3 Cheers for Capote

Ok, so about 3 days ago I said I would be back to fill you in on an EXTRAORDINARY film I forbid you to miss. In the back of this week's Entertainment Weekly magazine horror-genre writer Stephen King named his Top 10 films of the year. Very close to the top of his list is CAPOTE, and I couldn't agree more.

Truman Capote was one of the most beloved, controversial, and flamboyant American writers of the 20th century. Capote is well known for his book "Breakfast at Tiffanys" which was later made into the classic movie starring Audrey Hepburn. During the late 70's and up until his death from alcoholism in 1981, Truman Capote was a staple at the famed New York City club Studio 54 and a cohort of fellow artist Andy Warhol.

In the mid 1960's Capote, accompanied by "To Kill A Mockingbird" author Harper Lee, travelled to rural Kansas to investigate and research the murder of a family of four at their farm. During his attempt to obtain the gruesome details of the slayings, Capote befriends the 2 suspects accused (and later convicted) of the murders. Visiting one of the two convicts (now sitting on death row for the killings) on a frequent basis, Truman becomes conflicted and tortured by his own trickery needed to get the full story of what happened to the Clutter family to complete the final chapter of what would become his best-selling novel "In Cold Blood". Once his mission and his novel are complete, Capote cycles into a deep, alcohol-induced depression and never again finishes a novel.

Truman Capote is BRILLIANTLY portrayed by Philip Seymour Hoffman (Twister, Boogie Nights, Talented Mr. Ripley) in his most convincing and moving performance yet. An Academy Award nomination, and possible win, should not be far behind. If you can allow yourself to get past Hoffman's voice (which is whiney to say the least in true Capote fashion) and get lost in true story behind Capote's incredible novel, you will find one of the most captiviating films of the year. CAPOTE is in limited release as it is an independent feature film, but the leg-work it will take in finding a theater where its being shown is well worth the payoff. TWO (of my very own) ENTHUSIASTIC THUMBS UP FOR CAPOTE!!!!!

TTYL! Heather