Infamous, He Said

The year of Truman Capote? In the last year, two films recounted the events and process Capote went through as he wrote his masterpiece book "In Cold Blood". In "Capote", which was released first, the star, Philip Seymour Hoffman was clearly the focus of the film. His masterful portrayal of the flamboyant author and social gadfly, was the thing that has stuck in my mind after all of these months. Capote's relationship with Harper Lee, (To Kill a Mockingbird) at once loving and competitive was fleshed out by a brilliant performance by Katherine Keener. There was the hint that Capote actually had an affair with the one of the killers Perry Smith. In both films, Capote's legendary relationships with the famous wealthy and socially prominent was featured.

I won't quibble about who did a better Capote. Philip Seymour Hoffman played a subtler version that struck me as more like the guy I remember from the few television appearances I saw him on, but I don't know what he was like in private.

What was striking is the cast of "Infamous". It might have been titled "Famous" instead, since even minor roles like singer Kitty Dean were covered by recognizable stars, in Dean's case Gwyneth Paltrow. The role of Harper Lee, played by Sandra Bullock, was meatier and featured as more of a compelling aspect in Capote's life in the "Infamous" version. The biggest difference was the depiction of a love affair between Capote and Perry Smith.

I do not think Capote was a substantial man. His ethic's were self serving and if he did fall in love with Perry Smith, he was less than candid with his life partner. He at times appeared to try and manipulate events, such a trying to get Smith to apologize on the gallows, because it would make a better book. And he was tortured by the fact that the four appeals that the killers pursued delayed the publication of his book

However, He was a outstanding writer. "In Cold Blood" is the judged to be beginning of the development of the docudrama. What is sad is that he never wrote anything substantial after this book. He proceeded to drink himself to death. This has lead to the speculation that his love for Perry Smith and his execution was more than Capote could deal with. Both of these films are worth seeing, but if I had to say one was better than the other I would watch "Infamous".