Jamie passion and passionfruit!

I don’t know what to say about this film.  Yes, Philip Seymour Hoffmann gives a grand performance, worthy of the Oscar.  Yes, Catherine Keener is very much different and fine in a supporting role.  Yes, the other actors such as Clfton Collins Jnr and chris Cooper are fine.  Haunting music and a very well portrayed era (winter early 60’s USA).  The story is a dark one of how Truman Capote manipulates his way into the life of an assassin in return for learning all he needs to write a top novel which cements his reputation as the best in the land.  As a consequence, he realises that he has betrayed some of his own values and that he has got in rather too deep psychologically to be able to walk away without witnessing the end of the two killers and the pathetic end that meets them.  It is all too close to home considering that Truman has a similar early childhood.  And this is the beginning of the end for Capote as he starts to lose it to alcoholism and writer’s block.  It all becomes very dark!!!

That is my problem with this film – as entertainment it is undoubtedly well-made but so heavy a topic with characters who are not particularly likeable or identifiable that I came out wanting sunshine and something rather more positive than Capote’s arrogant put downs and his rather sad end.  It is all carefully filmed but lacks the attraction factor.

¶¶¶ + (for Hoffmann)