Review of Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006) by Maggie M — 20 Feb 2011

After doing the awesome Run Lola Run, Tom Tykwer sort of fell off the map and never really lived up to his trippy classic. Enter Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. I had actually attempted this one with a friend 4 years ago when it originally came out on video.

Not even a half hour in we swapped it for something else. Just wasn't our glass of tea, really. Four years later, I'm studying film and catch it playing on digital cable and decide to give it another watch.

I actually found it to be a pretty decent effort. Despite being a film about a pathetic loser serial killer with a ridiculous motive for killing, I was actually anticipating what would happen next the further I delved into it.

The story was just that involving for me and I know that Tykwer's style was a huge part of that. I don't think I could have been half as intrigued if it wasn't for him. I loved the way he communicated certain elements with such detail that most directors would have otherwise not given the time of day.

The period setting was also very believable and that old feel was there too. I appreciated the way he would often clash beauty and the grotesque together. An interesting move there. The actors at hand were also on the ball.

Ben Wishaw was very believable as the serial killer. Extra points for actually getting the audience to side with him in parts. Alan Rickman always pops up in the most random films but always gives it his all and rocks it.

Here is no different. Rickman just wins. Rachel Hurd-Wood played a great damsel. She also had the talent to portray a human damsel. Great job. Dustin Hoffman is another king. A smaller role but an amazing one just because he's Dustin freakin' Hoffman and he's THAT good.

On the downer end, the movie dragged on too much at times. The montages of the 'perfume procedure' was cool at first, but then it was repeated over and over to the point where it just got tedious.

The message was read loud and clear the first time, yo! Finally, although I appreciate a different kind of ending, this was just one I didn't get, even for an art-house flick. It was just too over the top and did come across as kind of cheesy.

But given the ridiculous premise, I guess I could have expected something that wouldn't be conventional. All in all I think this is a good flick and I recommend it, just not to a person like me (understand? me neither.

..). I'll probably never take the time to watch this again but I can't deny it was a good watch. Your call friends, I'm off to watch a Child's Play flick to erase this one...