Capote

Capote Information

Capote is a 2005 biographical film about Truman Capote, following the events during the writing of Capote's non-fiction book In Cold Blood. Philip Seymour Hoffman won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his critically acclaimed portrayal of the title role. The film was based on Gerald Clarke's biography Capote and was directed by Bennett Miller. It was filmed mostly in Manitoba in the autumn of 2004. It was released September 30, 2005, to coincide with Truman Capote's birthday.

Plot

In Kansas, a family friend discovers the dead bodies of four of the members of the Clutter family. While reading The New York Times, the story of the Clutters rivets writer Truman Capote (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who calls The New Yorker magazine editor William Shawn (Bob Balaban) to tell him that he plans to document the tragedy.

Capote travels to Kansas, inviting childhood friend Nelle Harper Lee (Catherine Keener) to come along. Capote intends to interview those involved with the victims, the Clutter family, with Lee as his go-between and facilitator. Alvin Dewey (Chris Cooper), the Kansas Bureau of Investigation's lead detective on the case, brushes him off, but Dewey's wife Marie (Amy Ryan) is a fan of Capote's writing and persuades Dewey to invite Capote and Lee to their house for dinner. She is starstruck by Capote's stories of being on movie sets with film stars.

Dewey warms up to Capote and allows him to view the photographs of the victims. The Deweys, Lee, and Capote are having dinner when the murder suspects, Perry Smith (Clifton Collins, Jr.) and Richard "Dick" Hickock (Mark Pellegrino), are caught. Flattery, bribery and a keen insight into the human condition facilitate Capote's visits to the prison where the accused are being held.

Capote begins to form an attachment to Smith. He informs Shawn of his intent to expand the story into a full-length book. Following the trial and conviction, Capote is able to gain continued access to the murderers by bribing Warden Marshall Krutch (Marshall Bell).

Capote spends the following years regularly visiting Smith and learning about his life, excepting a year-long stint when Capote goes off to Morocco and Spain to write the "first three parts" of the book, accompanied by his romantic partner Jack Dunphy (Bruce Greenwood).

The story of Smith's life, his remorseful manner, and emotional sincerity impress Capote, who becomes emotionally attached to him despite the gruesome murders. Smith refuses to tell Capote what happened on that fateful night, angering Capote. After much persuasion, Smith tells him in great detail. The story becomes a meditation upon the need for redemption even in very grave circumstances.

Legal appeals drag on for years. Capote is exasperated, as he is unable to have his book published without an ending. In the meantime, Lee writes a novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, which becomes a best-seller, to Capote's surprise and jealous annoyance.

The last appeal is finally rejected. Capote is an eyewitness as Smith and Hickock are hanged, with Smith's hanging being explicitly shown. Capote talks to Lee about the horrifying experience and laments that he could not have done anything to stop it. She replies, "Maybe not; the fact is you didn't want to." This is the last line of the film. The next and last scene shows Capote looking at photos from the case as well as writings and drawings given to him by Smith.

Cast

Philip Seymour Hoffman as Truman Capote
Catherine Keener as Nelle Harper Lee
Clifton Collins, Jr. as Perry Smith
Chris Cooper as Alvin Dewey
Bob Balaban as William Shawn
Bruce Greenwood as Jack Dunphy
Amy Ryan as Marie Dewey
Mark Pellegrino as Richard "Dick" Hickock
Allie Mickelson as Laura Kinney
Marshall Bell as Warden Marshall Krutch
Araby Lockhart as Dorothy Sanderson
Robert Huculak as New York Reporter
R.D. Reid as Roy Church
Rob McLaughlin as Harold Nye
Harry Nelken as Sheriff Walter Sanderson
C. Ernst Harth as Lowell Lee Andrews
George Dangerfield as Jury Foreman

Awards

Acting awards for Philip Seymour Hoffman

Academy Award for Best Actor
BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama

Critics' awards

Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Boston Society of Film Critics: Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress
Chicago Film Critics Association: Best Actor, Most Promising Filmmaker
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress
Independent Spirit Awards: Best Actor, Best Screenplay
Kansas City Film Critics Circle: Best Actor
Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress
National Board of Review Award for Best Actor
National Society of Film Critics: Best Film, Best Actor
New York Film Critics Circle: Best First Film
Online Film Critics Society: Best Actor
Southeastern Film Critics Association: Best Actor
Toronto Film Critics Association: Best First Feature, Best Performance - Male, Best Supporting Performance - Female

Nominations

78th Academy Awards:
- Best Picture
- Best Director - Bennett Miller
- Best Actor - Philip Seymour Hoffman (Won)
- Best Supporting Actress - Catherine Keener
- Best Adapted Screenplay - Dan Futterman
59th British Academy Film Awards:
- Best Picture
- Best Director - Bennett Miller
- Best Actor - Philip Seymour Hoffman (Won)
- Best Supporting Actress - Catherine Keener
- Best Adapted Screenplay - Dan Futterman
Berlin International Film Festival: Golden Bear
Broadcast Film Critics Association: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress "? Catherine Keener, Best Screenplay - Dan Futterman
Directors Guild of America: Best Director - Bennett Miller
Independent Spirit Awards: Best Picture, Producers Award - Caroline Baron
Online Film Critics Society: Best Supporting Actress - Catherine Keener, Best Breakthrough Filmmaker "? Bennett Miller, Best Screenplay - Dan Futterman
Producers Guild of America Awards: Best Theatrical Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards: Best Supporting Actress - Catherine Keener, Best Ensemble Cast
Writers Guild of America Awards: Best Adapted Screenplay - Dan Futterman