Ontir
09-23-2005, 06:38 PM
Capote
Not your ususal bio-pic, this doesn't take us in flashback, to the earliest days of the subject, while going through the heyday, to then say "10 years later..." and give us his death. Instead, we see a fully formed and already rather successful Truman Capote, toast of the Manhattan coctail/arts scene in which booze flows like the Niagara in a late spring, and then follow him to the newspaper which featured a small article about the brutal murder of a Kansas family. Capote is then removed from his comforatable surroundings and thrown into rural Kansas and the pursuit of the story that both made and destroyed him.
Philip Seymour Hoffman is an absolute shape-shifter, completely becoming Capote near to the point of ressurrection. As he moves through the small town of the film, we see his skill at dealing with people who are instantly thrown by his voice and mannerism, partially by use of friend and author Harper Lee (author of To Kill a Mockingbird and brilliantly played by the always great Catherine Keener). As he pursues the story, the methodology he employs reveals more of the author himself, and gives great insight to why his accomplishment, In Cold Blood was never, in any meaningful way, attempted, equaled, or surpassed.
The film also does a fantastic job of examining the differences in the pre-World War II America, and the Modernist Post-War world that was crashing in, and recreating the country in its image. This film is certain to take many Spirit Award nominations and awards, and it might finally get Hoffman an Oscar, as well. I'm going to see this film several more times.
Roll Bounce
I wish this film had been released earlier in the summer, because it's a great summer movie. At its core, we find bits of Rocky, and every other underdog movie, set to a fantastic soundtrack in the era of roller-disco. The film has a great heart, and showcases strong performances by Bow Wow, Marcus T Paulk (Moesha), Khleo Thomas (a yound Mario van Peebles in Baaadaaass), and Jurnee Smollett (Eve's Bayou), along with "Boston Public" alum Chi MacBride, among many others. The performances are great, and the skating was amazing. I found myself wondering why, if ice-skating is a winter Olympic game, roller-skating isn't a summer game, with all the fanfare and recognition? If you're looking for a feel-good movie, you can't do much better than this one.
Not your ususal bio-pic, this doesn't take us in flashback, to the earliest days of the subject, while going through the heyday, to then say "10 years later..." and give us his death. Instead, we see a fully formed and already rather successful Truman Capote, toast of the Manhattan coctail/arts scene in which booze flows like the Niagara in a late spring, and then follow him to the newspaper which featured a small article about the brutal murder of a Kansas family. Capote is then removed from his comforatable surroundings and thrown into rural Kansas and the pursuit of the story that both made and destroyed him.
Philip Seymour Hoffman is an absolute shape-shifter, completely becoming Capote near to the point of ressurrection. As he moves through the small town of the film, we see his skill at dealing with people who are instantly thrown by his voice and mannerism, partially by use of friend and author Harper Lee (author of To Kill a Mockingbird and brilliantly played by the always great Catherine Keener). As he pursues the story, the methodology he employs reveals more of the author himself, and gives great insight to why his accomplishment, In Cold Blood was never, in any meaningful way, attempted, equaled, or surpassed.
The film also does a fantastic job of examining the differences in the pre-World War II America, and the Modernist Post-War world that was crashing in, and recreating the country in its image. This film is certain to take many Spirit Award nominations and awards, and it might finally get Hoffman an Oscar, as well. I'm going to see this film several more times.
Roll Bounce
I wish this film had been released earlier in the summer, because it's a great summer movie. At its core, we find bits of Rocky, and every other underdog movie, set to a fantastic soundtrack in the era of roller-disco. The film has a great heart, and showcases strong performances by Bow Wow, Marcus T Paulk (Moesha), Khleo Thomas (a yound Mario van Peebles in Baaadaaass), and Jurnee Smollett (Eve's Bayou), along with "Boston Public" alum Chi MacBride, among many others. The performances are great, and the skating was amazing. I found myself wondering why, if ice-skating is a winter Olympic game, roller-skating isn't a summer game, with all the fanfare and recognition? If you're looking for a feel-good movie, you can't do much better than this one.