I think you may lose some context if you have not read the book In Cold Blood.

And Philip Seymour Hoffman. Philip Seymour Hoffman. PHILIP. SEYMOUR. HOFFMAN.

Capote is a provocative and compelling character drama based on true events. The film follows celebrated writer Truman Capote as he becomes fascinated by the murder of a Kansas family and forms a personal relationship with one of the killers during his extensive research for his true crime novel In Cold Blood. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Chris Cooper, and Clifton Collins Jr. lead the cast and give excellent performances. The directing is also extraordinarily well-done and is emotionally evocative. In fact, everything about the look and feel of the film is exceptional; the score, the cinematography, and particularly the costumes & sets. An impressive piece of filmmaking, Capote delivers a captivating look behind one the most influential books of the late 20th century.

Intelligent, yet egotistical, calculated, manipulative and callous ? Capote is all these things here in Hoffman's mesmerising performance, yet equally he never alienates the audience, allowing for moments of compassion, insecurity, uncertainty and humanity to flicker throughout. The filmmakers never dilute Capote's image, but equally it's made clear that Capote is struggling to remain detached and does become affected by the research he undertakes. It's a film that is dominated by Hoffman who is in virtually every scene but Keener is also great as his friend Harper Lee. Rather than a full biopic, the film wisely focuses on a specific time period in Capote's life, the research and eventual publication of "In Cold Blood" and the cold, stark mood of the scenes in Kansas contrast sharply with the warmer flamboyant lifestyle that Capote enjoys. The film has a contemplative, quiet tone, but is always compelling.

Hoffman is brilliantly unique in this character role. Wild magnetism and very conflicted. Interesting period for this to play out in.