Having watched and reviewed Capote, I was really intrigued by Infamous, which covered the same story of Truman Capote’s book In Cold Blood . Not only had Capote come out the same year (2006) as this later film, but was so overwhelmingly well received.
How could another movie on the same subject be any better? I can certainly say that it was not better, but as interesting as the subject matter itself. Infamous, Starring Tobey Jones is the same account of the Clutter Murders of 1959 in Holcomb, Kansas with a major difference, the point of view from both the Director and "the Society" with which Capote encompassed himself. In this rendition, Capote is reflected as a gossip, who thrives on the lives and misfortune of others. But he shows compassion to his close friends. It feels so wonderful to be part of the "group" of populars that no one seems to care that one’s deepest darkest secret will be shared by Capote at a whim and to his benefit. Through the film, we see Capote change as he connects with Perry Smith, one of the murderers and the subject of Truman’s book. He goes from flippant and gregarious to a more humble human being. So much so that it ultimately is his demise.
Rather than account the story of In Cold Blood, Capote and now Infamous, I would like to further say the second aspect of this film is the casting. Knowing the story that has been told and retold can be a curse for any remake of sorts. Int his case, the casting was truly exceptional save a few. Tobey Jones as Capote is not quite as true as Phillip Seymour Hoffman who won the award for his portrayal, but offers quite a stand up performance. Even more femme and glitz, still able to convince us that he IS Truman Capote and forgetting that another Capote could exist. Even better, though arguable was the portrayal of Perry Smith by Daniel Craig. I seriously had to look several times closely as this character lacked the British Accent, the suave debonair persona of previous characters.
Craig was quite convincing as a cold blooded killer with deeply hidden feelings of lament and regret. I was amazed at his physique, strong and buff was diminished to a seedy, unattractive man with a limp. Even when his final moment comes, I felt as Capote did, sorry. The additional casting was good but not great. Sandra Bullock was convincing as Nell Harper Lee (who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird) but not even on par with Catherine Keener. I was disappointed by Gweneth Palthrow’s short appearance as she sang. During the song, I was worried that the rest of the movie would be a "Lip Sync" drama. Not even close! While this is so similar a story to it’s predecessors, I highly recommend Infamous, but absolutely insist that you also see Capote. I am sure that had this version come out a year or two before or after Capote, it would have been better received. After all, who wants to see the same story done again?