filmmaking. 3 1/2 starsequally superb - valentinebrown
Phillip Seymour Hoffman won an Oscar for his portrayal of Truman Capote in the film "Capote".Toby Jones plays the same part in a film that deals with the same set of events as "Capote". In Theatre, re-interpretation of a part or play is the norm. In Hollywood, it's viewed as jumping on the bandwagon.
The story of the creation of "In Cold Blood" in both films is an exhilarating and intense journey of an artist who sacrifices his soul for his creation.Along the way, burning bridges with friends and subjects alike.
The major differences in the two films are Toby Jones playing Truman as much more effeminate and glamourous and the possible affair Capote had with convicted killer Perry Smith.
Both films are equal in my opinion, each offering a different perspective on a fascinating man and the events leading to his greatest work.Vive la difference - Stitch
Oscar Wilde was prescient when he quoted ‘Life imitates art far more than art imitates life’, considering the two recent representations of Truman Capote's literary struggle with criminal persona. In this later version, Douglas McGrath and Toby Jones challenge us to make our own assessment of both the author and the subjects. I should really say ‘subject’ since we are steered to Perry as the pivotal actor in the atrocity…possibly not in its execution but certainly in our attempted understanding of it.
There are no weak performances. Toby Jones is superb but then again I’m a fan (see A Painted Veil). And the direction is intelligent in the extreme. The equivocal opening scene sets the questioning mood for the entire film. What are Capote’s real feelings and motives? Pretense for self-enhancement? Popular perception generally assumed it was mostly self-serving but here I'm left with genuine doubt. And since this book turned out to be his last serious hurrah, one is properly left to wonder if and what metamorphosis took place.
Complementing this intellectual query is a very entertaining presentation--more so than the Philip Seymour Hoffman version (Capote, 2005). This is not a critique of the latter but it had few laughs. But Capote used pretension as charm and here it is entertainingly presented. And as his foil, Sandra Bulloch merits special mention. Letter perfect and believable. And appropriate to the enigma of her real life character (still living).
I could quibble about Daniel Craig as Perry, but the incongruity of behavior may have been another deliberate attempt to force open our options. And his animalistic finale was so convincingly far from our expectations that we are tempted to chuck any attempt at understanding. He would not or could not play the forgiveness game.
An interestingly different take on enigmatic subjects. Highly recommended if you can accept incertitude as resolution.
Member Reviews
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Not "Capote" But Intelligent Filmmaking - CharleyJames
Is Infamous as good as Capote? No. Infamous is a more surface telling of the story, while Capote was more internal and mysterious. Infamous spells things out; Capote suggested things too complicated to be explained.
That's the nagging thing about Infamous. ...equally superb - valentinebrown
Phillip Seymour Hoffman won an Oscar for his portrayal of Truman Capote in the film "Capote".Toby Jones plays the same part in a film that deals with the same set of events as "Capote". In Theatre, re-interpretation of a part or play is the norm. In Hollywood, ...Vive la difference - Stitch
Oscar Wilde was prescient when he quoted ‘Life imitates art far more than art imitates life’, considering the two recent representations of Truman Capote's literary struggle with criminal persona. In this later version, Douglas McGrath and Toby Jones challenge ...