Infamous

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Infamous

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Infamous

Daniel Craig, Gwyneth Paltrow, Hope Davis, Isabella Rossellini, Jeff Daniels

What starts out as the irreverent journey of the openly gay writer Truman Capote to the middle-class world of 1950's Kansas, where he goes -- with his childhood friend Harper Lee -- to research the mu...( read more  read more... )rder of the Clutter family, turns to something altogether darker when Capote forms an intense and complex relationship with one of the murderers. In doing so, he produced his greatest work, 'In Cold Blood,' but at a devastating personal cost.

Id: 3803237

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Infamous Recent Reviews
  • flixsterman
    December 17, 2009
    flixsterman
    Having seen In Cold Blood (1967) and Capote (2005) I thought I knew what to expect from yet another film treatment of Truman's novel. Infamous, however, was a pleasant surprise. This one brought to light a little more of Capote's terrific sense of humor and...( read more) a slightly different perspective on his emotional entanglement with convicted murderer Perry Smith.

    If Infamous is overlooked and underrated it has only Philip Seymour Hoffman to blame. Very bad timing for a pretty good film.
  • sononothing
    December 13, 2008
    sononothing
    Infamous is the account of Truman Capote's research in writing the book In Cold Blood. I said Infamous, not Capote and it's Toby Jones not Philip Seymour Hoffman playing the larger than life writer.

    It's amazing to watch to different takes on the same story. Whereas Capote was ...( read more)more of a darker film Infamous is more lighthearted as the relationship between Capote and Perry Smith (Daniel Craig-yes, James Bond).

    Infamous has some very good acting in it with Jones pulling off a Capote that is as equal as Hoffman's. The real surprise was Sandra Bullock as Harper Lee. In this film Bullock has gotten away from the pseudo action pictures and chick flick crap she usually frequents. A real stand out performance.

    The main problem with Infamous is how the story unfolds. As the tale continues to unwind before you the audiences is suddenly hit with a Larry Kingish testimonial on what happened and what it meant totally destroying the flow of the film. Compare it to pulling the emergency brake on a train that doesn't stop at Tucom Cari causing the once peaceful and moving train to come to a violent halt. A total distraction.

    At the end of the Capote vs. Capote match I have to go with Capote. Infamous is a decent film with some good performances (Bullock's being the best) it has the feel of a made for TV film, which isn't a good thing.
  • pier007
    December 1, 2008
    pier007
    Just as good as its more acclaimed and popular counterpart, though a lot less somber and emotional. Toby Jones looks more like the author, his performance is correct, but it pales before Philip Seymour Hoffman's.
    Daniel Craig's rendition of Perry Smith is outstanding.
  • AgentLexi2132
    October 14, 2008
    AgentLexi2132
    ''So you think your book is worth a human life?''

    While researching his book In Cold Blood, writer Truman Capote (Jones) develops a close relationship with convicted murderers Dick Hickock and Perry Smith.

    Toby Jones: Truman Capote

    Douglas McGrath, the Director ...( read more)of Infamous feels the need to grace us with this insight into Truman Capote's point of life just before and during the creation of his controversial book ''In Cold Blood''. I have yet to see the seemingly appearing superior Capote featuring Philip Seymour Hoffman, but Infamous despite having a star lit cast didn't quite have a cutting edge.

    Granted it has it's moments, dry humour mixed with that lacy sarcasm that Capote always possessed. It has characters talking in a like documentary interview style which sometimes annoyed me somewhat.
    Infamous actually succeeds in being emotional in one or two scenes. Especially ones where Capote and Perry Smith are together.

    ''Do you think everyone keeps calling me lady to be mean, or can they honestly not tell?''

    Performances range from standard fare to mediocre to above average.
    Toby Jones as Truman Capote, seems to be such a small enigmatic portrayal on his part. Having seen him in City Of Ember the other day, this character couldn't be further from the previous one. He's openly gay, sneaky, sarcastic and resembles and sounds like a little old lady from Kansas. All that being said it's not a bad thing because it makes the character of Capote that bit more interesting to us the audience.
    Another performance that really should be mentioned 2nd to Toby is that of Daniel Craig.

    Craig plays Perry Smith one of the Murderers behind the Cutter incident. He's the most stand out character here besides Capote who has depth and believability. Craig even went as far as to have brown contacts, tattoos, and dark hair to completely absorb himself into the role.

    Whats even more interesting is the relationship that evolves between writer and subject. A relationship that turns into an understanding, and a love that is tragically not meant to last, which is cruelly ripped away by higher powers. Let's not forget that this Perry is an intelligent man, a reflective soul who's had unfortunate things happen in his life that have led up to this act of great desperation. He's not innocent but that doesn't mean he's not sorry.
    Other performances are more like extended cameos from a range of Stars including Gwyneth Paltrow who pops up near the beginning, Isabella Rossellini, Jeff Daniels, Lee Pace, Peter Bogdanovich, Hope Davis and Sandra Bullock.

    ''To the lucky person who has never heard it, I can only say: imagine what a brussel sprout would sound like, if a brussel sprout could talk.''

    This Infamous not only tells of the perspective of punishment, the morals behind law and crime, and the decline of a Writer lost in his efforts to complete his book. He falls in love, and vice versa, which also leads to the tragedy of losing this new found love. Infamous tells of the strange, the pragmatic, and the surreal confines of a mind, which at first is in it for self gratification but then wants to redeem his subject, his anti-hero and protagonist.

    It's very clever in places if what sometimes annoying, Infamous to me could use some editing and an ending more in tune with shocking and causing something memorable with viewers as opposed to just cutting it short with more interview type proceedings. Worth a watch, and it's renewed my interest in seeing the latter, Capote whom I saw Philip win best Actor a while ago.
    Toby Jones is more comical than believable in his portrayal.

    ''Who says I'm strange?''
  • gor41
    July 13, 2008
    gor41
    Jones gives a convincing turn as Capote but the starry supporting cast distract from the story. Craig in particular is a mistake.
  • MovieGuruDude72
    December 17, 2009
    MovieGuruDude72
    Phillip Seymour-Hoffman's portrayal of Capote was MUCH better than this film, but this might've been a stronger overall movie because it delves into Capote's psyche and offers us a chance to see what originally made the writer tick. An interesting look at why In Cold Blood was as...( read more) big a novel as it was. Educational for those who don't know the entire story, me included when I first saw this film. A great cast and great story. If they could have combined this and Hoffman's Capote into one film it would've been perfect.
  • hummo7
    December 12, 2009
    hummo7
    isnt this also 'capote'?
  • Ivan6655321
    December 9, 2009
    Ivan6655321
    Although "Capote" has a more artistic tone, I would say "Infamous" was more fast-paced and entertaining. Capote, throughout the film, has maintained a grim color tone of almost black and white, a color of emotional despair. But "Infamous", on the other hand, does not have any col...( read more)or preferences, but it still contains the melancholic punch of Truman Capote's character. Now, if I will compare the two, I presently prefer "Infamous", but with a "Capote" rewatch on my calendar of activities, who knows if it might change my mind...
  • samanthaseaotter
    December 8, 2009
    samanthaseaotter
    Not bad - always interesting to watch this cast.
  • SuperVision
    November 30, 2009
    SuperVision
    Some books should never become movies.
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