Capote biopic
Infamous to open Venice fest

The world premiere of writer-director Douglas McGrath's Infamous, a biopic about writer Truman Capote, will open the 63rd Venice International Film Festival, organizers said Tuesday. The film will screen August 31 as the Horizon Selection at the Venice event.

It stars Toby Jones as Capote and features a star-studded cast including Sandra Bullock, Daniel Craig, Lee Pace, Peter Bogdanovich, Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, Gwyneth Paltrow, Isabella Rossellini, Juliet Stevenson, and Sigourney Weaver. The feature is based on George Plimpton's book Truman Capote: In Which Various Friends, Enemies, Acquaintances and Detractors Recall His Turbulent Career.

Like last year's Capote, which reaped an Academy Award for Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance in the title role, Infamous recounts the part of Capote's life during which he investigates a Kansas crime for his groundbreaking book In Cold Blood. With the help of Harper Lee (Bullock), Capote interviews murderers Perry Smith (Craig) and Dick Hickock (Pace). Warner Independent Pictures will release the film worldwide in October. The Venice festival runs August 30-September 9. (Reuters)