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May 16 movie: Capote. I'm really glad I watched this while In Cold Blood was still fresh in my mind. It's "the story behind the story," showing how Truman Capote befriended the killers to get the story, developed genuine feelings for them, and ultimately betrayed them. At first he helps them by getting them a good lawyer, to win their trust and because, I think, he honestly likes them. (In fact he has a major crush on one, the one played by Robert Blake in In Cold Blood. Which explains why Blake's character was so much more sympathetic.) But eventually he realizes that their execution is the only good ending for the story, and so he withholds his friendship and his legal help, and waits for them to die so he can finish his book.

If Capote had been a hack like that guy who wrote the "Acid is groovy, kill the pigs" book, he might have been able to shrug off his duplicity. But he was a brilliant writer, not a hack, and it destroyed him. The main focus of the story is Capote unraveling under the pressure. It's really quite tragic. There's one scene in particular where Smith (the killer Capote is crushing on) finds out the title of the book and realizes that Capote's work is not going to help exonerate him. Capote's lies to placate him and keep the information coming are heartbreaking .

I wonder how close to fact it was. Philip Seymour Hoffman's Oscar was well-deserved. He captures Capote's voice and mannerisms so perfectly, and somehow rises above caricature. Catherine Keener was also excellent as Harper Lee, a grounding force in the movie.