A Tale of Two Capotes
Oct. 12, 2006 — -- Hollywood loves a remake. But can a second film about writer Truman Capote catch the Oscar buzz just one year after another earned Philip Seymour Hoffman best actor accolades for his stunning performance as the famed author?
Apparently, yes. Famous as he was, Capote will never rival Elvis in the sheer number of imitators. But back-to-back Capote films speak volumes about the celebrated writer's impact, an achievement that at least calls for breakfast at Tiffany's.
British actor Toby Jones steps into the flamboyant writer's shoes for "Infamous," and already, critics say the new film could easily equal its predecessor, "Capote," which earned five Academy Award nominations, including Hoffman's win.
"Every time there is a film out during this time, you notice there's Oscar buzz," says Sandra Bullock, who plays writer Harper Lee, a part that went to Catherine Keener in "Capote."
"I'm lucky just to be in a film like this and been given a role when a lot of people would have said, 'Hmm … Sandra Bullock in this role? I don't think I see it."
Don't for a second write off "Infamous" as the least bit derivative of "Capote." It's just another case of rival film studios with nearly identical projects in the works. In some cases, one project wins the race to theaters first, and the other project gets scuttled.
In other cases, a second, remarkably similar film hits theaters shortly after the first. Back in 1998, it was a footrace between two asteroid-hitting-Earth action flicks. "Deep Impact" -- with Robert Duvall, Téa Leoni and Elijah Wood -- that crossed the finish line first, hitting theaters on May 8.
But as it turns out, moviegoers preferred to have their planet saved by Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton and Ben Affleck. The second film, Jerry Bruckheimer's "Armageddon," out-grossed "Deep Impact" internationally by about $200 million.
Just last week, there was a major development in the battle between rival Janis Joplin biopics. "Elf" actress Zooey Deschanel replaced Pink in the title role in Peter Newman Production's " Gospel According to Janis."
