Collins' portrayal of the remorseful, yet cold hearted Smith will long be remembered as one of the more overlooked performances of 2005. As I watched the two interact on screen, it was easy to know what kind of emotional despair the situation brought to the mind of Truman Capote, and how difficult it was for him to find closure in the fact that he had befriended a killer in order to tell a story. A solid ensemble that included Catherine Keener and Chris Cooper brought the world of Capote right onto the big screen, and left an indelible mark on Capote's legacy.
Behind the Scenes
Visually the movie was interesting. The lonely shots of the desolate Kansas prairie really aided in setting the somber tone of the film. And while the sets allowed me to feel like I was right there in the world that was in the early 1960s, there was no amazing visual achievement here. And though the film was not visually stimulating, it fit for some reason.
I believe that the intention of this work of cinema was to truly unveil the emotional dysfunction of the main character, not show off the desolate midwest. I believe that the real gem of the behind the scenes work on this film has to be the casting job done by Avy Kaufman. The cast truly fit their roles and they were truly able to tell the story as is probably actually happened. Impressive, to say the least.
The Final Cut
In the end, I was moved by Capote. Not necessarily by the story itself, but by the way it was delivered through the brilliant acting of Philip Seymour Hoffman. He gave a truly Oscar worthy performance and should be commended appropriately. The film did its job, and was significantly depressing in the end. But once it's over you feel for Truman Capote. You are left to feel a certain sadness about what he put himself through as a writer, and it changes you a little...
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