Supelice Dreadfully Boring

Teringer An Exercise In Nonsense

Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

Philippa All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

moonspinner55 Toby Jones' uncanny portrayal of author Truman Capote is really the only reason to see "Infamous". Following on the heels of Bennett Miller's "Capote" from 2005, which covers the same ground as "Infamous"--and netted Philip Seymour Hoffman a Best Actor Oscar besides--the film feels like an also-ran. In the aftermath of the senseless killings of an innocent farm family in Kansas, curious Capote and companion Harper Lee descend upon the small town residents of Holcomb for details and facts about the victims for a proposed article Capote hopes to write (which eventually became the fictionalized non-fiction bestseller, "In Cold Blood"). Jones offers a far more flamboyant characterization of Truman Capote than Hoffman's somewhat damp and subdued portrayal (which made him a bit more approachable to the locals). This Capote is a petulant, persistent and flirtatious little man, an outrageous raconteur and celebrity name-dropper with no edit-button—and no desire to tone down his flaming personality to fit in with the people of Holcomb. It would be impossible not to compare the two performances, and each is excellent in its own way, but Hoffman is more effective during the crucial stretch in the story—when Capote interviews the two incarcerated men who committed the murders, and develops an affection for the brooding Perry Smith. Jones and a miscast Daniel Craig (as Smith) can't break through the plastic coating that permeates their scenes together in the prison, and the rest of "Infamous" feels nearly as artificial. Everyone here is working with great style and aplomb, but there isn't much emotion applied to the circumstance surrounding the events in the film. Capote tours the house where the murders took place, but nothing is built upon this…and nothing is accomplished in the friendship between Truman and Harper Lee (played by Sandra Bullock, as if she were stifling a headache). The production is handsome and some of the dialogue passages are very fine, but the picture isn't convincing on the most elemental of levels. Director Douglas McGrath would much rather dwell on a party sequence with Capote and friends learning the Twist rather than probe these tumultuous personalities with any depth. ** from ****

grantss "Capote", the initial telling of Truman Capote's writing of In Cold Blood was released in 2005 and won Philip Seymour Hoffman an Oscar, plus received four other Oscar nominations. Yet, within a year another movie on the In Cold Blood story was released, "Infamous". What possessed the producers of the latter to make another movie on the subject, and so soon after the former, I do not know. Perhaps it was already in the works when Capote was released and they decided to push ahead anyway.This said, I enjoyed Infamous more than Capote. While good, Capote was cold, almost documentary-like. Infamous is warmer and more emotional. It vividly captures the relationship between Truman Capote and Perry Smith, one of the murderers. The execution scene is particularly harrowing. Plus it gives a more explicit indication of the effect that the writing of In Cold Blood, and its success, had on Capote. The character depth is greater in Infamous too, and not Capote's character. The New York social scene helps greater a wider breadth of characters, and proves much warmth to the story.Great performance by Toby Jones as Capote. Good support from Daniel Craig as Perry Smith, Sandra Bullock as Harper Lee and Jeff Daniels as the police chief. Some big names in minor roles too, and none of them disappoint: Sigourney Weaver, Peter Bagdanovich, Hope Davis, Isabella Rossellini and Gwyneth Paltrow.The definitive story of the writing of In Cold Blood, and its aftermath.

punishmentpark 'Infamous' was the third film (after 'In cold blood' and 'Capote') I saw about Capote, the Clutters and Dick & Perry; certainly not bad, certainly not the best of them.In 'Capote' Catherine Keener plays a perfect Nell, but here, Bullock seems a little light to do the job. 'In cold blood', we have the magnificent duo of crooks Scott Wilson and Robert Blake, here we are lumbered with Englishman Daniel 'James Blonde' Craig, an incomprehensible choice; he (like Bullock) doesn't do a bad job, but once you've seen (so much) better (Blake as well as Keener)... forgetaboutit.Toby Jones díd win me over completely. He had to get up against the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman, but he can do it, and he did it - even if I still prefer Hoffman's Capote. Of course Jones does have the right physique for it, also.By sets, style and atmosphere, 'In cold blood' and 'Capote' win by a landslide. 'Infamous' is certainly not bad in all those categories, but lacks the kind of sobriety, to try and give it a name, that the other two have in spades.I couldn't really be the judge of which film being closest to the truth. Capote hardly being present in 'In cold blood' did not matter all that much to me, when that film gives much more attention to experiences of Dick & Perry - directly a result of the real Capote and his book. I would guess that, where facts and details are concerned, this one may tell the most about Nell and Truman's visit to the smalltown.Certainly worth the watch, in any case. A good 7 out of 10.

rowlandbridgett I'm confused to why WB felt they needed to re-make a movie about Truman Capote, that was so close to the "Capote" film, and a year later. I Loved "Capote" Because acting by Philippe Seymour Hoffman was Bar None, as Truman. People will want to compare two films that have exactly the same subject matter especially if both came out around the same time, individuals will also likely have a preference to whichever is their favorite. Capote, screenplay was outstanding as well as wonderfully cast. I love Toby Jones But INFAMOUS is interesting, But it really does have a movie-of-the-week quality to it, while I find "CAPOTE" to have a realistic feel to it...the acting, the screen play, and the quality of the filming."Enjoy"Bridgett Rowland Atlanta Ga