Bennett Miller's Capote (3/4 stars)

I like to tag the small group of actors that I consider Philip Seymour Hoffman to be a part of as "specially talented and criminally underused." I don't think the likes of William H. Macy, Ed Norton, Don Cheadle and John C. Reilly are underrated. Many people who enjoy movies won't recognize their names, but when you mention a character they've played in a memorable film, they'll say "oh yeah that guy he was great!!!'

These actors will rarely get a chance to lead a film because they don't have the "look" that Hollywood prizes so much. You know, the Cruise, Pitt, and even Keanu "look" (the last one being criminal, but whatever). They also don't have the Pacino/DeNiro/Hopkins-class screen presence that can make up for any lack of smashing good looks.

I think the two poster boys for success for these guys is Kevin Spacey, who was in this class himself until the breakout in The Usual Suspects. Now, Hoffman attempts to join him with a breakout of his own.

I'm considering Phil a mortal lock for the Academy Award. I've seen four of the five performances (excepting Terence Howard - I have no interest in his film) and Hoffman stands head and shoulders above the competition. Perhaps I'm biased, having seen many of his brilliant roles, big and small, go unnoticed. It's about time he got some glory. His Truman Capote is everything the man was reputed to be. Hoffman made me want to smack Truman around until I could understand what he was saying half the time.

What I find inexplicable is how Capote snuck into the nominee list for Best Picture. Sure, Hoffman put the production on his back and carried it into the spotlight, but it's not a remarkable effort for director Bennett Miller. He frames the story of how In Cold Blood was written competently, keeping the spotlight firmly focused on Capote and his inner demons that spawned during the writing of the landmark novel. However, his pacing could have been more even. There are times during the film that things move too deliberately. And I'm not giving him ANY credit for Phil's peformance. Sorry Bennett. Keener is ok as Harper Lee, Truman's partner in literary history (some say Capote actually wrote Lee's landmark To Kill a Mockingbird). However, there is no romance as Capote was gay.

Bottom Line: You have to see this for Hoffman's performance. However, have some patience due to the uneven pacing.

Next: A few more films with Oscar nominations. I hope to get through Walk the Line, Syriana, The Constant Gardener, Proof, Pride and Prejudice. Memoirs of a Geisha and *maybe* The New World before the Academy comes calling.