Review of Scent of a Woman (1992) by Panta O — 11 Sep 2011
This is my third time watching this movie... and I had a chance to see the italian original version "Profumo di donna" (1974), directed by Dino Risi.
This drama directed by Martin Brest tells the story of a preparatory school student who takes a job as an assistant to an irascible, blind, medically retired Army officer. It stars Al Pacino, Chris O'Donnell, James Rebhorn, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Gabrielle Anwar. It was adapted by Bo Goldman from the novel Il buio e il miele (Italian: Darkness and Honey) by Giovanni Arpino and from the 1974 screenplay by Ruggero Maccari and Dino Risi. Goldman originally titled his adaptation "Stench of a Woman", which was met by resistance from the studio. I wouldn't be interested in that title very much... :-).
Al Pacino won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance and this film was nominated for Best Director (lost to Clint Eastwood for Unforgiven), Best Picture (lost to Unforgiven) and Best Adapted Screenplay (lost to Howards End).
The film won three major awards at the Golden Globe Awards: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Motion Picture - Drama... with a reason. It was a movie with a soul, and wonderfu; acting as well as a director who knows the rules of the "game". Classic!
This review of Scent of a Woman (1992) was written by Panta O on 11 Sep 2011.
Scent of a Woman has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
