Humous...

''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 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?''

5/10