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Al Pacino, Chris O'Donnell, James Rebhorn, Gabrielle Anwar, Philip Seymour Hoffman ... see more see more... , Richard Venture , Bradley Whitford , Ron Eldard , Frances Conroy , Sally Murphy , Nicholas Sadler , Gene Canfield , William Beckwith , Richard Bradford , Peter Carew , Divina Cook , J.T. Cromwell , Ahn Duong , Margaret Eginton , Tom Riis Farrell , Erika Feldman , Leonard Gaines , Baxter Harris , David Lansbury , Michael Lisenco , Todd Louiso , Mansoor Najeeullah , Rochelle Oliver , Joseph Palmas , Michael Santoro , June Squibb , Max Stein , Paul Stocker , Francie Swift , Ellen Lewis , Matt Smith

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... read more read more... 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. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

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90% liked it

106,615 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

42 critics

R, 2 hr. 37 min.

Directed by: Martin Brest

Release Date: December 23, 1992

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DVD Release Date: April 28, 1998

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Flixster Reviews (6,325)

  • MrMarakai
    February 21, 2012
    MrMarakai
    Al Pacino is one of the most respected and talented actors in the history of filmmaking. So why did it take him over 20 years in the business before he finally got his hands on one of those golden little baldies, that go by the name of Oscar? It's a question that will confound ma... read moreny but at least now, with this performance in 1992, it probably, proudly, rests on his mantelpiece.
    In order to make some money for a Christmas trip home, impoverished college-student Charlie (Chris O'Donnell) agrees to look after Frank (Al Pacino), a blind retired Colonel for Thanksgiving. Babysitting takes on a whole new dimension when Frank decides he wants to spent the weekend living it up in New York City.
    At the time of this films release Pacino had had 4 nominations for Best Actor and 3 nominations for Best Supporting Actor. He had produced such sterling work in classic films like "The Godfather", "Serpico", "Dog Day Afternoon" and "Scarface". This is only a few in a long list but, finally, no-one could argue with his bravura portrayal of a blind, hard drinking, ex-Army colonel. This isn't the type of film you'd tip for Pacino receiving an award but it's a performance that can't be ignored. Yes, grandstanding does ensue, but hey! It's Pacino, he's allowed. There's an unsettling intensity to his performance that's so powerful, it's hard to take your eyes off him. Ironically, he plays a blind man but his performance allows the audience to see. To see, what an actor can encapsulate. The film itself is a tad lighthearted and despite being overshadowed considerably, a young Chris O'Donnell handles himself well in such company. But it feels like the story itself is only a vehicle, or series of scenes, in which to allow Al to chew up. It's enjoyable stuff nonetheless and at a running time of 2hrs 30mins, you wouldn't know. The time flies by as it's so much fun. A major demerit is the Hollywood perfect, rousing, finale though. The schmaltz factor goes through the roof, leaving you feeling a bit embarrassed at the audacity in even attempting it and it seriously sells the film short.
    If I was to rate this based on Pacino's performance, it would be an unquestionable 5 stars. It's one of his finest. However, the flimsy material brings the film down a notch.
  • TheGame90
    February 6, 2012
    TheGame90
    Very good movie. Give this man a oscar... Yeah you should have before to... And I would like to take some time to acknowledge Chris O'Donnell as well. Cause he did a damn fine job. I'm not gonna say I can relate to blindness... Cause I can't. But being blind is among the highest ... read morethings on the list of things I don't wanna be. So it speaks to me. It must be hell... Well...it was a good script and well executed. Thank you for your time
  • DreamExtractor
    September 11, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    Scent of a Woman is one of the greatest performances of Al Pacino. The plot was great, it really has many great themes and I loved the character that they gave Pacino. Chris O Donell was great, but Al Pacino played a very moving and intense role and if I were gonna recommend th... read moreis movie, it would be mostly because of him. This movie was a sweet and humourous film and I loved it, and its a true classic.
  • CloudStrife84
    August 9, 2011
    CloudStrife84
    How many good actors does it take to make a movie worth the watch? Well, in this case only one: Hollywood legend Al Pacino. But to call him good would be the understatement of the century, because the performance he brings here is so amazing it makes the rest of the cast look lik... read moree amateurs. Add to that that it's got one of the best scripts ever written for cinema, and you'll know why they're calling this a classic. A phenomenal, captivating and brilliantly acted film, that I personally rank as the best film I've ever seen with Al Pacino. Yes, I even like it more than Scarface and The Godfather movies (which I both find really overrated by the way). So if you happen to be on the look-out for a drama beyond the average, then I can tell you right now that search is over.
  • kenstachnik
    July 26, 2011
    kenstachnik
    A little long but Pacino is very watchable as he chews ALL of the scenery.
    Philip Seymour Hoffman's first real roll.
  • LoughnerWasLucid
    June 17, 2011
    LoughnerWasLucid
    not really that big a deal... its really just great for the 5 minutes of Brad Whitford. i think its fucked up that Pacino would win the oscar for this and not the Godfather. thats about as bad as hearing a Heath Ledger fan say, "dude. seriously.. you have to go see 10 things i ha... read morete about you. just trust me."
  • BEACHBUNNI
    January 28, 2011
    BEACHBUNNI
    In order to make some money for a Christmas trip home, college student Charlie agrees to look after Frank, a blind retired Colonel, for Thanksgiving. Babysitting takes on a whole new dimension when Frank decides he wants to spent the weekend living it up in New York City.Winning ... read morean Oscar for his performance, Al Pacinos portrayal of a blind man is so good that you can almost forget that in real life he is not visually impaired.
    I really enjoyed this movie
  • smith44
    April 13, 2010
    smith44
    One of Al Pacino's best performances utterly unbelieveable.
  • SirPant
    September 23, 2009
    SirPant
    This film is just stupid, Chris O'Donnell did my head in, even Pacino couldn?t save it for me! An attack on intelligence!
  • arashxak
    September 8, 2009
    arashxak
    Corny & melodramatic with a ridiculous happy ending but could have worse you know, Overall it has a few good moments

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Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum
May 27, 2011
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

An irascible bully who proves to have a heart of gold, Pacino's character seems manufactured by a computer programmed with box-office grosses. Full Review

Variety Staff
May 21, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

Scent of a Woman indulgently stretches a modest conceit well past the breaking point. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

The good thing is that the principals and film makers make the absolute most of a conventional opportunity. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

By the end of Scent of a Woman, we have arrived at the usual conclusion of the coming-of-age movie, and the usual conclusion of the prep school movie. But rarely have we been taken there with so much ... Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

This is a great performance from Pacino, who has the good luck here to work with Goldman's mostly wonderful, edgy script. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

As portrayed by Pacino, there's far more to this man that a rancorous outlook on life and a couple of hearty "hoo-ha"s. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

When all Pacino's demons are bared, they don't add up to the poignant punchline you were set up for. Full Review

Owen Gleiberman
December 23, 1992
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

An epic picaresque in the tradition of Rain Man, Scent of a Woman is Al Pacino's entry into the Dustin Hoffman virtousic-one-man-show sweepstakes. Full Review

May 27, 2011
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Thanks to a landmark performance by Al Pacino, Scent of a Woman is an agreeably watchable film. If they'd made it half an hour shorter and re-written the ending, it could have been a great one. Full Review

May 27, 2011
Film4

Pacino manages to shift smoothly from comedy to pathos, making the antipathetic character seem fascinating. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Lt. Col. Frank Slade: Why? Because it was too damn hard!
    • Lt. Col. Frank Slade: [screaming] What life? I got no life! I'm in the dark here.
    • Lt. Col. Frank Slade: There is nothing like the sight of an amputated spirit. There is no prosthetic for that.
    • Lt. Col. Frank Slade: Well, gentlemen! When the shit hits the fan, some guys run and some guys stay. Here's Charlie facin' the fire and there's George hidin' in Big Daddy's pocket. And what are you doin'? You're gonna reward George and destroy Charlie.
    • Mr. Trask: Are you finished, Mr. Slade?
    • Lt. Col. Frank Slade: No, I'm just gettin' warmed up!
    • Lt. Col. Frank Slade: This is such a crock of shit!
    • Lt. Col. Frank Slade: If I were the man I was five years ago I'd take a flamethrower to this place!
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Scent of a Woman Trivia

  • Name the 1992 movie starring Al Pacino as a blind man who,does the Tango,he won an Acadamy Award for this role for best leading actor?  Answer »
  • Name the 1992 movie staring Al Pacino,Chris O'Donnell & Philip Seymour Hoffman,with the plot outline: A young student is forced into accompanying a blind embittered formore Army officer on a hedonistic trip to New York City and comes-of-age in the process.  Answer »
  • In Scent of a Woman, What kind of car(make) did the Board of Trustees' give to Headmaster Trask?   Answer »
  • In Scent of a Woman, What did Charlie and George Willis witness when they were walking back from the school library that fateful night?  Answer »
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