Two Truman Capote movies

These two films were released within a year of each other. Both focus on Capote's interest in the gruesome killing of four farm family members in Kansas by two jailhouse buddies, leading to his publication of "In Cold Blood"

Philip Seymour Hoffman gives the performance of his career in "Capote" (2005). He is Capote, gay but not flouting it, scheming, manipulative, charming the rubes with shameless Hollywood name-dropping, so he can win over lawman Alvin Dewey (Chris Cooper, always good) and the rest of the rubes to gain access to the killers. Hoffman's Capote is ruthless in gaining the confidence of the killers, paying out just enough to keep their appeals going so he can buy interview time to finish his book, then all but abandoning them (although he does show up for a final farewell just before they're executed).

In "Infamous," Toby Jones is way over the top as Capote--flamboyantly swishing with no qualms about his gay-ness, making the most of it as he inveigles his way into the prison for his interviews. The film spends plenty of time with Capote and his coterie of (mostly female) High Society fans, played by a gaggle of Big Names. A rich vein of humor runs through the first two thirds of the film, but it gets serious near the end as Capote grows closer to Perry S"mith (Daniel Craig in a strong performance),, baring his soul to win over Smith's own confidence--and his confessions. "Capote" is the better drama, but "Infamous" is more entertaining--and dramatic enough on its own.