Scent of a Woman [Blu-ray]

Director: Martin Brest

Overview

Driven by an extravagant, tour-de-force performance by Al 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 mis-matched pair over the course of the weekend, as they learn about life through their series of adventures. Though the story is a little contrived and predictable, it pulls all the right strings, thanks to O'Donnell's sympathetic supporting role and Pacino's powerful lead performance, for which he won his first Academy Award. Scent of a Woman is based on the 1975 Italian film Profumo Di Donna.

Product Details

Release Date:	09/28/2010
UPC:	4891670335860
Original Release:	0000
Source:	Ais
Language:	English
Sales rank:	77,975

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Al Pacino	Lt. Col. Frank Slade
Chris O'Donnell	Charlie Simms
James Rebhorn	Mr.Trask
Gabrielle Anwar	Donna
Richard Venture	W.R. Slade
Bradley Whitford	Randy
Rochelle Oliver	Gretchen
Margaret Eginton	Gail
Tom Riis Farrell	Garry
Nicholas Sadler	Harry Havemeyer
Todd Louiso	Trent Potter
Matt Smith	Jimmy Jameson
Gene Canfield	Manny
Frances Conroy	Christine Downes
June Squibb	Mrs. Hunsaker
Ron Eldard	Officer Gore
Sally Murphy	Karen Rossi
Michael Santoro	Donny Rossi
Alyson Feldman	Francine Rossi,Francine Rossi
Julian Stein	Willie Rossi,Willie Rossi
Ahn Duong	Sofia,Sofia
Leonard Gaines	Freddie Bisco
David Lansbury	Michael
Joseph Palmas	Bellhop
Baxter Harris	George Willis Sr.
Francie Swift	Flight Attendant
Michel Simon	Oak Room Waiter,Oak Room Waiter
William Beckwith	Oak Room Maitre d'
Mansoor Najeeullah	Skycap
J.T. Cromwell	Ballroom Waiter
Peter Carew	Bootblack
Paul Stocker	Doorman
Michael Lisenco	Cab Driver
Divina Cook	Night Maid
Philip Seymour Hoffman	George Willis Jr.
Richard Bradford	Actor
Ellen Lewis	Actor
Thomas Newman	Composer

Technical Credits

Bo Goldman

Giovanni Arpino

Ruggero Maccari

Dino Risi

Bo Goldman	Screenwriter
Martin Brest	Producer
Ronald L. Schwary	Executive Producer
Giovanni Arpino	Screenwriter
Ruggero Maccari	Screenwriter
Dino Risi	Screenwriter
Ovidio G. Assonitis	Executive Producer
William C. Carruth	Sound Effects
Lucy Coldsnow- Smith	Sound Effects
Dean Drabin	Sound Effects
Eric Gotthelf	Sound Effects
Ann Hadsell	Sound Effects
Ellen Lewis	Casting

Editorial Reviews

Featuring a triumphant performance from the king of braggadocio, Al Pacino, Martin Brest's comedy-inflected drama is a minor masterpiece of cinematic storytelling. Chris O'Donnell's auspicious debut as a bright-eyed high schooler works in remarkable harmony with Pacino's portrayal the blind, irritable, foul-mouthed, former military man O'Donnell is supposed to look after. The result is a magnificent and irresistible narrative, and although it runs a little long, a few minutes of fidgeting are well worth the viewer's time, for this film delivers the goods. Pacino's performance is arguably his best since Scarface, combining his usual macho swaggering with an almost pathetic undertone. The actor adds a very physical aspect to his enduring and memorable performance, mimicking the mannerisms of a blind man convincingly. His irascible military man character is eruptively funny, sad, twisted, and paternal all at the same time. O'Donnell provides Pacino with a perfect foil, inflecting his prep schoolboy characterization with growing admiration for his seemingly unbearable charge. The film also features a young Phillip Seymour Hoffman, a modern-day mainstay whose credits include Happiness, Magnolia and Almost Famous. Bo Goldman's sensational script is adapted adroitly by Brest, and, coupled with fine acting, makes for a simply remarkable film.