Writ & Dir: Nick Cassavetes based on the true story of Jess James Hollywood

• Emile Hirsch … Johnny Truelove
• Justin Timberlake … Frankie Ballenbacher
• Shawn Hatosy … Elvis Schmidt
• Ben Foster … Jake Mazursky
• Anton Yelchin … Zack Mazursky
• Sharon Stone … Olivia Mazursky
• Bruce Willis … Sonny Truelove
• Matthew Barry … Interviewer
• Vincent Kartheiser … Pick Giamo
• Dominique Swain … Susan Hartunian
• Amanda Seyfried … Julie Beckley

You know this films isn’t half bad. I went to see it expecting a somewhat mindless popcorn film. But is actually a fairly watchable, half way decent flick.

Johnny Truelove and his pals are half-arsed weed-dealer-kids, hanging out and doing drugs, making money through dealing. But when real bad-boy Jake Mazursky owes money to Truelove things begin to escalate, leading to Truelove and “his boys” kidnapping Jake’s half brother. But the 15 year old Zack doesn’t seem like much of a victim. He gets to live the life of drugs, drink and parties; he is having a good time. But the kidnapping was a spur of the moment thing, and when he consults his lawyer Truelove realises that the implications may be quite serious.

His solution? Why get rid of the hostage of course.

Most of the film consists of the “boys” hanging out, having a good time, getting stoned, watching video games and playing games. But of course you know that it isn’t going to end happily. The opening scene is an interview with Johnny Truelove’s father, there is a time line, and every peripheral character is identified as a witness. You know that trouble can’t be far away.

Surprisingly, all the actors do a good job. Hirsch reminded me a little too much of Leonardo diCaprio for some reason, but played his role well. Timberlake had little to do for much of the film, handing around, getting high, but in the final scenes he was really good as his character suddenly realises what he has gotten himself into. Anton Yelchin, playing Zach, was perfectly cast as he comes across as a nice boy, likeable and innocent. But it is Foster who really steals the show as the violent and unpredictable Jake. Sharon Stone too does a great job, although the make-up effects in the interview scenes felt a little too much for me.

It isn’t an excellent film, but there is plenty to like about it.

Official Site | IMDb | Wikipedia entry | Fantasy Moguls | Pop Syndicate | Pop Matters

Tags: 7 Stars, Alpha Dog, Amanda Seyfried, Anton Yelchin, Ben Foster, Bruce Willis, Dominique Swain, drugs, Emile Hirsch, Jesse James Hollywood, Justin Timberlake, kidnapping, Matthew Barry, murder, Nick Cassavetes, Sharon Stone, Shawn Hatosy, true crime, Vincent Kartheiser

Related posts

• Capote (4)
• Veronica Guerin (0)
• Tsotsi (0)
• The Secret Life of E. Robert Pendleton (0)
• The Egyptologist (0)

• Philip Seymour Hoffman - Truman Capote
• Catherine Keener - Harper Lee
• Clifton Collins Jr. - Perry Smith

Truman Capote is best known for writing In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and this film deals with the six year it took him to write the true crime novel based on the murder of an entire family in rural Kansas. The film concentrates on Capote, the murders are only important because they are what motivates Truman. The trial, the murderers, etc, all of these play second fiddle to the man himself.

As such, Hoffman is on screen for almost every minute of this film. And not only does he have to portray a real person, he also has to mimic Capote’s high, lisping voice. Not an easy job, but Hoffman pulls it off with seeming ease. As was recognised by his Oscar for this role.

However, this isn’t a very enjoyable film. Capote himself comes across as a very unlikeable character. He is a selfish, manipulative character, whose only desire seems to be finishing his book. We get flashes of Capote in “society”, entertaining other party-goers with his stories and humour. But there is always the sense that he entertains because he craves the attention. He needs to be surrounded by adoring fans. (If I was to get all psychological I would suggest that this is due to his childhood of neglect.)

We also get hints at the Truman behind the entertainer. But really, he isn’t much better. More honest perhaps, but being brutally honest isn’t enough when you are self-obsessed as Capote in this film.

As a result, I didn’t enjoy this film. Truman annoyed me.

At the same time however, I was intrigued by it. By how others related to him. Harper Lee, his friend since childhood, comments at once stage that he is no longer funny. A statement about his attitude to the Clutter murderers, and about other people in general. Perry, one of the murderers, is convinced that Truman is his friend, when all along Truman merely wants to write his book. And he needs Perry and Richard’s appeals to fail, so that they will be executed and he will get his ending. Yet on another level he does care for Perry. He is fascinated with him, and shares many childhood experiences with him. It would be astonishing if he didn’t have some feeling for Perry, he got to know him over the course of six years.

In the end I’m glad I saw this film. Interesting and entertaining, a fantastic portrayal of a complicated, talented man, it is a very good film. But one I won’t be rewatching.

IMDb | Wikipedia on Truman Capote | Jabberwock | Stoning the Devil

Tags: 7 Stars, biography, Capote, Catherine Keener, Clifton Collins Jr., crime, Harper Lee, murder, Philip Seymour Hoffman, true crime, Truman Capote

Related posts

• Alpha Dog (6)
• Zodiac (0)
• While Green Grass Grows (0)
• Wash this blood clean from my hand (6)
• Veronica Guerin (0)