This film is based on Truman Capote's docu-novel of the same name. The writing of that novel was worthy of a movie by itself, which materialized as Capote (2005) ( referred in previous post) and Infamous(2006). The present film adds little to Capote, which was a more sophisticated and multidimensional film. I intend, for the sake of completism, to seeing Infamous too, as the unavoidable third part of a trilogy.
The film covers the sensational Clutter murders in 1959, in which an entire well to do family comprising the parents and two teenagers, were killed for robbery. The present film covers most of the grisly details. Predictably, it tries to link the crime with childhood deprivation. The black and white photography and jazzy score creates a sombre melancholy mood. As Capote said, the event was the intersection of two worlds which co-exist, the world of respectable "decent" folk, and the social underbelly where jungle laws prevail.
Robert Blake as Perry and Scott Wilson as Dick give convincing authentic performances. Perry's mind is hunched by his early trauma. He sheds tears even as he slits a throat.Wilson is shifty, jocular, talented in criminality and completely scruple free--a likable conman.
I realized soon into the film that I had already seen it, but then it was like it seeing anew, so thoroughly was it forgotten, and that goes to show it's not memorable, though as well made, riveting and competent as the state of the art.
2 comments:
Sounds intriguing, I may have to look into it.
I am interested in hearing your thoughts on Infamous though, I wonder if it's better than Capote.
@Jack L
Cold Blood is worth a watch and enjoyable.
I'm half way into Infamous. Although subject matter is similar to Capote, the portrayal is very different. It gives a vivid portrayal of the writer's personality and is worth seeing for a different slant on the same topic. Toby Jones as Capote gives a dazzling performance.
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