I think this movie will be buried with me in some format (CD, DVD or VHS!) when I die one day. I have seen it more than 40 times and I have now lost count. Is it the best movie ever made? No, I don’t think so. But it is a great movie and it is my favorite. This movie has inspired me in so many ways. It is this movie in which I first saw a Ferrari in its splendour and to this day I have a fixation for it (the car and the movie, both!).
Scent of a Woman is about Charles Simms (Chris O’Donnell), a Boston prep school senior, and the Thanksgiving weekend he spends working as the aide and companion of retired Lt. Colonel Frank Slade (Al Pacino), an embittered, lonely, blind veteran. Frank is a cantankerous and cynical bully who completely surprises Charlie with his plans for their weekend. He has long list of plans for the weekend which includes a stay in Waldorf-Astoria, making love to a terrific woman, meet his big brother and then end his weekend really with a bang by committing suicide. Before Charlie realizes what he has gotten into, he is accompanying the colonel around Manhattan as they begin their wild and eye-opening adventures that include a fast-paced test drive in a Ferrari and a tango with a beautiful woman (Gabrielle Anwar). Frank is passionate about women and he has this amazing ability to identify any scent worn by women. Gradually Charlie becomes aware of the sentimental romantic buried deep within the lonely man’s heart. Charlie and Frank’s growing relationship is the core of the film; Frank teaches Charlie how to see, and Charlie teaches Frank how to feel.
I think it would be understatement to say that Al gives performance of a lifetime in this role. For two and a half hours, he brings into life a character so profound that you never feel the difference between the actor and the character. Chris O’Donnell, back then a fresh-but-not-unknown face, is solid, if somewhat obscured in the more experienced man’s shadow. There is one scene where they struggle with a gun when Al is getting ready to commit suicide where I feel he is on par with the GOD himself (Al!). The script and the dialogues are mind-boggling. It is so rich in it’s language that even the profanities and vulgarities seem to be a pleasure to the ears. Pacino’s tango scene with Gabrielle Anwar is magical. But I have a feeling that it is more of a guy’s movie than a girl’s.
Once I was discussing this movie with an american friend and the only thing he remembered about this movie was that Al says ’’HOOOOAAH’’ a lot in this movie. What a pity!!!
Some of my favorite dialogues (and most of them I know by-heart) are
1) Frank: There are two kinds of people in this world, Charlie. The first group is the people that face the music; the second group are those who run for cover. Cover is better.
2) Frank: Women. What could you say? Who made ’em? God must’ve been a fing genius.
3) Frank: I know exactly where your body is. What I’m looking for is some indication of a brain. Too much football without a helmet? Hah! Lyndon’s line on Gerry Ford.
4) Frank: You sharp-shooting me, punk? Is that what you’re doing? Don’t sharp-shoot me. You’ll give me forty, then you’re gonna give me forty more. Then you’re gonna pull KP. The grease pit! I’ll rub your nose in enlisted men’s CRUD ’till you don’t know which end is up! You understand?
Well that is Scent of a Woman for you in my words! Hope you enjoy the movie or see it again after reading this review because thats exactly what I am going to do!
Some of the Cast and Credits:
Cast:
Al Pacino .... Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade
Chris O’Donnell .... Charlie Simms
James Rebhorn .... Mr. Trask
Gabrielle Anwar .... Donna
Philip Seymour Hoffman .... George Willis, Jr.
Director: Martin Brest
Producers:
Ovidio G. Assonitis .... Executive producer
Martin Brest .... Producer
G. Mac Brown .... Associate producer
Ronald L. Schwary .... Executive producer
Screenplay: Bo Goldman
Original Music: Thomas Newman
© Roshan Thomas