ARTS& ENTERTAINMENT
Smith & Reeve at the Movies: Capote

Steph Smith and Ian Reeve (With dictation assistance by Steph Smith II

 

and Steph Smith Bot 5000)

Reeve:

If you’ve read about, studied, or participated in
journalism, you have heard the name Truman
Capote. He is one of the fathers of narrative
journalism, along with the dearly deceased
Hunter S. Thompson. His book, In Cold Blood,
is still heralded as one of the best works of
American literature and journalism ever. This
film investigates the making of this piece, but
is really a story about the man behind it. The
film is actually very ironic. It is a dramatized
account of the creation of a dramatized
account.

A cast with very few big names turns in one
of the best ensemble performances I’ve seen in
some time. There is no weak link in this cast.
The cinematography is wonderful. The series
of wide-angle establishing shots are perfect
mood setters and the director always seems to
know where to place the camera during tense
moments.

Capote is the film’s focus, in spite of many
scene-stealers by Clifton Collins Jr., who plays
one of the criminals Capote investigates. In
Capote, the audience finds a true love/hate
character. Devoid of any actual sincerity, con-
cern, or compassion for anything but his own
passion, Capote is even disingenuous in his
attempts to be caring. Obsessed with his own
pain, his own attributes, and his own place in
culture, the audience is unsure of how to react
when it is revealed at the end that Capote died
alone, of alcoholism complications.

This is a tense, cerebral, and often painful
film. A sure-fire candidate for any award cere-
mony this spring, this is a must see film.

 

“Smith:

It’s been a long time since I have seen a
film that can exist on its own without big-name
Hollywood actors and special effects. The
movie was one strong performance after
another. It is not often you can go see a movie
and really truly believe the character. You often
see Mr. Big Name Hollywood Guy as a charac-
ter in a film, seldom do you see the character
separate from the actor. Capote provides just
the opposite.

Each character was so fabulously played
that you forgot the actor and got into the film
on a deeper level. The script was strong, The
dialogue was heart wrenching at some times,
terrifying at others, and occasionally funny.
Shot in Manitoba—but set in Kansas—the bar-
ren prairie setting fit perfectly with the feel of
the film. The cinematography was simple and
effective, setting a slightly aged feel to the
movie.

Truman Capote is portrayed as a man who
manipulated people to get his books done. He
is shown as frequently seeing his own miniscule
problems as more important than any cata-
strophic event that may be happening to those
around him. He is shown as having a much dis-
torted sense of reality and doing what he want-
ed with complete disregard for the world
around him.

At times you want to sympathize with him,
but most of the time, you just feel sorry for
him. If Phillip Seymour Hoffman does not
receive recognition for this role, I will eat my
hat (if, of course, I were wearing one.) It was
one of the most dramatic films I have ever
seen. I would go so far as to call it riveting.

The Repo Man

_ Directed by Sen Mendes

_ Six months in Saudi Arab anc
_and traumatic experiences ‘Of. ( Swoff”
(Gyllenhaal) as he fights in essen Dos Storm. _

November 4

Zathura

Not starring Robin Williams

Two young brothers are drawn into an intergalactic adventure when

 

their house is magically hurtled through space. Jumanji in
spaaaaaace!
November 11

Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic

Starring Sarah Silverman

Narrative digressions on sex, race, politics, and more from comedi-
enne Sarah Silverman. Off-Broadway goes to the big screen.
November 11

Gwar

Commodore Ballroom

Novy. 12 @9

Tix $34 at Ticketmaster and Zulu

Depeche Mode

GM Place

Nov. 15@8 .

Tix $59.50-89.50 available at Ticketmaster

 

  

The story of Joseph Meni sideshow freak ay toast of
London _

Pacific Theatre

Till Nov. 12 ©

Tix $1 4-28, call 604. a1. 5518

Little Mercy First Murder

Film noir musical fantastique

‘Touchstone Theatre

Nov 3-12

Tix available at 604.709 9973 « or www.touchstonetheatre.com

Alley Cats, The Musical

Campy musical madness starring a guy named Rex Harrington,
what a good theatre name

Tul Noy. 12

Tix available at Ticketmaster

Campus Events —

Douglas College Depesecae of Theatre and Stasceatl.
Present: Les Belles Souers

November 4-12 @ 7:30pm

Talkback performances Nov. 7 @ 1pm and Nov. 8 @ 7:30pm
Matinee performances Nov. 7 @ 1pm and Nov. 12 @ 2pm

Douglas College Departments of Theatre and Stagecraft
Present: Frankenstein

November 12-19 @ 7:30pm

Talkback performances Nov. 14 @ 1pm and Nov. 15 @ 7:30pm
Matinee performance Nov. 19 @ 2pm