As a biography of a major writer of the 20th century America Capote is an artistic failure. The film covers only a short period in Capote’s life when he researched and wrote In Cold Blood. The script utterly lacked a central requirement of a good biography: make us understand the person better. All we learn about Capote is that he was almost as cold-blooded as the murderers he interviewed in his pursuit of a story that could make him a famous writer. I suspect many critics have sung high praises for this mediocre film because they identify with the fellow writers. This is made easier because the best scenes in the film are when Capote entertains fellow writers in New York salons.  Capote leaves no doubt that making a film about a world-class writer is a nearly impossible task. The most electrifying moment of the entire film occurs when Capote reads a few passages from his book In Cold Blood.  You immediately think: What amazing language! How did he think of stringing these words together! The film itself never comes close to the quality embodied in these passages from the book. I am looking forward to reading In Cold Blood. The script utterly lacked a central requirement of a good biography: make us understand the person better.

How did he think of strigging these words together! The film itself never comes close the quality embodied in these passages from the book. I am looking forward to reading In Cold Blood. The script utterly lacked a central requirement of a good biography: make us understand this summer.