When Truman Capote read about the tragic slaying of a Kansas family in the New York Times, his sharp, inspiration driven mind saw potential in not only the story of the victims but the motives of the killers. With help from fellow writer Harper Lee, he set about a famous investigation into the deaths. Dreamily beautiful and delicately handled, this biopic concentrates on the changeable period in Capote's life when he befriended the two murderers, Richard Hickock and Perry Smith. By interviewing these two convicts as they await execution of death row, Capote found an emotional connection with Perry Smith, the more sensitive and intellectual of the two, who notably placed a pillow under a teenage boy's head before shooting him in the face. This little quirk is of the kind Capote desired, weaving together accounts of the murders with his own narrative style to create "In Cold Blood", allegedly the world"s first "non-fiction novel". The course of the film mostly serves as a detailed look at the relationship between Capote and killer Perry Smith. It handles the would-be-friendship with a balance of intelligent script-writing and very natural acting, without blowing it out of proportion. The result is exceptional, as you start to wonder what Truman Capote"s motives really were for "In Cold Blood". In discussions between himself and his editor, Capote speaks of needing a definite ending to the book. Of course, as an audience we know the outcome, but Capote flirts with the idea of trying to stop the execution, or at the very least delay it. He knows, however, this would not give the desired satisfying conclusion to his forthcoming work, but the thought of two gold-mines of literary inspiration being wasted leaves him confused and heart-broken. While watching the film the viewer is not confused. Phillip Seymour Hoffman's outstanding acting not only makes Capote an interesting character to get to know, but he is wonderful to watch. With the famously high pitched voice, this could have been a comic, zany, caricature. Instead we get an almost melodic tone of voice that isn't at all hard to listen to, with the emotional backing that cries out for award recognition. The most harrowing scene is the moment before the execution, when Capote knows that the outcome he partially hoped for is now imminent. It is all the more hard to watch for the viewing audience, as we have come to wish the convicts dead, but also sympathise with them and their position. This is not a popcorn movie, nor is it exciting entertainment. But I do not mean this as criticism. This should earn the film more respect for not straying into these tempting, money making genres. By keeping sombre and unglamorous, "Capote" is an uncompromising success, definitely worthy of all the awards and recognition it has received.