"Capote" or "Infamous"?

[ForrestGump]

Funny how life imitates DU: a few days ago I characterized my speaking voice as a cross between Truman Capote and Barry White (it's not, of course, in that it's actually more akin to a melding of Tom Waits and Antonio Banderas) and then I visit my local library in search of enlightenment and in its place I find DVDs of two 2006 movies about Truman Capote and the writing of In Cold Blood. One was Capote, a movie that starred Philip Seymour Hoffman and garnered rave reviews for his portrayal, and the other the other was Infamous, with diminutive British actor Toby Jones (I'd seen him as Swee in the very nice live-action Peter Pan of recent years) in the Capote role.

I think I'm leaning toward Infamous, that I just finished watching hard on the heels of watching Capote. Both films were great and both covered the same period in the writer's life. Hoffman is an amazing actor and I've always been impressed by him, and his performance as Capote was exquisite. Jones is physically far more suited to the role (Hoffman is a fairly big dude...Jones is 5'5", much more slight, far more feminine in this role, and his face is almost eerily like that of the real thing, as is his voice. I thought that Jones' portrayal was more multifaceted than that of Hoffman's, which was far more one-note and introspective, and he was certainly more flamboyant in dress, speech, and behavior. Some might see his playing of Capote as cartoonish or over-the-top but Capote was over the top. I remember seeing Truman Capote on TV a few times when I was a kid and just wondering "what the hell?!?," having no idea what he'd done back before I was a baby and thereabouts. Infamous also featured the other cast members far more prominently whereas Capote focused far more closely on the titular character, and sometimes I almost felt like the vibe was "stand back...give him room and let him act...this f***er's going to win an Oscar for this." To me, Jones' portrayal felt more natural and fleshed out...it also went more explicitly into his sexuality and the relationship between him and one of the killers (yes, we get to see James Bond kiss Truman Capote). Further, I felt like the film was not only more nicely paced but showed both Capote's true affection for people, including Perry, simultaneous with his vainglorious nature and his tendency to embellish and outright lie in the service of forcing life to tell a better story. It managed to show his depth, shallowness, and powers of outrageous manipulation far more effectively, I think. He was obviously a complex man and I think the Jones portrayal, for all of Hoffman's impressive muscle-flexing as an actor, somehow snuck up on me and gave me a better idea of what Capote (and the New York 'society' -- replete with big-name guest stars -- that encouraged him) was probably really like in the '60s.

Technically, in terms of lighting, camera angles, and all of that, Capote is superior. But I think I like the other one a little better. Both are very well done and extremely interesting...much more so than I anticipated.

What do you think?

[MonkeyFunk]

1. I thought they were both very good

but I think Capote was better.

[ForrestGump]

2. Yes, both very good. In some ways

the question's moot because, even though about the same person and time, they're so very different in execution, tone, and focus.

Thanks to the marvels of modern technology, we don't have to pick just one. :D

[mitchum]

3. "Infamous" is far better...on a related note...

I asked my wife just yesterday, "Do you realize that there are now enough portrayals of Perry Smith,that there could now be the film category 'Best Performance as Perry Smith' now that four actors have played him?"

I think the gimpy little aspirin freak would be touched

[Shakespeare]

4. I really, really need to rent Infamous.

I own Capote, and have watched it a few times now, but have also heard very good things about Jones' performance.

My early memories of Capote are like yours--I was watching the Carson show as a wee lass and was fascinated by this strange but compelling man, clearly three sheets to the wind and gesturing with his drink (remember when they'd drink on Carson??), and thinking WHO the heck is that? When I read To Kill a Mockingbird in fifth grade or so, my teacher told us that the character Dill was based on Capote, and I had a heck of a time trying to reconcile that character with the strange inebriated man from the Carson show. A few years later, I came across a copy of Breakfast at Tiffany's at the local bookstore, and somehow the two images began to reconcile themselves in my mind.

[LostinVA]

5. Bullock's portrayal of Nelle Harper Lee was much closer to the mark than Keener's

Although, I LOVE Catherine Keener.

The two movies are both so different in POV, etc. I will say that "Infamous" gave a much better look at WHO Capote was, and Jones' portrayal was much closer to the Capote I remember seeing on TV as a kid. Hoffman totally deserved the Oscar, though (as did Heath Ledger).

[TommyO]

6. I almost rented Infamous tonight, but passed it up and left without renting anything

I think I'll have to go back and get it after my upcoming family weekend.

[Spirochete]

7. Close call...

but I liked Infamous a little better.