Scent of a Woman

Director: Martin Brest Martin Brest

Overview

"Scent of a Woman is another fine, if featureless, DVD transfer from Universal. With a crystal clear 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and adequate Dolby Surround Sound, the film thankfully avoids a digital treatment that just looks like a sloppy recycling of an older transfer. Unfortunately, with no extras but a theatrical trailer, Scent of a Woman isn't worth much more than a rental. The film is distinguished as the project that finally got Al Pacino his long-elusive Oscar for Best Actor, so there would be some basis for at least a production featurette. Pacino's fine performance isn't the only ignored topic, as the film also introduced now-popular actors like Chris O'Donnell and Philip Seymour Hoffman. It would have been interesting to see retrospective interviews with the actors now, looking back on the experience. Also, the film's subject matter was a departure for director Martin Brest, who had previously directed Beverly Hills Cop. Now that Gus Van Sant has cornered the market on tales of mentorship and bonding between older and younger men, Brest might have been able to deliver some insightful comments about a film that preceded films like Good Will Hunting and Finding Forrester. Scent of a Woman is worth a look with a good digital transfer, but the lack of supplements keeps it in a rental category."

Product Details

Release Date:	04/29/1998
UPC:	0025192026027
Original Release:	1992
Rating:	R
Source:	STUDIO DISTRIBUTION SERVS LLC
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:37:00
Sales rank:	11,423

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

Martin Brest	Director,Producer
Bo Goldman	Screenwriter
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.