In Cold Blood (1967) / Capote (2005) / Infamous (2006)

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

John Cassavetes 1970’s

Husbands (1970)

C. – 142m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Husbands: A Comedy About Life, Death And Freedom
Writer – Dir.: John Cassavetes
Starring: Ben Gazzara, Peter Falk, John Cassavetes, Nick Cassavetes, Xan Cassavetes and K.C. Townsend.

A group of friends have a midlife crisis after their friend’s untimely death at a young–ish age. This is a masterful tale of men trying to find meaning in their lives after the untimely death of their friend. This was Cassavetes getting his pain over his brother’s death out of his system. Pacing is a bit slow but the performances are spot on and the film should be used as a tool to view men’s psychological process around deaths, particularly their friends’ deaths. Much of the material in the film was improvised and written later, as such, it took a few years to make. At one point this existed in a very long cut and was a riot of a comedy. Cassavetes to the dismay of studio executives recut it to what it is here. What remains is a rather powerful set of performances with commentary on something all men go through when confronted with death of people close to them. Cassavetes, Falk and Gazzara did a noteworthy piece of publicity for the film on The Dick Cavett Show. They were drunk and acting silly, this pissed Cavett off and he even walked off stage during the taping due to it. Only during a commercial break did their (Falk, Cassavetes and Gazzara’s) manager shake them and reprimand them. The rest of the show they behaved. Cavett viewed that experience as THE WORST interview he had to conduct. This film and that interview should be part of The Criterion Collection.

Rated: [PG–13] – Mature Thematic Elements Including Sexual Situations, Language, Drunkenness, & Brief Domestic Violence.
Out Of Print on VHS but Available on DVD & Digital Copy.

Minnie And Moskowitz (1971)

C. – 114m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: John Cassavetes’ Minnie And Moskowitz, John Cassavetes’ Minnie & Moskowitz, Minnie & Moskowitz
Writer – Dir.: John Cassavetes
Starring: Gena Rowlands, Seymour Cassel, Val Avery, Timothy Carey, Katherine Cassavetes, Lady Rowlands, John Cassavetes, Xan Cassavetes, Zoe R. Cassavetes and Roberta Collins.

A museum curator falls in love with a crazy parking attendant. An interesting premise delivers a mildly entertaining film. Nothing more, nothing less. One piece of trivia: Universal cut a scene at the beginning of the film, when it was released, that violated the contract they had with John Cassavetes. That scene has never been restored. This reviewer would be interested in seeing what was cut.

Rated: [GP]
Not Available on video in the USA. Bootlegged on YouTube.com.

A Woman Under The Influence (1974)

C. – 155m. / 146m. (Turner Classic Movies Print)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen (Intended Ratio) / 1.37:1 – Fullscreen (Negative Ratio)
Writer – Dir.: John Cassavetes
Starring: Peter Falk, Gena Rowlands, Fred Draper, Lady Rowlands, Katherine Cassavetes, Matthew Cassel, John Finnegan, Frank Richards, Xan Cassavetes, and N.J. Cassavetes.

A woman’s married life suffers from her mental illness. Gripping performances put across this uneasy to watch film. Everyone here is in top form. Oscar® Nominated for Best Director – John Cassavetes and Best Actress – Gena Rowlands, though it won neither. On a trivia note: Martin Scorsese threatened to pull his film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974) from the major New York City Film Festival unless the also took in this film.

Rated: [R]
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy through The Criterion Collection

The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie (1976)

C. – 135m. (1976 Theatrical Release) / 109m. (1978 Theatrical Rerelease)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
Writer – Dir.: John Cassavetes
Starring: Ben Gazzara, Timothy Carey, Seymour Cassel, Robert Phillips, Morgan Woodward and John Finnegan.

A gambling nightclub owner gets into hot water with the mob. The only way to clear his debt, make a hit for them. Will he do it? This film was from an idea developed by John Cassavetes and Martin Scorsese years earlier. Sadly this was the misfired version of that idea. Even in two cuts (the latter being heavily edited) the film doesn’t shine. A curio at best.

Rated: [R]
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy through The Criterion Collection

Opening Night (1977)

C. – 144m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
Writer – Dir.: John Cassavetes
Starring: John Cassavetes, Gena Rowlands, Ben Gazzara, Joan Blondell, Paul Stewart, John Finnegan, Fred Draper, Katherine Cassavetes, Lady Rowlands, Peter Bogdanovich, Seymour Cassel, Peter Falk, and Naomi Stevens.

A stage star suffers a mental breakdown after one of her fans dies trying to see her. This film has a sad story line to be sure but what a wonderful way to put it across. Very, very moving and nuanced performances here, particularly by Rowlands. Doubts, regrets, obsession, rejuvenation, etc.; all perfectly executed. As with any other Cassavetes film, this is slow paced. An interest in performances, particularly live ones will help in appreciating this wonderfully masterful film.  

Rated: [PG–13]
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy through The Criterion Collection