Scent of a Woman poster & wallpaper

Al Pacino, Chris O'Donnell, James Rebhorn

A prep school student needing money agrees to "babysit" a blind man, but the job is not at all what he anticipated.

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94% liked it

31 critics

R, 2 hrs. 37 min.

Directed by: Martin Brest

Release Date: December 23, 1992

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DVD Release Date: April 28, 1998

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FILM 'SCENT OF A WOMAN' BY MARTIN BREST FILM 'SCENT OF A WOMAN' BY MARTIN BREST Scent of a Woman FILM 'SCENT OF A WOMAN' BY MARTIN BREST FILM 'SCENT OF A WOMAN' BY MARTIN BREST Scent of A Woman (1992) FILM 'SCENT OF A WOMAN' BY MARTIN BREST FILM 'SCENT OF A WOMAN' BY MARTIN BREST FILM 'SCENT OF A WOMAN' BY MARTIN BREST scent of a woman FILM 'SCENT OF A WOMAN' BY MARTIN BREST FILM 'SCENT OF A WOMAN' BY MARTIN BREST FILM 'SCENT OF A WOMAN' BY MARTIN BREST Al Pacino and Chris O'Donell in Scent of a Woman FILM 'SCENT OF A WOMAN' BY MARTIN BREST Al Pacino with Oscar for Scent of a Woman Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman Al Pacino
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Flixster Reviews (5,729)

  • hypathio7
    October 18, 2009
    hypathio7
    HUH?!?! O'Donnell is bland. Pacino was completely unlikeable. The movie went on longer than I wanted it to. I didn't really like the moral of the story. But hey, Charlie convinces Frank to choose life. That's a good part.
  • AgentLexi2132
    October 15, 2009
    AgentLexi2132
    ''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 spiri...( read more)t. 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!''

    A prep school student needing money agrees to "babysit" a blind man, but the job is not at all what he anticipated.

    Al Pacino: Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade

    Scent of a woman is a masterpiece. First of all because Al Pacino creates a character he is in no way close to being in real life. He plays a retired lieutenant-colonel which is nothing, but a blind one. His blindness is the symbol, and result, of both a heroic career and a sad end because he was passed over for general. This mixture of so many emotions and feelings and frustrations is marvelously conveyed by the actor. His tone, his behavior, his general stand, his unpredictable reactions, his decision to leave this world and his second decision to stay can be read in the way he speaks, the words he uses, the expressions his blind face carries, his attitudes toward other people, etc.

    He is a millionaire in layered emotions. But it is a masterpiece for so many other reasons that I am only going to quote a few. First it is a journey, the journey of a prep school teenager, a student on a scholarship mind you, from Oregon to Cambridge, Massachusetts, then to New York, a round trip with the colonel he is taking care of for the Thanksgiving long week end. This journey, and particularly the lap to New York and the subsequent events, are an initiation.
    The young chap is to learn what principles are in life and that you have to stand by them, especially if you are poor and fragile in body and social status: then be strong in soul, mind and spirit. Your ethics are your only asset and power in life. He also has to learn how to understand his colonel companion and feel when he has decided to send him buy cigars while he is putting an end to his life and the gun loaded with his bullets are an impressive key to the solitary tower of growing up with death all around you.

    ''I'm in the dark, here!''

    He saves that man with a crazy idea of a ride, for a blind man, to drive a Ferrari in the Bronx or somewhere under the Brooklyn Bridge, and with all the frills of such a ride including the cop who catches him speeding but does not realize he is talking to a blind man. But this film is also a story about the elite education these Ivy League prep schools provide the young men of today with to prepare them to be the leaders of tomorrow. There I will not hint too much at that side of the story. Let's say an act of vandalism which is a student prank and nothing more, leads the headmaster into menacing the two student witnesses, with the worst punishment going as far as trying to buy the cooperation of the poor student. The final disciplinary hearing is absurd in its logic. The three culprits go through because there is no clear cut witness, the rich one, with his father, pretends he did not have his contacts on but gives the three names with a maybe, and the poor one, Charlie by the way, refuses point blank to be a fink, a stool pigeon. And there the intervention of his suicidal colonel saves the day. That you will have to find out by yourself. In many ways it is a lot stronger than Dead Poets Society and the drama is avoided. It is better because it is the vision of a poor scholarship student and not the vision of one rich kid, in recent society and not in the 1920s or so.

    The point of view makes it a lot more powerful about society and courage, even if less dramatic,this is a story about hope, the merging of young and old minds coming together. Scent of a woman is about living, the beauty of life and at times, when you believe you have nothing to live for, are the times when you have so many aspects and joys to carry life on. This is a story of hope and friendship.

    ''Well, gentlemen, when the shit hits the fan, some guys run and some guys stay.''
  • SirPant
    September 23, 2009
    SirPant
    This film is just stupid, Chris O'Donnell did my head in, even Pacino couldn?t save it for me! An attack on intelligence!
  • allan913
    February 20, 2009
    allan913
    Al Pacino is extrodinary, he steals every scene he is in, truly crafting a superb and incrediable performance. One of his greatest performances ever and in the history of cinima. Chris O'Donnell is marvelous, a great performance to insure him as an upcoming star. It's absolutely ...( read more)unforgettable and flawless. Riveting, electrifying and satisfying. A maginificent film. A heartfelt, funny and outstanding experiance. Powerful and very touching throughout. An excellent movie in every way. Superb storytelling and stunningly crafted. A towering and masterful drama. Wickedly funny and spectacular. A film you cant turn away from. You cant stop but smile when you think of this movie. A two and a half hour pleasure from start to finish. A masterpiece.
  • mrpopcorn
    November 15, 2008
    mrpopcorn
    "Col. Frank Slade has a very special plan for the weekend. It involves travel, women, good food, fine wine, the tango, chauffeured limousines and a loaded forty-five. And he's bringing Charlie along for the ride."

    Driven by an extravagant, tour-de-force performance by A...( read more)l Pacino, Scent of a Woman is the story of Frank Slade (Pacino), a blind, retired army colonel who hires Charlie Simms (Chris O'Donnell), a poor college student on the verge of expulsion, to take care of him over Thanksgiving weekend. At the beginning of the weekend, Frank takes Charlie to New York, where he reveals to the student that he intends to visit his family, have a few terrific meals, sleep with a beautiful woman and, finally, commit suicide. The film follows the mismatched pair over the course of the weekend, as they learn about life through their series of adventures.

    Review
    Scent of a Woman tackles life important issues like values, principles and integrity and is done in such a way that it brings power and sensitivity at the same time. Director Martin Brest didn't rely on "tried and tested" Hollywood tearjerker formula but instead takes it deep from the heart and just overwhelms you with great emotions. If this film haven't touched you at the very least, then I don't know what will. What tops off this mesmerizing film is the intensity that the actors brought to the table most especially Al Pacino in one of his career defining roles as Lt. Col. Frank Slade.

    In what is possibly one of the finest showcase of acting I have ever seen, Al Pacino disappears completely and minute by minute a new sentient being emerges, that of a blind man whose sarcastic wit and rip roaring voice demands attention and believe you me, you cannot help but get carried away by Pacino's superb performance. One shining moment is most definitely the speech that his character gave at the end. It is undoubtedly one of the finest monologues I have ever seen in the history of cinema. Great delivery by Pacino. Nothing more can be said, it is powerful, deep, grand, heart-wrenching and majestic. It is a testament as to why Al Pacino can almost be compared to a god, a living, breathing god. Chris O' Donnell, not to say he underperformed but he delivers as well playing school boy Charlie Simms. One might say he was completely overshadowed by an acting god which is not entirely true. He had some defining moments throughout the film and is overall fantastic.

    Scent of a Woman is a must-see.
  • bunniesxarentxjustxcutexl
    November 7, 2009
    bunniesxarentxjustxcutexl
    Al Pacino at his best. There's really nothing more to say.
  • totalefreiheit
    November 2, 2009
    totalefreiheit
    Un Clasico! Con el tango inolvidable "Por una cabeza" de Carlos Gardel, interpretada por Thomas Newman. Que rololonooon!
  • aniacel
    October 31, 2009
    aniacel
    Moving story and this tango.. and personality well just great
  • mralfaromeo
    October 29, 2009
    mralfaromeo
    Another classic Al Pacino film. Gets better each time I watch it.
  • smileybekah
    October 22, 2009
    smileybekah
    This was so sad, but so amazing... definately worth watching

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Comments

  • kiarame02
    November 23, 2008
    kiarame02
    the tango was greate...
  • xxkarenaxx
    March 23, 2007
    xxkarenaxx
    I saw this on TV and I really want to see it again. Fantastic movie, I loved it. Al Pacino is a great actor ! so is Chris.
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Scent of a Woman Trivia

  • Name the 1992 movie starring Al Pacino as a blind man who,does the Tango,he won an Acadamy Award for this role for best leading actor?  Answer »
  • Name the 1992 movie staring Al Pacino,Chris O'Donnell & Philip Seymour Hoffman,with the plot outline: A young student is forced into accompanying a blind embittered formore Army officer on a hedonistic trip to New York City and comes-of-age in the process.  Answer »
  • In Scent of a Woman, What kind of car(make) did the Board of Trustees' give to Headmaster Trask?   Answer »
  • In Scent of a Woman, What did Charlie and George Willis witness when they were walking back from the school library that fateful night?  Answer »
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