Scent of a Woman review

 Number 379 on the top 1000 films of all time is the 1992 drama-film 'Scent of a Woman.;'

Charlie Simms (Chris O'Donnell) is an American prep-school student in desperate need of some money. He takes on what seems like the easy assignment of taking care of the grumpy, blind Vietnam veteran Colonel Frank Slade (Al Pacino.) However, he quickly learns this task will be far from easy.

For his role as Frank Slade, Al Pacino won the Best Actor Oscar. I understand why. He was very impressive. Perhaps I'm exposing my own ignorance, but I've only seen Al Pacino as either a gangster of a hard-boiled policeman. He's great in these roles, but I wasn't sure how that would translate to something more dramatic. Short answer? It translated very well. Slade, despite being a jerk at times, is a sympathetic character. Having driven away most of his friends and family, he is intensely alone. But Pacino still made him likeable. He brought a great vulnerability to the role. And he was also very funny. That surprised me the most: Pacino was funny.

Chris O'Donnell was also good. Unlike the rest of his prep-school friends, Charlie isn't a spoiled, entitled brat. He is very likeable. Despite their rocky beginnings, he forges an unlikely friendship with Frank Slade. Charlie has the patience to look past Slade's prickly exterior and see the man beneath him.

At two and a half hours long, I would argue the film is much longer than it needs to be. I definitely could have done without the corny ending. Charlie Simms bears witness to a prank that his friends execute on their headteacher. Rather than telling on them in front of their whole school, he stays quiet. Slade gives a speech praising his integrity, eventually leading to Simms going unpunished. And naturally the whole school goes wild. Why? Who knows? But I do know it was ridiculous.

Lastly, I have to praise Philip Seymour Hoffman who played Chris' friend 'George.' I have yet to see Philip Seymour Hoffman is a role that I didn't like. Generally, he plays slimy sleazeballs, but he plays them so damn well.

The acting was definitely the highlight of this film. And Al Pacino thoroughly deserved his Oscar.