Scent of a Woman - A Movie You Shouldn't Miss

Hello there, how are y’all? So today, I’m going to talk about an acclaimed movie that was released in 1992, a movie where millions witnessed the skill and talent of a great actor at his very best, finally earning him an Academy Award for the Best Actor. Yes, I’m talking about Scent of a Woman.

First of all, let me put forth a little disclaimer : I’m not exactly a connoisseur of films currently (although I hope I will be, some fine day!) and whatever I am going write here is my honest opinion as a humble viewer who loves and sincerely aspires to work in movies one day.

Loosely based on a novel by Giovanni Arpino, this movie was written by Bo Goldman and directed by Martin Brest. It tells the story of retired Lieutenant Colonel Frank, who also happens to be blind and very depressed about that fact; and of Charlie Simms, a prep school student who is badly in need of some money. He is entitled on a weekend job to tend to the Colonel who is simultaneously tough and somehow soft on the inside. Little did Charlie know that he would be spending his Thanksgiving in New York, while facing a precarious situation at school.

The Colonel, portrayed by Al Pacino is a conflicted man, embittered by the fact that he could no longer see the world through eyes. Charlie, portrayed by Chris O’Donnell is a student who studies on aid, and he wants nothing more than to earn some money to fly back home for Christmas. Over the course of their trip together, both of them teach each other a lesson or two.

If you tell me to describe the movie in one word then I would probably say - intense. Al Pacino showcased a performance entwined with great hard work and dedication, surpassing his already outstanding acting skills. He even trained himself to unfocus his eyes like an actually blind person by visiting an institution for the blind. His unfocused vision also caused him an injury during the shooting of the movie.

During the initial few seconds of the movie, you may hate Frank, for he is a little hard on the outside, but the further you go into the movie, the more you will end up liking him, for he is a good man on the inside, lonely and depressed.

 It's not quite so easy to share the screen with an actor as skilled as Al Pacino and not be shadowed by his flawless portrayal of characters but Chris O’Donnell has portrayed Charlie so beautifully, that by the end of the movie, you will have a profound respect for the character, just as much as you will respect the Colonel.

Colonel Frank’s speech made towards the end of the movie in Charlie’s defence at court, is acclaimed to be one of Hollywood’s greatest end speeches and honestly, I couldn’t agree more. By the end of that speech, I felt like I was one among the many students seated, having witnessed a show of great finesse and sincerity, words that lashed forth as though they were from a sword, each word brutally honest and true.

The movie left me a little hazed, unable to lift myself up from the aura of that wonderful movie. If I had watched it in a theatre, I’d have probably been on a high for the next hour or two. Wow, just amazing. How I wish I could be part of great movies like these!

I also happen to be a perfume fanatic, so when I first heard the movie’s name, I was intrigued. And I’m glad I watched it. It has crept into the list of my most favourite movies of all time.

Have you watched this gem of a movie? If you have, then let me know what you think about it. If you haven’t, then I suggest you do so as soon as possible!