Toby Jones' uncanny portrayal of author Truman Capote is really the only reason to see "Infamous". Following on the heels of Bennett Miller's "Capote" from 2005, which covers the same ground as "Infamous"--and netted Philip Seymour Hoffman a Best Actor Oscar besides--the film feels like an also-ran. In the aftermath of the senseless killings of an innocent farm family in Kansas, curious Capote and companion Harper Lee descend upon the small town residents of Holcomb for details and facts about the victims for a proposed article Capote hopes to write (which eventually became the fictionalized non-fiction bestseller, "In Cold Blood"). Jones offers a far more flamboyant characterization of Truman Capote than Hoffman's somewhat damp and subdued portrayal (which made him a bit more approachable to the locals). This Capote is a petulant, persistent and flirtatious little man, an outrageous raconteur and celebrity name-dropper with no edit-button—and no desire to tone down his flaming personality to fit in with the people of Holcomb. It would be impossible not to compare the two performances, and each is excellent in its own way, but Hoffman is more effective during the crucial stretch in the story—when Capote interviews the two incarcerated men who committed the murders, and develops an affection for the brooding Perry Smith. Jones and a miscast Daniel Craig (as Smith) can't break through the plastic coating that permeates their scenes together in the prison, and the rest of "Infamous" feels nearly as artificial. Everyone here is working with great style and aplomb, but there isn't much emotion applied to the circumstance surrounding the events in the film. Capote tours the house where the murders took place, but nothing is built upon this…and nothing is accomplished in the friendship between Truman and Harper Lee (played by Sandra Bullock, as if she were stifling a headache). The production is handsome and some of the dialogue passages are very fine, but the picture isn't convincing on the most elemental of levels. Director Douglas McGrath would much rather dwell on a party sequence with Capote and friends learning the Twist rather than probe these tumultuous personalities with any depth. ** from ****

'Infamous' was the third film (after 'In cold blood' and 'Capote') I saw about Capote, the Clutters and Dick & Perry; certainly not bad, certainly not the best of them.In 'Capote' Catherine Keener plays a perfect Nell, but here, Bullock seems a little light to do the job. 'In cold blood', we have the magnificent duo of crooks Scott Wilson and Robert Blake, here we are lumbered with Englishman Daniel 'James Blonde' Craig, an incomprehensible choice; he (like Bullock) doesn't do a bad job, but once you've seen (so much) better (Blake as well as Keener)... forgetaboutit.Toby Jones díd win me over completely. He had to get up against the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman, but he can do it, and he did it - even if I still prefer Hoffman's Capote. Of course Jones does have the right physique for it, also.By sets, style and atmosphere, 'In cold blood' and 'Capote' win by a landslide. 'Infamous' is certainly not bad in all those categories, but lacks the kind of sobriety, to try and give it a name, that the other two have in spades.I couldn't really be the judge of which film being closest to the truth. Capote hardly being present in 'In cold blood' did not matter all that much to me, when that film gives much more attention to experiences of Dick & Perry - directly a result of the real Capote and his book. I would guess that, where facts and details are concerned, this one may tell the most about Nell and Truman's visit to the smalltown.Certainly worth the watch, in any case. A good 7 out of 10.

"Infamous" is the second film telling the story of Truman Capote and his involvement with the killers of the Clutter family in Kansas. Released in 2006, it stars Toby Jones, Sandra Bullock, Daniel Craig, Sigourney Weaver, Lee Pace, Gwyneth Paltrow, Isabella Rosellini, Peter Bogdanovich, and Juliet Stevenson.Comparisons to "Capote" starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman are natural, though the films are based on different books. "Infamous" is based on George Plimpton's book about Capote, and "Capote" is based on Gerald Clarke's.It's the same idea - Capote travels to Kansas to write an article about the Clutter family murders and decides to make it into a book. He argues with his friend and traveling companion, Harper Lee, about the form it will take because. after all, nonfiction isn't a fictional novel. But in order to do any writing, Truman has to gain access to the D.A. Alvin Dewey (Jeff Daniels) and to the killers themselves, Dick and Perry (Lee Pace and Daniel Craig). Dick, a complete psychopath, has no trouble talking to Truman, but Perry is more reticent.It's ambiguous in both films just how much Capote played on Perry's need to be recognized as having the soul of an artist. The relationship started out at least to be based on lies. Here the sexual aspects of the relationship are more explored, and again, was Perry playing him or was he sincere? "Capote" dealt more with Truman's frustrations and guilt over his need to have a solid ending to his book, which couldn't happen until all the mens' appeals were used up. Here it's mentioned, and it's an issue, but the torture Truman suffers in "Capote" is palpable. Here the emphasis is more on the actual final result and the torture he suffered in its aftermath."Capote" was about Truman Capote, and the character of Harper Lee and other people in Capote's life was underused. Here, played by Sandra Bullock, she has much more to do, and we witness the dynamics of this important relationship. Bullock, by the way, does a terrific job as the down-to-earth, challenging woman who grew up with this man and takes the ride with him as long as she can.In "Infamous," we see Truman as the bon vivant, surrounded by friends like Babe Paley (Weaver), Slim Keith (Hope Davis), Bennett Cerf (Bogdanovich), Diana Vreeland (Stevenson) and Marella Agnelli (an impossibly beautiful Rosselini), and learn a bit about his relationship with lover Jack Dunphy (John Benjamin Hickey). The film uses a documentary style to "interview" some of these characters. All his dear friends, of course, would dump him when a segment of "Answered Prayers" was published, leaving Truman with a final, crushing heartbreak.As Truman Capote, Toby Jones looks and sounds just like him so much that it's eerie. His acting is excellent, with emphasis on the more flamboyant aspects of Capote's personality, where Hoffman's was more on the emotional and inner life of the man. It's a question of taste as to whom you like better, because both are marvelous. The surprise for most people will be Daniel Craig as Perry Smith, but it was no surprise for me, having seen him on stage in "A Steady Rain." The man is a chameleon, nothing less, totally wasted as James Bond and an equal to Daniel Day-Lewis or any of our film stars who are more thought of as "actors." The story of Truman Capote and his involvement with the killers of the Clutter family is a tragedy. Delusional Perry, who blamed everyone for his problems, lamenting what he could have been, feels he has so much in common with Capote. Yet he never realizes that despite this, Capote contributed to society while Perry took the lives of innocent people because Dick ordered him to do so.In the end, the guilt-ridden, saddened Capote basically stopped producing, drove away his friends and died an alcoholic drug-user. When they put the noose around Perry's neck, unfortunately, the noose went around Capote's as well. What price art.

The comparison between "Infamous" and "Capote" is obvious, inevitable and necessary. Although "Capote" is a good 7 out 10 rated movie, is utterly shallow when compared to "Infamous". Enough with the small talk called "Capote"."Infamous" captures all the essence of Truman Capote and its literary masterpiece "In Cold Blood". This book made a strong impression on my personality, when i read it about a decade ago. With the book, i realise for the first time that the best way to see the world is with eyes without a trace of morality. The absence of morality, when used properly, can become an improvement in the understanding of human relations.These are the eyes that brought us "In Cold Blood". These are the eyes that brilliantly brought us "Infamous".