Scent of a Woman – Directed by Martin Brest

The movie Ends

And I wanted to stand up and

**clap clap* Bravo*clap*Bravo *clap clap**

Or should I say  

!!!!!!!!!!!WHOOOOOOO – AHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Charlie Simms [Chris O'Donnell] is a student of Baird School. He attends the exclusive school on a scholarship. Charlie agrees to take care of a blind retired Army Colonel, Frank Slade [Al Pacino] over Thanksgiving Holiday. 

Just before Thanksgiving, Charlie and his rich friend George Willis [Philip Seymour Hoffman] witness a prank played on the headmaster by George’s friends. Charlie is threatened by the headmaster to reveal the names of the pranksters at the disciplinary hearing. The headmaster also offers to recommend him for an Ivy League college for the names. He asks Charlie to think over it during the holidays.

As the Colonel’s family leaves for the trip Charlie arrives to take care of him. Colonel Frank has his own agenda and takes Charlie on a trip to New York. The rest of the story is all about Frank’s execution of his plans with the hesitant Charlie by his side.

This movie was a remake of a 1974 Italian Film - Profumo di donna.

I can’t imagine anyone else in Colonel Frank’s role, it was like tailor made for Al Pacino. The introduction scene of Al Pacino gives all the insight to the crazy character of Frank Slade. The final sequence has one of the greatest speeches in movie history and Al Pacino won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

Chris O Donnell did adequately with his supporting role as the conscience driven Charlie. Another great actor who always stands out in an ensemble is Philip Seymour Hoffman. He makes an unforgettable impression with all his performances. One should watch out for his roles in movies like Boogie Nights, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Red Dragon and Along Came Polly. I’ll surely catch all of his movies soon.

The movie had some of the best dialogues ever. Bo Goldman was nominated for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.

Martin Brest was nominated for Best Director and the movie was also nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. I have only seen two other works of Martin Brest, Beverly Hills Cop and Meet Joe Black. His last work Gigli was panned by critics and it bombed at the box office.

" SCENT OF A WOMAN – No No, its all about The Man – AL PACINO " 

Some of Lt. Col. Frank Slade Dialogues:

When in doubt... fuck

The day we stop lookin', Charlie, is the day we die.

Don't shrug, imbecile. I'm blind. Save your body language for the bimbi.

Women! What can you say? Who made 'em? God must have been a fuckin' genius. The hair... They say the hair is everything, you know. Have you ever buried your nose in a mountain of curls... just wanted to go to sleep forever? Or lips... and when they touched, yours were like... that first swallow of wine... after you just crossed the desert................................

Well, gentlemen, when the shit hits the fan, some guys run and some guys stay.

Out of order, I show you out of order. You don't know what out of order is, Mr. Trask. I'd show you, but I'm too old, I'm too tired, I'm too fuckin' blind. If I were the man I was five years ago, I'd take a FLAMETHROWER to this place! Out of order? Who the hell do you think you're talkin' to? I've been around, you know? There was a time I could see. And I have seen. Boys like these, younger than these, their arms torn out, their legs ripped off. But there isn't nothin' like the sight of an amputated spirit. There is no prosthetic for that. You think you're merely sending this splendid foot soldier back home to Oregon  with his tail between his legs, but I say you are... executin' his soul! And why? Because he's not a Bairdman. Bairdmen. You hurt this boy, you're gonna be Baird bums, the lot of ya. And Harry, Jimmy, Trent, wherever you are out there, FUCK YOU TOO!

[Lt. Col. Frank Slade is speaking in defense of Charlie Simms at meeting at the Baird School] Now I have come to the cross-roads in my life. I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew, but I never took it. You know why? It was too damn hard. Now here's Charlie. He's come to the cross-roads. He has chosen a path. It's the right path. It's a path made of principle that leads to character. Let him continue on his journey.

Cheers

Pradeep