Probably the most morbid movie I've ever seen, but one that sucks you in and never lets you go. I'm not sure what it is about "Perfume" that pulls me so strongly inward... perhaps its theme of beauty, and the horrendous ends gone to to possess it. But nonetheless, it resounds strongly in the conciousness and in memory, and the power of its storytelling will linger in the air, like a waft of old perfume, long after the credits are rolled and done.
I had heard of the book of the same name (by Patrick Süskind) about a guy who is born with a supernatural sense of smell. In his quest to find the perfect scent and as it happens, the only way to get it is by preserving the scent of humans... especially young females. The movie is slow and in some parts has very little dialogue but it really is a very strong script and story. The main character was portrayed by Ben Whishaw with supporting roles by Dustin Hoffman and Alan Rickman (both excellent here) and some narration by John Hurt (always thought he had the perfect voice for narration). The cinematography is also top notch with some very beautiful vistas thrown in with some gruesome images. It was a bit hard to sympathize with the main character but he is not really a bad guy per se. It is also very hard to convey the sense of smell (and do it a LOT) but they did it perfectly here. There is something about this movie that really resonated with me. Maybe its the mix of the fantastical with the terrifying that clinched it for me, but I loved this movie.
WARNING - mild spoiler! I had mixed reactions when I read the book. I started by loving the concept - telling a story through the description of smells, as opposed to visual references or character/dialogue. However, I started to lose interest in the latter half and then, by the time it reached the mass orgy (far more graphic in the novel) and cannibalism, I had made a complete about-turn and found myself utterly repulsed. I decided to watch the film because I was very curious about how a book that was so anti-visual descriptions would translate into a visual medium. I thought this was actually done quite well, with the help of John Hurt's excellent narration and some great direction. Ben Whishaw was very good in the lead - expressing much more with his facial expressions and body language than his limited dialogue would allow. Dustin Hoffman was good as Baldini - although his accent was a little wavering. Alan Rickman, rather disappointingly, I thought was miscast as the over-protective father. All in all I felt it was a well-made film and a good adaptation of a difficult book, but I still don't like the story!
Formula for "Perfume": Mix one equal part of "Scent of A Woman", "Jack the Ripper" and "Sweeney Todd". Let it fester for over two hours. Result a putrid smell you will try to forget but cannot. Big thumbs down!
Liked the idea and much of the execution -- literally and figuratively -- but feel there was not enough depth to the characters, especially Alan Rickman's. (Love, love, love him; he's the only reason I rented the filck.)..Why doesn't anyone give him juicey parts anymore? He can do more than frown and brood, you know.
I've found this movie a little strange yet beautiful in some ways. Intense. I liked the main male character... but only until before he started to act consciously ~.~ He just wanted to be loved, that was sad, tragical and pure. In the end, I was in silence, without a word to say.
Rated: (R) Directed by: Tom Tykwer Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense Starring: Ben Whishaw, Alan Rickman, Rachel Hurd Wood, and Dustin Hoffman
THE MOVIE OUTLINE
"Perfume is set in the colourful backdrop of 18th century France centering on the life of an unfortunate boy, Jean Baptiste, born in the slums of a Paris fish market. Left for dead amongst rotting fish guts, he inhales the plethora of scents around him. He is rescued by some passers by and is subsequently placed in an orphanage. He is an odd child and a social outcast. Possibly as a result of his traumatic birth, he is blessed with outstanding olfactory senses: from early childhood he displays an uncanny ability for discerning the individual smells of everything around him. The twists and turns of his early life are one continuous tragic story. His quest is to learn the art of perfume making and, once taught, Jean Baptise desires to make the ultimate perfume. "
MY APPRAISAL
Two hours and twenty seven minutes of pain-in-the-ass gothic melodrama.
This is just like what, Jack The Ripper meets Scent of a Woman in Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. Why isn't it clear to you people, that certain books are unfilmable indeed, no matter how talented those involved are? Surkind's notorious murderer was portrayed not only as a blood-thirsty beast but also a lunatic. While those ladies in the movie are scared to death, the viewers are also planning an immediate escape from the theatre. It's rare to encounter a movie as ferocious in its ludicrousness as Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. The crew aimed too much and the result : A PUSHY HORRIBLE MOVIE and A PAIN IN YOUR ASS. Hated this movie. Two and a half stars to appreciate Patrick Suskind.
"He still had enough perfume left to enslave the whole world if he so chose. He could walk to Versailles and have the king kiss his feet. He could write the pope a perfumed letter and reveal himself as the new Messiah. He could do all this, and more, if he wanted to. He possessed a power stronger than the power of money, or terror, or death - the invincible power to command the love of man kind. There was only one thing the perfume could not do. It could not turn him into a person who could love and be loved like everyone else. So, to hell with it he thought. To hell with the world. With the perfume. With himself."
i really like this movie. its very intresting. there really is no way to describe this movie. the determinion to go so far to obtain what you want the most.
It would have been a very good movie if the ending wasn't that way. It was toooo disappointing - like a thriller turned into an unrealistic, ridiculous piece of crap.
I read the book and it was way better than the movie. One of my favorite books ever. Therefore, I am happy I read it before seeing this, even tho it was pretty good.
Antoine Richis: Why did you kill my daughter?
Jean-Baptiste Grenouille: I just needed her.
It is a very wonderful story of a person having an obsession with something... A sad story everything that he has done is use less except the last one.....
Ok I dont know why anyone would want to make a movie as stupid and pointless as this..Yes it is interesting what he does to make the perfume etc but..This guy gets eaten because he makes a perfume made out of females??? Very sick if you ask me..I watched it with my mum and we were like Um ok!!.
I was glad to finally watch it! It was gdddd. :D Okay, no scratch that. I loved it. I liked the ending- unpredictable; you kind of go like 'what?!' lol but it fits perfectly well with the whole obsession-morbid thing that goes on along the movie. And I gotta say, although it's so weird, some scenes are hauntingly beautiful in their own way.
One of the most interesting movies with the most strangest ending I had ever seen. You MUST catch this if you haven't. Unique story with an edge of contemporary fantasy, a very dark psychological theme driven in all manner of poetry laced in between, excellent cast, great camera shots, and a gorgeous soundtrack. A masterpiece, like everyone else has said --- Highly recommended movie. I'm off to hunt for the book.
i was waiting for it for about 10 years since i've read the book and really got to say that it's a masterpiece. the one thing that was missing is fragrance..
I loved this movie. The character of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is one that makes you both pity him and be disgusted in him. I love the fact that the movie can make you feel weird if you AREN'T on the side of the killer, and with his character it's so easy. The ending was awesome, very well done. It makes me want to read the novel. Everyone has to watch it at some point in their life!!!
We are all familiar with the book 'Das Parfum', by Patrick Süskind. I am sure if you've read it as I have, you'd be disappointed by the amounts the film leaves out, despite it's running time of 140 minutes.
The scenery is really beautiful, but the long shots and prolonged scenes get tiresome towards the end. In my opinion, it would have been better to add some of the things they left out, and cut the lengths of the unnecessarily drawn - out pieces.
Ben Whishaw is exceptional, even though Grenouille is not the most loquacious man. John Hurt is an excellent narrator, but he does speak very softly sometimes. A minor fault, really.
Grenouille is the ideal antihero. Strangely attractive (although in the book he is not), enigmatic and not fully understandable. You'll fall in love with him.
It was pretty interesting. It has a pretty interesting ending to say the least. It is really hard to describe. I really want to read the novel this movie is based on now.
A guy that has a perfect noise, he can smell everything! i know it sound like crap, but he lives in france, he could do any kind of perfume but after he starts to look for some way new to have new smells, and he finds a better way to have a good perfume
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