Reply #77: Okie dokie, here's my review, having watched both "Capote" and "Infamous." [View All]

[Heidi]

Philip Seymour Hoffman, while looking nothing like Truman Capote, gave the far superior performance in "Capote." And while Toby Jones in "Infamous" looked almost exactly like Capote and nailed Capote's nasal voice, his performance struck me as much less layered and nuanced that Hoffman's. Too, "Capote" seems to have been much more well written and didn't dwell on Capote's homosexuality in the stereotypical ways that "Infamous" did. For example, it's clear in "Capote" that the main character is gay, but his sexual orientation was portrayed as one part of a very complex character. In "Infamous," Capote is portrayed as a caricature of a gay man, leaving a sour taste in my mouth.

Also, I found Clifton Collins Jr.'s portrayal of Perry Smith in "Capote" far more convincing than Daniel Craig's "Infamous" portrayal of the same man. I realize much is made in the media of Daniel Craig, but I think Clifton Collins Jr. is a unsung jewel and I'd like to see more of his work.

All in all, I enjoyed both films, but I much prefer "Capote."