IN COLD BLOOD (1996)
A Film Review
Copyright Dragan Antulov 2004
Steady stream of Hollywood remakes in past few years is often
explained with the apparent lack of creativity among the pillars of
American film industry. There are some remakes that simply defy
explanation. One of them is IN COLD BLOOD, 1996 TV film directed
by Jonathan Kaplan. It was based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book
by Trumane Capote, adapted into classic 1967 Hollywood
docudrama.
The film starts in 1959 Kansas where Doug Hickok (played by
Anthony Edwards) and Perry Smith (played by Eric Roberts), two ex
convicts who became best friends behind bars, wander around and
make living through petty thefts and forged cheques. When they hear
about rich farmer Herb Clutter (played by Kevin Thighe) and huge
safe rumoured to be at his farm they see it as an opportunity for one
big score. One night they break into Clutter's home and demand that
Clutters give them the money. When it turns out that the safe and
money aren't there, Hickok and Smith kill Clutter, his wife and two
children in order to evade identification. When the crime is revealed,
entire nation is in shock and Kansas detective Dewey (played by Sam
Neill), close friend of Clutters, is determined to find perpetrators and
bring them to justice. In the meantime, Hickock and Smith manage to
slip into Mexico, but lack of money later forces them to return across
the border.
People who watch "true crime" docudramas do it mostly because
they are fascinated with real life stories and successful docudramas
must try to be as authentic as possible. 1967 version was probably
among the most authentic docudramas, being shot on authentic
locations and having some of the real life personalities recreating
history in front of cameras. Kaplan's TV version, made almost three
decades later, couldn't take similar approach and was bound to be
less authentic. Whole point of the film was, therefore, lost. The only
interesting thing about it is the use of colour and somewhat unusual
casting. Anthony Edwards, actor specialised for the roles of nice
characters, here plays homicidal psychopath. Eric Roberts, who made
career playing villains, tries to portray one of the killers as gentle,
artistic and misunderstood soul. His efforts are in vain because
director Kaplan gives impression of being detached from the
material. Same could be said for Sam Neill who simply sleepwalks
through his role. For some this version of IN COLD BLOOD could be
nothing more than sub-par television film, but for those who read the
book this is a pointless waste of an excellent story.
RATING: 2/10 (-)
Review written on April 12th 2004
Dragan Antulov a.k.a. Drax
http://film.purger.com - Filmske recenzije na hrvatskom/Movie Reviews in
Croatian
http://www.ofcs.org - Online Films Critics Society
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