First time's a charm

It's true what they say, the first time is a charm, and on this occassion that applies on two fronts:

First of all, this is the inaugural post on this blog.  Huzzah, hurrah and all manner of other joyous noises.  Secondly, said post is dedicated to the magnificence that is 'Capote'.  But more on that later...

As mentioned a couple of lines above (in case you have the memory of a goldfish.  Or are a REALLY slow reader) this is the first post of a shiny, brand-new blog.  The blog - in case you hadn't already guessed - is going to be another of the know-it-all amateur review kind aiming its sights at the movie world.  Only this is different... it'll be good...

Hopefully these pages will save a soul or two from squandering their brain cells on cinematic tosh (i.e anything made by Michael Bay) and will guide them towards a more worthwhile viewing option instead.  Maybe that will be you?  Or maybe you have a terrible taste in films and actually like Michael Bay?  In which case, save yourself the heartache and close your browser window right now.  You're not going to like what you see.

The reviews aren't going to be of the latest releases in either the cinema or rental world, oh no.  The reviews will come as and when I watch a movie, old or new.  They might be new to me, they might be much-loved favourites.  Who knows, a new release may make it in from time to time.  But lets not get carried away.

My rather flimsy justification for reviewing films that have been kicking around for months or even years, goes thusly: how many of you visit the cinema with any frequency?  Now how many of you regularly visit the video store, or have a Lovefilm subscription?  Exactly.  The unwary viewer is much more likely to stumble upon an old title, and so risk time wastage of the highest order.  And this is where I come in.  

Forget the inane ramblings of the morons on Amazon reviews (I promise you will see nary a single LOL, WTF or OMG on this site.  Apart from there, obviously); sidestep the company progaganda that profilgates IMDB.  Trust in Lee.

Anyway, enough of the spiel.  Once you've read a few of my rambling posts you'll get the gist.  

Enjoy!

Capote (2005)

I would happily pour Philip Seymour Hoffman on my mashed potatoes.  He is THAT good.  Honestly, if there is a better actor in Hollywood at the moment I can't place them.

Synedoche: New York, Before The Devil Knows You're Dead, Magnolia, The Big Lebowski...  he is a god amongst men in all.  Even the few blips on his CV (yes I mean you, Patch Adams) may have been failures as movies, but not for his own performance.  Capote tops all other Hoffman output, and may even stand as one of my top five performances of all time.  Lofty heights indeed!

Capote is a biographical account of writer Truman Capote's research into the massacre of a Kansas family, which became the seeds for his now legendary book In Cold Blood.

Love, alcoholism, duplicity, intrigue and an exploration into the darker side of the human psyche are all treated with a deft hand.  Everything about this film is classicly understated - like a fine Saville Row suit.  Dan Futterman's screenplay is an exercise in subtlety; Bennet Miller's direction an example of restraint; Mychael Danna's score hauntingly simple and Adam Kimmel's cinematography is a thing of beauty.  


And then of course we have the acting...

Hoffman is the shining light in a cast of very, very sparkly things.  Not a single peformance can be found - even amongst the bit-part players - that could be considered anything less than superb.  Hoffman however blows his co-actors out of the water with one of the greatest pieces of acting I have ever had the pleasure to witness.  And it's not just me that thinks so - he garnered both an Oscar and a BAFTA in the Best Actor category.  A mighty accomplishment, I'm sure you'll agree.

So, some of the finest writing, directing, cinematography, sound and acting to be put to film in the last... well... ever... bundled in the same film?  What more can I say?  


Don't even bother renting it, just buy it and enjoy.