Scent of a Woman (1992)

Director: Martin Brest
Writer: Screenplay: Bo Goldman Novel: Giovanni Arpino Characters suggestion/Original screenplay: Ruggero Maccari, Dino Risi
Cast: Al Pacino, Chris O'Donnell, Gabrielle Anwar, Bradley Whitford, Philip Seymour Hoffman, James Rebhorn
Genre: Drama

Not until rating Scent of a Woman did I notice this movie is an American make of the same novel as the 1974 Italian movie Profumo di donna. I have no idea what compelled them to do so in such a manor, but nevertheless they did. It's about two and a half hour, one full hour more than the 74-movie, and I'm quite bored throughout most of it. It's supposed to be a drama, but there's nothing dramatic about it. It's so clear-cut, follow-the-dots, you-get-what-you-expect Pacino set-up, it's ridiculous.

I admit Pacino does well. He also won the Oscar for leading actor for it. O'Donnell was rather forgettable. There's scenes where he's not even worthy to be a prop. The two small appearances by Gabrielle Anwar and Bradley Whitford was very pleasing. Being a huge fan of Whitford that probably doesn't come as a surprise to anyone, but the role he got is so perfect for him. And I could hardly believe Anwar was the same as we see regulary on "Burn Notice" these days. Not only was she stunningly beautiful back then, but she nails her part as well. Seymour Hoffman's part is not worth noting at all, sadly.

157 minutes of cliches, a one-man show much in need of a deeper story and some scenes Martin Brest must have been an idiot for allowing. Thankfully there's some great acting there and several interesting scenes, both helping to defend some of the time spent to watch this. I'll never do it again though.