SCENT OF A WOMAN, with Al Pacino, Chris O'Donnell, Gabrielle Anwar and James Rebhorn. Directed by Martin Brest.
IN A recent interview about Scent of a Woman, director Martin Brest (Beverly Hills Cop, Midnight Run ) said of his lead: ''There are a few actors God speaks through when they're really cooking, and Al [Pacino] is one of those guys.'' High praise indeed, but praise well deserved given a career which includes superb performances in highly entertaining films like The Godfather, Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico and Scarface. Pacino turns in an outstanding performance in Scent of a Woman, and has been nominated for a best actor Oscar.
Pacino's Frank Slade is ex-army, gruff to the point of rudeness, and crude. Slade was a man sure of his position in the world - through his position in the army - who lost everything when a carelessly handled grenade took away his sight.
Well, nearly everything. Slade has kept his crass, bullying sense of humour and his propensity for ordering others around, which is why his niece wants a minder for him over Thanksgiving weekend.
Enter Charlie (Chris O'Donnell), a mild mannered academically outstanding student being put through an exclusive school on a scholarship. He needs money to get himself home for Christmas, and so answers the advertisement from Slade's niece.
The relationship between the middle aged, embittered lieutenant colonel and the wide eyed, rather feckless Charlie is the essence of Scent of a Woman. When the exchanges between the two are going well, the film comes to life; when these exchanges become laboured the film labours too.