Film Review: Scent of a Woman (1992)

Playing a character with physical and mental affliction is one of the most efficient ways for actors to win Oscars. That includes even greatest of actors, those who could have and would have deserved prestigious golden statues for playing ordinary characters. One of those was Al Pacino, who earned his Oscar relatively late in his career, by playing a blind man in Scent of a Woman, 1992 drama directed by Martin Brest.

The film is based on Il buio e il miele (“Dark and Honey”), novel by Italian writer Giovanni Arpino, which had been first adapted in 1974 in Italy as Profumo di donna, comedy film directed by Dino Risi and starring Vittorio Gassman. The plot of the American version starts in Baird, elite prep school, shortly before Thanksgiving. Charlie Simms (played by Chris O’Donnell) is student on scholarship who, unlike his classmates that can rely on rich parents, needs a job to make ends meet. He answers an ad put by local family which needs help with a disabled member during Thanksgiving. He meets Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade (played by Pacino), retired US Army officer who lost his eyesight few years ago and who is now embittered, self-pitying man trying to drown his sorrow with whiskey. Despite initial hostility, Charlie gradually begins to warm up to the man and reluctantly agrees to accompany him to New York City during weekend. There they sleep in luxurious hotels, dine in most exclusive restaurants, visit expensive tailors, drive Ferraris and Frank spends night with elite escort. Charlie begins to think what Frank’s ultimate intention might be while in the background he has his own problems in school, where he is most likely to become scapegoat for the vicious prank his classmates pulled on Mr. Trask (played by James Rebhorn), a headmaster.

Pacino’s role in Scent of a Woman is far from being his best, but is nevertheless an incredibly impressive effort and Oscar seems well-deserved. Pacino has worked very hard for the role. He meticulously prepared for the role by attending school for blind and the result of his effort is splendid. He chews scenery, making the character initially unsympathetic but always fascinating and when Frank and Charlie finally find common ground, the impact is great. Pacino carries the film on his shoulder and it is easy to imagine that without him Scent of a Woman would have been unwatchable. The rest of the cast is fine, but is, unsurprisingly, easily overshadowed by Pacino. This includes Chris O’Donnell who does solid job as a confused young man desperately trying to do the right thing, as well as Philip Seymour Hoffman in one of his first prominent roles as Charlie’s rich friend from school. Gabrielle Anwar makes one of the first prominent screen appearances of her career in small but memorable role of Donna, beautiful woman with whom Frank would dance tango in the most delightful scene of entire film.

Scent of a Woman won Golden Globe for Best Picture – Drama but that award, unlike Pacino’s Oscar, wasn’t deserved. The reason might be found in script by Bo Goldman which, despite trying to go more serious and dramatic route than previous Italian version, looks like a collection of Hollywood cliches and too often gets drenched in cheap sentimentality. Subplot involving Charlie’s trouble at school is rather weak attempt of populist commentary on social class divisions in America and it gets resolved in unconvincing and utterly Hollywood way near the end. But the most visible problem for the film is direction. Brest, either being in awe with Pacino’s performance or too much in love with his work, completely disregards any pacing concerns and the film with its two and half hours gets too epic for its own good. Patience of many viewers will be challenged and with some trimming Scent of a Woman could have been truly remarkable film. However, even in its present form film is entertaining, uplifting and ultimately satisfactory piece of cinema that could recommended even to those who aren’t greatest of Pacino’s fans.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

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