Scent of a Woman | | Cast : | Al Pacino, Chris O'Donnell | | Director : | Martin Brest | | Studio : | Universal Studios | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Dolby, Widescreen | | Released Date : | December 23, 1992 | | DVD Released Date : | February 08, 2005 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 28, 2005 | | Summary | A Perfect Film | Content
 | In my opinion, only American Beauty is in the same league as Scent of a Woman. Pacino has done, and continues to do some amazing work, but it will be his performance here that I will always remember.
And for the reviewer who thinks this film is morally confused...I think you may have some issues. The point of the film was that Charlie's integrity was not for sale. He was not going to give up others (no matter what they did) just to save his own behind. Your character is based on your own decisions and should not be dictated by the acts of others. It's a shame that you missed that. |
| Rating | | | Date | July 18, 2005 | | Summary | Morally confused and formulaic | Content
| Charlie (Chris O'Donnell), a prep school student on a scholarship, takes a weekend job supervising the blind former army officer Frank Slade (Al Pacino). Frank unexpectedly takes Charlie on a luxurious trip to New York, where Frank plans to sample the best that life has to offer before taking his own life. Charlie, meanwhile, is struggling with the morality of whether to inform on some fellow classmates whom he witnessed setting up a practical joke to humiliate the headmaster of the school (James Rebhorn).
After some truly great performances, it's a shame that this is the film that finally won Pacino his Oscar. He's effective, as always, but the majority of his performance is over-the-top bluster and shouting of the type that has become almost stereotypical for him. The screenplay (by Bo Goldman) is strictly formulaic; once it creaks into motion, there is never any doubt about where it is headed. Along the way, we are treated to ridiculous scenes such as a blind tango and a test drive in a Porsche with the blind Slade hurtling through the streets of New York at 90 mph without encountering pedestrians, other traffic, or drifting off the road. He even makes some hairpin turns!
The film is also morally confused. The great dilemma in Charlie's life is whether to become a snitch. The filmmakers seem to take the position that informing on another is always wrong, no matter how illegal, harmful, or stupid the incident concerned. Goldman goes to great pains to present headmaster Trask as a dislikeable man so that he will lose audience sympathy. But that doesn't make him wrong. Charlie's classmates perpetrated a stupid prank with the sole intention of putting down another person. Add to this the fact they are perfectly satisfied to sit back in silence to let Charlie take the fall for something he didn't do, and I am at a loss as to why Charlie should be expected to feel any loyalty toward them at all. The prestigious Baird School will no doubt produce the type of leaders that we have had too many of in the past, men who will stonewall press and public to protect their cronies from facing the consequences of their misdeeds.
|
| Rating | | | Date | June 08, 2005 | | Summary | v. enjoyable film; the always-dependable Al Pacino shines | Content
| A little long, but still a very enjoyable movie; capped off with a wonderful performance from the always-dependable and masterful Al Pacino
Charlie (Chris O'Donnell) knows who participated in a practical joke on headmaster Trask, but can't decide whether to snitch or not. He is given the opportunity to think it over during the Thanksgiving weekend, and it is during this weekend that he decides to take a deceptively simple job house-sitting the retired and blind Col. Frank Slade (Pacino). However, Charlie finds his situation is complicated by Slade's decision to go to New York for the weekend and intention to have a good time before "blowing [his] brains out".
Al Pacino FINALLY won the Best Actor Oscar for his role as the blind and abrasive Col. Frank Slade in Martin Brest's "Scent of a Woman." It is one of his best performances, and he rightly deserved an Oscar for it (especially after being snubbed by the Academy for his even better performances in The Godfather I and II and "Dog Day Afternoon"). Pacino makes the foul-mouthed and abrasive Col. Slade into someone sympathetic and even lovable. Much of this comes from Pacino's natural charm, but his performance never becomes too sentimental, which is admirable. Also, Pacino plays a blind man very convincingly, and he did it without cheating (i.e. wearing sunglasses, wearing contacts, etc.). It really is a masterful performance.
Although the movie could have easily been shortened by half an hour, this film has its (many) delightful moments. Perhaps the best scene in the film is Col. Slade's awkward but really beautiful tango with Donna (the gorgeous Gabrielle Anwar). The mere premise of a blind man, who feels spiritually dead, tangoing and laughing and having a great time with a beautiful young lady is hypnotic, in a way. You'll have to see it to know what I mean. (The music to which they tango is also lovely.) Other fantastic scenes that really showcase Pacino's acting include his appearance at the family dinner, the scene where he learns to drive a Ferrari, and the scene at the hotel where he decides to blow his brains out. Even in the quieter moments, as when Pacino says goodbye to Charlie and feels his face, the mere gestures make this movie even better.
In addition, the dialogue is often coarse and witty. Col. Slade's trademark "Hoo-Hah!" is hilarious. His musings on women and cars are bitingly funny. The only problems I have with the movie are its length (as mentioned before, it could have been shortened rather easily without losing too much) and the ending, at Charlie's disciplinary hearing, which feels too rushed. Nevertheless, it is a very enjoyable movie, and Pacino fans can't miss this one. 4.5/5 |
| Rating | | | Date | May 25, 2005 | | Summary | A Great Movie and a Well-Deserved Oscar for Al Pacino | Content
| A retired Army veteran and a young prep-school student meet at the crossroads of their lives during the Thanksgiving holiday. Al Pacino is Army Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade, medically retired for blindness, who tows a reluctant Charlie Sims, actor Chris O'Donnell, to New York for a holiday bash. While it starts out as "Real Life 101" for Charlie at the hands of the abrasive and experienced Frank who has been around the world three or four times, magic begins to happen as both get to know each other.
Charlie faces possible expulsion from his school for disciplinary reasons, and Frank is tired of living as a recluse at his daughter's home. The two meet when Charlie takes a job to look after Frank while his daughter is away for the holiday. Frank has a grand plan to enjoy the fruits of life he has missed for years and their trip to New York exposes the innocent Charlie to some bold adventure regarding women, politics, war, liquor and Ferraris. While Charlie's eyes are opened by Frank's candor about life, he also learns that Frank has lived in pain for several reasons and it's about to get the best of him.
The real magic occurs as Charlie's discipline issue, awaiting his return from the holiday, resurrects Frank's Army officer instincts and it is this that affects major changes for both men in the coming days. While there is a lot of humor and great moments, there are some dramatic scenes to stir your emotions. The spontaneous tango between Frank and a young woman at a New York restaurant will melt women's hearts and Frank's rise to help Charlie delivers one of the best scenes in cinema history.
Incidentally, the military advisor for this movie did well in advising Pacino and the writers to portray a credible military officer, and the synergy of the director, writers and actors is astounding. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 20, 2005 | | Summary | I'd buy the movie for the disciplanary hearing speech alone! | Content
| Different movie...quite an unexpected, albeit analogous role for Pacino. He's a master, no doubt, but what brought me to tears wasn't the 'near death scene' at his suicide attempt, but his stirring speech before the disciplinary committee. THIS type of speeches make history! All the other stuff may or may not happen--the facts would vary, of course, but the strength of the movie are the underlying principles that make life worth living. Not being melodramatic, just a tad bit jealous that a person put them into words so well, and that another person internalized them so masterfully as to make them sound...infallible...despite, or against all else.
GREAT show. Not the action flicks I'm used to, but nonetheless satisfying on a deeper philosophical level. A definite recommend! |
|
Picture 01 (20)
