The Capote Tapes

Released Sep 10, 2021

1 hr. 38 min.

Documentary

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93%

43 Reviews

Tomatometer

90%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

Answered Prayers was meant to be Truman Capote's greatest masterpiece, an epic portrait of New York's glittering jet-set society. Instead, it sparked the downfall of the iconic author of Breakfast at Tiffany's and In Cold Blood. Through never-before-heard audio archives and interviews with Capote's famous friends and infamous enemies, The Capote Tapes reveals the rise and fall of one of America's most influential writers and public figures.

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Critics Consensus

Although its rather workmanlike approach may be an awkward fit, The Capote Tapes offers a consistently engaging primer for its sublime subject.

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J M

I've been watching FEUD: CAPOTE VS THE SWANS religiously the last few weeks and have become a bit obsessed with Capote. I've even added a couple of his books, including IN COLD BLOOD, to my next Amazon order. And if you've been enjoying Ryan Murphy's limited series as much as I have, you will totally dig this documentary, which is an essential companion piece. Truman Capote was a true original, and I've never seen anyone quite like him. Not only does this film expound on many of the events of Capote's life, but I felt I got to know him a bit better and come to a closer understanding of what made him a one-of-a-kind creation. The interviews who came the closest to knowing him best are fascinating and entertaining, and there's an admirable blend of those who loved him and those who despised him. By the end, you come to realize what a vulnerable human being he was, despite his frequently poisonous pen. And the meaning behind the title of his unfinished "Answered Prayers" is shattering and relatable. I was entranced throughout by this documentary, and while we will never know the real Truman, we realize we will never know the real anybody. Well done! - Jeff Marshall, Movie Blogger (Facebook)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/08/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Some what informative but I feel no closer to knowing who Truman Capote was as a person. These are accounts of people giving their version of Capote that only paint a partial picture of who this man was. I only feel somewhat compelled to look into what he wrote, namely Breakfast at Tiffanys, but only somewhat. Usually after watching a great documentary I feel captivated and want to look into what I watched on a more specific scholarly level. With this one, only somewhat. They should have included more Truman in this to have a more balanced feel for who he was.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

dave d

Never boring, much like the subject, Truman Capote, 'The Capote Tapes' prove not to be nearly as interesting as the man itself. The film doesn't answer many questions, but sheds an ever-present spotlight on a man ahead of his time, who didn't age gracefully. Ebs Burnough makes his filmmaking debut in this documentary which uses tons of old pictures and video to bring Capote to his vibrant glory. While we're never going to know the exact story of Capote, his legendary tales have been recorded via TV Talk shows and his mind never let the truth get in the way of a story. While truth is stranger than fiction, it's impossible to decipher what is real and what's not and for a movie like this that's ok. If your goal is to be entertained, you will be. Final Score: 8/10

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I typically love documentaries especially about someone as colorful and mysterious as Capote. However, Capote Tapes, turned out to be a snoozer. I fell asleep.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

brent m

Flamboyant, openly gay author Truman Capote may not have been especially prolific, but he wrote several noteworthy, well-respected works. However, when excerpts of what was supposed to be his crowning achievement – the novel Answered Prayers about the dirty little secrets of New York high society based on the lives of a number of his "friends" – he became a pariah of sorts, losing contact with many of those close to him and triggering a speedy downward spiral in his health and well-being. In this new documentary, excerpts of recorded interviews with many of his friends and colleagues and new interviews with those who knew him and studied his work shed light on the enigmatic icon, his life and his writing, particularly with regard to his final and unfinished work. Included are archive segments featuring Lauren Bacall, Candice Bergen, George Plimpton, Norman Mailer, Lee Radziwill, Harper Lee, William F. Buckley and Capote's partner Jack Dunphy, along with new conversations with author Jay McInerney, journalist Sally Quinn, Vogue editor André Leon Talley and talk show host Dick Cavett, among others. Director Ebs Burnough's debut feature presents a captivating look at a talented, troubled and towering figure.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Ebs Burnough

Director

Jay McInerney

Self

Truman Capote

Self

Dick Cavett

Self

Lauren Bacall

Self

Norman Mailer

Self

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The Capote Tapes: Trailer 1

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Alessa Dominguez

BuzzFeed News

Through the director's sensitive rendering, Tapes gets at the weight Capote felt in existing in an era where he had to play a court jester and adds insight into his life, defiant final act, and downfall.

Dec 17, 2021

Full Review

Christy Lemire

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

It's entertaining... but I don't know that it's all that revelatory.

Sep 10, 2021

Full Review

Peter Rainer

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

There's a little bit too much of the usual Capote being a diva and his sad decline... I wish there had been a little more about Capote the writer.

Sep 10, 2021

Full Review

David Reddish

Queerty

The mystery of Capotes final novel leads to even greater enigmas about the man himself in this intriguing and entertaining film.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 13, 2022

Full Review

Joey Moser

Awards Daily

Burnough paces his doc so well that it feels like you are hearing a great story at a crowded cocktail party.

Nov 9, 2021

Full Review

Eleanor Ringel Cater

Saporta Report (Atlanta)

Intentionally or not, the film is also very much a meditation on the sheer unlikeliness of Capote's celebrity.

Nov 4, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

Answered Prayers was meant to be Truman Capote's greatest masterpiece, an epic portrait of New York's glittering jet-set society. Instead, it sparked the downfall of the iconic author of Breakfast at Tiffany's and In Cold Blood. Through never-before-heard audio archives and interviews with Capote's famous friends and infamous enemies, The Capote Tapes reveals the rise and fall of one of America's most influential writers and public figures.

Director: Ebs Burnough
Executive Producer: Nick Fraser, Pierre Lagrange, Lex Lutzus
Screenwriter: Ebs Burnough, Holly Whiston
Distributor: Greenwich Entertainment
Production Co: Hatch House Media, Mville Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 10, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 26, 2021

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