In Cold Blood (1967)
B&W – 134m
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood
Based On The Book By: Truman Capote
Writer – Dir.: Richard Brooks
Starring: Robert Blake, Scott Wilson, John Forsythe, Paul Stewart, John Gallaudet and James Flavin.
After a botched robbery results in a brutal murder, two drifters try to evade police only to come to grips with their mortality and the repercussions of their actions. A vivid and haunting rendition of the classic Truman Capote book should not be missed! Everything works here. There are a couple of slow spots but the wonderful cinematography, detail and acting help the annoyance of those slow spots to be nothing more than a passing notation. Robert Blake would, decades later do time for a real life murder. This reviewer adds this information as an aside coincidence that is part of Hollywood history, otherwise it has very little to do with the film in question. A piece of additional trivia though: This was the first American movie to use the explicative, “Bullshit,” in its dialogue. This film was remade a couple of times and the story of the writing of the book has been dramatized in the films Capote (2005) and Infamous (2006).
Rated: [R]
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy as part of The Criterion Collection and outside of it too.
Capote (2005)
C – 114m / 110m
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Truman Capote
Dir.: Bennett Miller
Screenwriter: Dan Futterman
Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Chris Cooper, Bruce Greenwood and Amy Ryan.
New York City socialite Truman Capote travels to Kansas to interview two killers who are set for execution for the writing of his book that would become In Cold Blood. This is a gut twisting biopic that also serves as another haunting rendition of In Cold Blood. Great performances and cinematography! Philip Seymour Hoffman won a Best Actor Oscar® for his portrayal of Truman Capote. It was additionally Oscar® nominated for: Best Picture, Best Director – Bennett Miller, Best Supporting Actress – Catherine Keener and Best Adapted Screenplay – Dan Futterman. Hoffman also won the Golden Globe for Best Actor In A Motion Picture – Drama. Interestingly enough, the same story was told in a film that was set to be released in 2005 but was changed to 2006 so that it wouldn’t be up against this one. That film is (if you will pardon the pun): Infamous (2006), with Toby Jones, Sandra Bullock, Daniel Craig and others.
Trivia: Philip Seymour Hoffman lost 40 pounds for the role of Truman Capote. The film was shot in 36 days. The film opened on September 30, 2005, the day that would have been Truman Capote’s 81st birthday. And: Sandra Bullock was considered for the role of Harper Lee, which she wound up playing in the aforementioned film, Infamous (2006).
Rated: [R] – Some Violent Images & Brief Strong Language
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy
Infamous (2006)
C – 110m / 118m (DVD)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Untitled Douglas McGrath Movie, Every Word Is True, Have You Heard?, Confidential
Screenwriter – Dir.: Douglas McGrath
Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Toby Jones, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sandra Bullock, Isabella Rossellini, Peter Bogdanovich, Jeff Daniels, Daniel Craig, Juliet Stevenson, Michael Panes and Hope Davis.
Truman Capote and Harper Lee travel to Kansas to interview the criminals behind the murders told about in Capote’s book, In Cold Blood. This same storied version of the writing of the book In Cold Blood, as Capote (2005), holds up remarkably well in comparison to Capote. Good acting and the interesting approach to the story being told docudrama style make this worth watching. Be aware that the homosexual escapades of Truman Capote are on display here versus being referred to in Capote. While this doesn’t matter much this reviewer includes it for those who care about the inclusion of that content.
Trivia: Woody Allen advised screenwriter – director Douglas McGarth on a few things while McGarth was writing the movie, as they were both longtime friends. And: The release of this film was delayed so that it wouldn’t be in competition with Capote (2005).
Rated: [R] – Language, Violence & Some Sexuality
Available on DVD & Digital Copy