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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 2005)
FILM T pu or false? Capote I n 1959, queer novelist Truman Capote became fascinated by what appeared to be the senseless murder of an upright family of four in rural Kansas. When the white-trash killers are caught, he meets them and becomes obsessed with one, Perry Smith, fol lowing his progress through the courts, find ing new lawyers, facilitating appeals—all in the interest of writing what would become the groundbreaking “first nonfiction novel,” 1966’s In Cold Blood. Of course, Capote was aKrut much more than that Kx>k. Unrepentant sissy with a baby ish voice, world-class raconteur, vicious (and vengeful) wit and leading literary light cata pulted to fame by Breakfast at Tiffany's, he was an inescapable figure from the late ’50s through the '70s. Often involved in scandals—few who’ve seen it will forget his live TV attack on novelist Jacqueline Susann, whom he denounced as “a truck driver in drag!”—he was a major consumer of drug and drink and a very ATTI HZ Philip Seymour Hoffman (with Catherine Keener as Harper Lee) deserves an Oscar for Capote. eatingout eatingout plex relationship between two lost souls and a moment when a gay man made literary history. Never Been Thawed Queers may have qualms with Capote by G ary M orris uncloseted queen who lived in an open rela tionship for years with Jack Dunphy. Bennett Millers Capote, starring Philip Sey mour Hoffman in the title role, is inexplicably billed as a “biopic," but the film focuses solely on his involvement with the In Cold Blood proj ect, which lasted a gixxl six years. As such, it’s a powerful and effective film. Capote’s complex relationship with Smith is beautifully nuanced, as the writer simultaneously exploits the killer for artistic purposes, lying and manipulating him throughout, and becomes infatuated if not in love with him. The film succeeds in connecting Capote with Smith through bitter scenes of reminiscing about their strangely similar childKxxls. It’s also a nicely fleshed-out portrait of the clash of two worlds—Capote’s brittle, sophisticated New York party scene (shown in brief, cutting tableaux) and the hardscrabble world of rural Kansas that’s understandably suspicious of the brazenly sophisticated interloper who’s arrived to pry out their secrets. Hoffman’s performance is brilliant and Oscar-worthy, moving with absolute authority from dninken bitterness to cattiness to nobility. He apparently listened to many hours of Capote’s distinctive voice, and he quickly takes on the persona of his subject in every detail. His fluttering hand movements and eye-rolling languor decisively recall rhe man for those who’ve seen the original. But queer viewers may have qualms with eatingout eatingout the film that haven’t cKCurred to the straight press, which has been heaping unfettered praise on it. Capote is annoyingly typical of the Holly- wtxxl Whitewash in de-homosexualizing its subject. Despite showcasing his fey mannerisms and voice, the film studiously avoids the slight est visualizing of affection or lust by this man who obviously was capable of plenty of Kith. Especially annoying is a scene in which Capote appears to get cruised. A hunky man who at first seems to be a disgruntled kxzal stares unabashedly at him. Does Capote, who returns the look, follow him? It’s implied but not shown in Never Been Thawed belongs in a scene that lasts maybe half a minute. Must we guess at this kind of thing in 2005? The only real clue we have is in the credits, where the character is identified as “Cruiser.” Not g<xid enough. Another troubling touch is the portrayal of Dunphy (Bruce Greenwcxid), shown as a kind qf long-suffering wife type begging hubby to pay some attention. For all their physical connec tion, he might as well be the maid. These com plaints aside, Capote is a strong study of a com eatingout eatingout aughs are scarce in this shrill, sophomoric mockumentary that will make you want to repossess every privately held video camera in the country. Directed by Sean Anders, who also stars, Never Been Thawed follows a group of obsessive “frozen fixxJ collectors” in Arizona, two of whom are also in a band of Christian rockers (The Christers) out to hit the big time. Anders piles on the jokes like an interstate car wreck, desperately attempting to wring laughs from juvenile riffs on 12-step programs, the abortion debate, Starbucks (reincar nated as a right-wing coffee joint called No Choice), queer reparative therapy, Jesus rock, deafness, shock jocks, evil businessmen and mindless collectors. Embalmed stereotypes like “Scott Baxter," a self absorbed, ultra-queeny fire man who steals commemo rative plates from bumed-up the deep freeze. buildings, will surely annoy even straight audiences used to Will & Grace, much less more sophisticated queer viewers. Thawed screens 2 p.m. Oct. 23 during the Portland Lesbian &. Gay Film Festival at Holly- wix)d Theatre, followed by a weeklong nin starting Oct. 28. JH L G ary M orris is a Portland free-lance writer who spends his spare time writing the OK American Novel. eatingout eatingout eatingout Ninth Annual Halloween Costume Party O k URANT & BAR DJ Gino Mari (of the Gentry) Complimentary hors d’oeuvres Special performance by Sissyboy! Go-go dancers HAPPY HOUR A ll a other surprise performances all night. day T uesday and Saturday, Oct. 29 at II pm Best Costume Contest $5 with invite, $10 without 4:3OPM - 6:OOPM (Invites Available any evening before the event at Chameleon) W ednesday - F riday 503-460-2682 • www.chameleonpdx.com 2000 NE 40th, Portland DJ'S T hursday - S unday Go-Go The fjull Ring NW (503) 274-4096 B oys & G irls 1900 NW 27 th off V auchn WWW.BULLRINGNW.COM S aturday night “ omemade SUNDAY SPECIALS ALL NIGHT C hile V erde , T amales , D esserts and M uch M ore L unch S pecials 18 yews/ OPEN TUE-FRI 11AM • SAT & SUN 4PM • CLOSED MONDAY • • ff II ft o/l ßiätro i^]onta^e 301 1400 SE MORRISON 503.235.8150 WWW.CRUSHBAR.COM - M exican F ood 4 * * W]orrison *503.234.1324 • montage. citysearcli. Open Oei/en Oòaui a lÁJeeí casugiu Wednesday.Saturday café castagna 7 nights a wert .... S.. _ J 503 231.7373 1752 sc Hawthorne portland dinner 2^,:Sun-0kur. 6p.m. :-2a .m. ^Jri. & Sai 6p .m.- 4a .in. 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