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Release Date: October 13th, 2006 by Warner Independent Pictures. The Cast: Toby Jones, Sandra Bullock, Daniel Craig, Sigourney Weaver, Hope Davis, Isabella Rossellini, Peter Bogdanovich, Gwyneth Paltrow, Lee Pace, John Benjamin Hickey, Juliet Stevenson. Directed by Douglas McGrath. BASIC PREMISE: Truman Capote (Jones) bonds with convicted murderers Perry Smith (Craig) and Dick Hickock (Pace) while doing investigative research for his book In Cold Blood. ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: For those who have seen last year’s Capote, Infamous will be familiar territory with no surprises. Toby Jones gives a decent performance as Truman Capote. Everything from the way he talks, his gestures, and his witty retorts makes him seem like more of comedian rather than an investigative journalist working for the New Yorker. When the plot focuses on the relationship between Truman and Perry, it’s much more engaging and believable, especially thanks to Daniel Craig’s terrific performance as a convicted murderer with a heart. However, the plot gets a bit messy, contrived and awkward with party scenes in New York with his many upper-class friends (Weaver, Davis, Rossellini, Paltrow) and other a hilarious scene when he spends Christmas with a detective (Daniels) and his family in Kansas. Sandra Bullock seems miscast as Harper Lee, an author and a good friend of his. Writer/director Douglas McGrath includes distracting scenes when Lee and other friends talk to the screen about their relationship with Truman, as if being interviewed. McGrath’s unfocused awkwardly combines comedy with drama and not enough suspense. Ultimately, Infamous feels underwhelming and only mildly engaging. SPIRITUAL VALUE: Unfortunately, none. INSULT TO YOUR INTELLIGENCE: Often unfocused and contrived. NUMBER OF TIMES I CHECKED MY WATCH: 4 IN A NUTSHELL: Mildly engaging with a mostly decent ensemble cast, but often unfocused, contrived and underwhelming. RECOMMENDED WAY TO WATCH: VHS/DVD Main Page Alphabetical Menu Chronological Menu The "I" Menu ______________________________________________________ |
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