In Cold Blood.|Sep. 30, 2005|Canada|114 Min.|R
Genre: Crime;Drama
Description: In 1959, the Clutter family is found murdered on their Kansas farm. Truman Capote, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, becomes engrossed by the story after reading about it in *The New York Times*. He contacts *The New Yorker* editor William Shawn, portrayed by Bob Balaban, to share his plan to document the tragedy. Capote travels to Kansas, accompanied by his childhood friend Nelle Harper Lee, played by Catherine Keener, to conduct interviews with those connected to the Clutter family. Despite initial resistance from lead detective Alvin Dewey, played by Chris Cooper, Dewey’s wife Marie, portrayed by Amy Ryan, convinces her husband to invite Capote and Lee to their home for dinner.
Capote’s tales of Hollywood intrigue captivate Marie, and over time, Dewey becomes more cooperative, allowing Capote to view crime scene photos. During a dinner with the Deweys and Lee, the murder suspects, Perry Smith (Clifton Collins Jr.) and Richard “Dick” Hickock (Mark Pellegrino), are apprehended. Capote uses charm, bribes, and his deep understanding of human nature to secure access to the prisoners, forming a particularly close bond with Smith.
Capote’s initial journalistic endeavor evolves into a larger project as he decides to write a full-length book about the case. After the trial, where both Smith and Hickock are sentenced to death, Capote bribes Warden Marshall Krutch (Marshall Bell) to maintain access to the convicts. He spends years visiting Smith, learning about his life and forming an emotional connection, despite the horrific nature of the crimes.
During this period, Capote takes a year-long break to work on the book in Morocco and Spain, accompanied by his partner, Jack Dunphy (Bruce Greenwood). Smith’s remorse, emotional sincerity, and life story profoundly impact Capote, leading to a complex relationship between the writer and the convicted murderer. This intricate dynamic becomes the foundation of Capote’s groundbreaking work.
Cast director: Bennett Miller
Cast actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Clifton Collins Jr., Bruce Greenwood, Bob Balaban, Mark Pellegrino, Marshall Bell, Amy Ryan, Bess Meyer, Chris Cooper
Original name: Capote