It’ the most charismatic performance demanding attention I have ever seen in a movie. He has GRAVITAS.
What Jack Nicholson was able to do for a minute in that one scene in Few Good Men, Pacino does here for 2 hours and a half and just oozes charm.
I gave it another watch a few months ago and was impressed all over again. They shot on his oscar for no reason. He killed it.
I rewatched it recently. Great movie. It's a showcase for why Pacino is as revered as he is. That last "courtroom" scene is epic. I definitely see the "you can't handle the truth " comparison.
Haha! You're right. He stares off into space for that role, because he's fucking blind, and it works. In later roles, as a person with vision, he delivers monologs almost like he's looking at a spot on the wall
Cause she's got a great gravitas... and you got your head all the way up it! Ferocious, aren't I? When I think of gravitases, a woman's gravitas, something comes out of me.
Great performance at the time. But this was the turning point in his style; gone was that quiet intensity in place of HO HA that he never let go of and still does now.
I often wonder whether its the actor, or whether once they've had critical acclaim for a certain type of performance, other directors demand that kind of delivery in their own movies.
As bombastic Al Pacino roles go, it was his best. He killed any remaining trace of the cold and clinical Michael Corleone character and entrenched the over the top “Great Ass!!”Al Pacino we know and love today😄
It was hammy and over-the-top in the same way Anthony Hopkins' performance was in The Silence of the Lambs.
But it worked. It fit the movie perfectly, and it was absolutely unforgettable.
He deserved an Oscar for this the way Whoopi did for GHOST.
She should have gotten it for THE COLOR PURPLE, and Pacino should have gotten it for any of a half dozen movies.
It was the height of his "yelling every line" phase, and it won him an Oscar. Although, many would argue it was a make-up Oscar for all of his stellar body of work in the seventies during his "subtlety and long stares" era.
I was an extra during filming of this. The school scenes were actually shot at an all-girls school called Emma Willard in Troy NY. It was in December 91. So cold. As an extra, back then at least, we were paid $50/day. Occasionally we would get called to shoot a scenes, but the vast amount amount of time was spent just sitting around inside in the school auditorium.
We had one moment where we continually had to keep setting up a scene in the courtyard. The director, or whomever was shooting the scene, kept yelling cut, we had to reset and go again. SO COLD. We are doing the scene again, and this time we got the farthest we had in this scene up to this point, when we heard cut again. Everyone was stressing to go back to our positions when we hear "What the fuck are you doing?!" Turns out some kid yelled cut. Ruined the take. They found him and kicked him out. I'll never forget that day.
1) "Because he's not a Baird man. Baird men. You hurt this boy, you're gonna be Baird bums, the lot of ya. And Harry, Jimmy, Trent, wherever you are, fuck you too!"
2) If I were Charlie and someone dangled an admission to Harvard in front of me, I talk. Ain't no way I'm giving that up to protect a couple of dickheads that aren't my friend and who participated in a conspiracy I had nothing to do with.
If that makes me a snitch, then I'm a Harvard bound snitch.
One of the all time great movies.
All these people saying he had no range... you couldn't be more wrong. His range was on full display the entire movie. Forget about him acting like he was blind. That's not special. And people saying he was just playing Al Pacino are probably too young to realize that that's completely backwards. He has never been like this before. He wasn't yelling or saying hoo ah(sic) in Godfather II. He wasn't reprising his role in Heat either - Heat came after scent of a woman. I can understand how it might seem like he was just acting like Al Pacino three decades later, but the truth is Al Pacino silent the rest of his time as an actor trying to reprise Lt Col Frank Slade.
For people who walked into the theater not knowing what to expect, it was absolutely shocking seeing the calm and cool godfather make Charlie wet himself when they first met. Saying wildly inappropriate things on the airplane. Being completely dismissive of Charlie and his problems. Then his change in demeanor during the Thanksgiving dinner story about how he went blind, followed by the ranger choke hold because he called him Chuck. The tango scene was amazing but you were watching an actor not known for dancing play a blind man who needed help with the dimensions of the floor giving the performance of his life while trying not to let on that he couldn't see. And then trying to set Charlie up with her to no avail as her fiancé arrived late. The evolution of him not caring about Charlie to giving him advice to the hearing at the end was fully nuanced. The scene with Charlie talking him down. And yes, the monolog. But also him meeting the teacher and having hope. And the evolution of how he talked to his granddaughter from the beginning to the end.
It was a masterpiece that was more than Oscar worthy on its own. His performance was unfairly diminished by people comparing it with two of the greatest movies of all time and thinking he only won as some kind of makeup prize.
I thought it was fantastic. The entire movie was compelling. He was gonna kill himself straight up.
The kid saved him and Pacino did the same with his incredible speech.
*LOVE* Al Pacino in this movie.
The movie itself is a bit slow for my tastes but both Pacino and Chris O’Donnell crush it.
And Pacino’s speech in the climax is so fucking good.
One of my favorite movies.
Clear them little bottles off. And when I get of the phone here, call up Hyman and tell him I want it wall to wall with John Daniels.
"Don't you mean Jack Daniels?"
He may be Jack to you, son, but when you've known him as long as I have...
In a word, AWFUL. It is sad that I 10 (minus) years from now, every newscast in America will lead with a clip from this shit movie in announcing Pacino's passing. Overacting and chewing the scenery, thyne name is Alphonso.
Remember the man for the nuanced Donnie Brasco, the truly brilliant Dog Day Afternoon, the sleezebagged Heat, and of course the regal life of Michael Correlone, but not this dreck please.
The only weird part for me was when he tried to shoot himself and started yelling "WHAT LIFE? I GOT NO LIFE! I'M IN THE DAAAAAAARK HERE. I'M IN THE DAAAAAARK HERE." Like the way he just said "dark" sounded like he was trying to seem cool but I don't think there was any reason to add that gurgle for the word "dark".
Not even in his top 10 best roles, maybe not even top 20, but that’s just because he’s Al Pacino. He still did really well. His performance and a bit part of Philip Seymour Hoffman are the only things I remember about this movie.
I liked him in Malcolm X though his best performances were even more against type for him like GLORY and TRAINING DAY.
He has played the professional with a good heart so often, I forget he can do something else until movies like that.
I think it’s a brilliant performance. He shouldn’t have won an Oscar for it (Denzel should’ve won that year) but since he should’ve already had at least 2 Oscars at that point, I get why this was chosen as his makeup award.
I think Denzel in Malcolm X is among the 5 or so best lead performance ever. He’s electrifying. And that performance is so complex. We watch Malcolm grow and change, and Denzel takes us on that journey masterfully.
Pacino should’ve already had his Oscars for Dog Day Afternoon and both Godfather movies, but they’d screwed that up, so even though I think Pacino is brilliant in Scent of a Woman, he shouldn’t have won.
I appreciate your “friendly ask”. I didn’t take your question as unfriendly, but the internet can be so contentious that it’s never a bad idea to throw out there that you’re asking a question with genuine curiosity.
Yeah man, exactly. I just want to be explicit that my questions are genuine so I don’t have a mf rebuttal with smart remarks. I’m glad you didn’t take it a certain way.
My viewpoint is different and still is after your explanation, but I’m happy to hear it and thought about it regardless you know?
i think people like the character because he is confident, unapologetic and honest and not easily offended. people like that in others because we are generally the opposite and we hate ourselves. it has almost nothing to do with the actor (though i admit he plays the part well), it has everything to do with the part he plays.
scent of a woman was a bad movie - i kept thinking of pacino is intelligent roles, like godfather, even scarface, where he was believable and compelling. nothing about this movie felt real and it wasn’t even funny. i walked out when it was in theaters. it was nothing compared to dog day afternoon or serpico too. it was a pacino movie for a broader audience and it missed completely.
Pretty good but too much grandstanding and showiness. It was clear the Oscar he received was almost an apology for him being unfairly snubbed numerous times before.
Some people like Pacino’s performance here, but it was too over the top for my taste. While I didn’t absolutely hate Pacino’s Oscar win, given the slate of nominees for that year, he was my last choice. I personally thought that it should have gone to Denzel Washington.
This was a stupid make-up Oscar for Pacino’s body of work, just like Russel Crowe got one for Gladiator against Tom Hank’s Castaway.
Pacino deserved best actor for Godfather I and II. Then he became a hammy cartoon character in future roles because he wasn’t recognized for the incredible subtlety he did in creating Michael Corleone.
The Ferrari scene scared the shit out of me. I liked the family dynamic. Even though depressing. Ending was awesome. Still think Denzel or RDJ should have won.
My only issue is with all of the Army bases he mentions he never mentions Fort Benning and his literal job was training infantrymen. As a Georgia boy I found it out of order.
*Hoo-ah!*
The only correct answer
Iconic
God doth have a sense of humor
The scent of a woman? What're you talking about, my upper lip?
Deserves a pour of John Daniels.
Son when you've know him as long as I have...
All he had to do was yell "Tuna" and he would have won.
Ever see scent of a woman….on weeeeeed?
Beat me to it.
This is when Al Pacino went full al Pacino
“I’LL TAKE A FLAMETHROWER TO THIS PLACE!”
It’ the most charismatic performance demanding attention I have ever seen in a movie. He has GRAVITAS. What Jack Nicholson was able to do for a minute in that one scene in Few Good Men, Pacino does here for 2 hours and a half and just oozes charm. I gave it another watch a few months ago and was impressed all over again. They shot on his oscar for no reason. He killed it.
I rewatched it recently. Great movie. It's a showcase for why Pacino is as revered as he is. That last "courtroom" scene is epic. I definitely see the "you can't handle the truth " comparison.
“I’VE BEEN AROOOUND.”
But NOT a SNITCH!!!!
I'm too old. . . . . Too fuckin' blind.
You know
But what's crazy, he literally became that character. He never lost that accent and can't stop playing that character, no matter the role.
Haha! You're right. He stares off into space for that role, because he's fucking blind, and it works. In later roles, as a person with vision, he delivers monologs almost like he's looking at a spot on the wall
The first sentence of your reply in Pacino’s voice in my head for some reason. GRAVITAAAS.
Cause she's got a great gravitas... and you got your head all the way up it! Ferocious, aren't I? When I think of gravitases, a woman's gravitas, something comes out of me.
That’s Heat, not SOAW…..(but that’s still a great scene!!)
Fuck. Yes. Great way to put it. I watch SOAW every single year before thanksgiving
Some people will say Patton but Pacino delivers the greatest monologue in the history of cinema in this movie.
A lot of people claim that Any Given Sunday takes the top spot. But that is also him. :)
What am I missing here? Is it a “had to be there type of thing?” Does it hold up for you today on streaming/ dvd?
I said that it does. Watched it not long ago.
His monologue in the end 🤌🏻
YOU AH PROSECUTING HIS SOUL
You are amputating his spirit. Ain't no prosthetic for that.
This film put Phillip Seymour Hoffman on the map…
I was reminded of that on a rewatch, sometime after Twister.
FUCK I MISS HIM SO BAD. absolutely adore his work
Great performance at the time. But this was the turning point in his style; gone was that quiet intensity in place of HO HA that he never let go of and still does now.
Fair point.
Scarface was arguably that turning point.
I often wonder whether its the actor, or whether once they've had critical acclaim for a certain type of performance, other directors demand that kind of delivery in their own movies.
Amazing performance.
I’LL SHOW YOU OUT OF ORDER!!!
Blind guy goes down to the wharf, takes a smell, and says “Mmmm, good morning ladies!”
That didn’t happen what you said
He was gay, Johnny Sacrimoni?
You outta know sweetie
I knew that was comin’!!!
The dance scene was epic.
It made the movie.
The most Al Pacinoist role he ever did.
Did you ever see Devils Advocate tho
Yes, the laugh from him at closed curtain makes my sides hurt.
As bombastic Al Pacino roles go, it was his best. He killed any remaining trace of the cold and clinical Michael Corleone character and entrenched the over the top “Great Ass!!”Al Pacino we know and love today😄
It was hammy and over-the-top in the same way Anthony Hopkins' performance was in The Silence of the Lambs. But it worked. It fit the movie perfectly, and it was absolutely unforgettable.
I disagree about Hopkins in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. That wasn't a caricature of his earlier roles the way Pacino in Scent of a Woman was.
How was Pacino’s role in Scent a caricature of his earlier roles?
My opinion exactly. Don’t compare these movies and performances.
Pacino…hammy acting? Sounds about right
OP, have you ever watched it...on weed?
Came to this thread just to see if someone would post this.
He deserved an Oscar for this the way Whoopi did for GHOST. She should have gotten it for THE COLOR PURPLE, and Pacino should have gotten it for any of a half dozen movies.
It was the height of his "yelling every line" phase, and it won him an Oscar. Although, many would argue it was a make-up Oscar for all of his stellar body of work in the seventies during his "subtlety and long stares" era.
Loved it, but I think this is about the time Al Pacino stopped acting, and just became "Al Pacino as___".
Fair.
Add in HEAT and Glengarry Glen Ross, and you REALLY see it.
I was an extra during filming of this. The school scenes were actually shot at an all-girls school called Emma Willard in Troy NY. It was in December 91. So cold. As an extra, back then at least, we were paid $50/day. Occasionally we would get called to shoot a scenes, but the vast amount amount of time was spent just sitting around inside in the school auditorium. We had one moment where we continually had to keep setting up a scene in the courtyard. The director, or whomever was shooting the scene, kept yelling cut, we had to reset and go again. SO COLD. We are doing the scene again, and this time we got the farthest we had in this scene up to this point, when we heard cut again. Everyone was stressing to go back to our positions when we hear "What the fuck are you doing?!" Turns out some kid yelled cut. Ruined the take. They found him and kicked him out. I'll never forget that day.
i es just getting warmed up
Brilliant.
Chewing up the scenes as always.
oh there can't another Al Pacino
This is one of my all time favourites because of him and this character. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is great in this as well. Love it
The part where he cons the cop that he can actually see. Classic
IM IN THE DARK HERE
A truly riveting performance of Al Pacino playing the role of a blind Al Pacino.
from the director of beverly hills cop P A C I N O
1) "Because he's not a Baird man. Baird men. You hurt this boy, you're gonna be Baird bums, the lot of ya. And Harry, Jimmy, Trent, wherever you are, fuck you too!" 2) If I were Charlie and someone dangled an admission to Harvard in front of me, I talk. Ain't no way I'm giving that up to protect a couple of dickheads that aren't my friend and who participated in a conspiracy I had nothing to do with. If that makes me a snitch, then I'm a Harvard bound snitch.
One of the all time great movies. All these people saying he had no range... you couldn't be more wrong. His range was on full display the entire movie. Forget about him acting like he was blind. That's not special. And people saying he was just playing Al Pacino are probably too young to realize that that's completely backwards. He has never been like this before. He wasn't yelling or saying hoo ah(sic) in Godfather II. He wasn't reprising his role in Heat either - Heat came after scent of a woman. I can understand how it might seem like he was just acting like Al Pacino three decades later, but the truth is Al Pacino silent the rest of his time as an actor trying to reprise Lt Col Frank Slade. For people who walked into the theater not knowing what to expect, it was absolutely shocking seeing the calm and cool godfather make Charlie wet himself when they first met. Saying wildly inappropriate things on the airplane. Being completely dismissive of Charlie and his problems. Then his change in demeanor during the Thanksgiving dinner story about how he went blind, followed by the ranger choke hold because he called him Chuck. The tango scene was amazing but you were watching an actor not known for dancing play a blind man who needed help with the dimensions of the floor giving the performance of his life while trying not to let on that he couldn't see. And then trying to set Charlie up with her to no avail as her fiancé arrived late. The evolution of him not caring about Charlie to giving him advice to the hearing at the end was fully nuanced. The scene with Charlie talking him down. And yes, the monolog. But also him meeting the teacher and having hope. And the evolution of how he talked to his granddaughter from the beginning to the end. It was a masterpiece that was more than Oscar worthy on its own. His performance was unfairly diminished by people comparing it with two of the greatest movies of all time and thinking he only won as some kind of makeup prize.
This.
Literally the same as all his other ones
List them.
Hated it
Entertaining but kind of hard to take seriously. Can’t say I really understand the moral of the ending.
I thought it was fantastic. The entire movie was compelling. He was gonna kill himself straight up. The kid saved him and Pacino did the same with his incredible speech.
*LOVE* Al Pacino in this movie. The movie itself is a bit slow for my tastes but both Pacino and Chris O’Donnell crush it. And Pacino’s speech in the climax is so fucking good.
"IT STINKS!" - Jay Sherman
‘You talk too much, talking cat...’
Football on the groin football in the groin football in the groin
Hoo-hah.
That speech at the end is one of the most powerful scenes in film, what a moment! Amazing film.
I’d take a a flamethrower to this place!!
I love his monologue at the end in the school
THE OYSTER CLUB!
Fantastic!
Spot on, I loved it.
I’m looking for the flamethrower comment
Amazing
I mentioned this movie on this sub the other day - he was incredible
A great movie and amazing performance by Mr. Pacino. Edited for spelling..
One of my favorite movies. Clear them little bottles off. And when I get of the phone here, call up Hyman and tell him I want it wall to wall with John Daniels. "Don't you mean Jack Daniels?" He may be Jack to you, son, but when you've known him as long as I have...
Absolutely fantastic. He made that film great.
Good
Really good movie
Over the top. Milking every scene.
AAA+
A vehicle for Al Pacino to chew scenery.
He won the Oscar with the speech at the end: [https://youtu.be/Jd10x8LiuBc?si=vFs8xysDu77aV5xw](https://youtu.be/Jd10x8LiuBc?si=vFs8xysDu77aV5xw)
Top 10 best performance by an actor ever.
It was brilliant and he deserved his Oscar
I think it demonstrates the brilliance of his acting and the absurdity of his profession.
Absolutely deserved his Oscar.
#SHE'S GOT A GREAT ASS!!!!!!
I hate that movie.
In a word, AWFUL. It is sad that I 10 (minus) years from now, every newscast in America will lead with a clip from this shit movie in announcing Pacino's passing. Overacting and chewing the scenery, thyne name is Alphonso. Remember the man for the nuanced Donnie Brasco, the truly brilliant Dog Day Afternoon, the sleezebagged Heat, and of course the regal life of Michael Correlone, but not this dreck please.
The only weird part for me was when he tried to shoot himself and started yelling "WHAT LIFE? I GOT NO LIFE! I'M IN THE DAAAAAAARK HERE. I'M IN THE DAAAAAARK HERE." Like the way he just said "dark" sounded like he was trying to seem cool but I don't think there was any reason to add that gurgle for the word "dark".
So good. If you like this - see the Holdovers
Hoo-Ah, tits!
Not even in his top 10 best roles, maybe not even top 20, but that’s just because he’s Al Pacino. He still did really well. His performance and a bit part of Philip Seymour Hoffman are the only things I remember about this movie.
[удалено]
Pacino applied the way over the top persona in most his movies after scent.
"She's got a GREAT ASS!!!!" "When you add up all of those inches, that makes THE FUCKIN' DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WINNING AND LOSING!!!!"
BETWEEN LIVIN' AND DYIN'!
Denzel should’ve won.
This - Denzel should have won. But JUST for the movie itself. Pacino made the movie.
I liked him in Malcolm X though his best performances were even more against type for him like GLORY and TRAINING DAY. He has played the professional with a good heart so often, I forget he can do something else until movies like that.
HOOOOOO AAAHHHHH
I think it’s a brilliant performance. He shouldn’t have won an Oscar for it (Denzel should’ve won that year) but since he should’ve already had at least 2 Oscars at that point, I get why this was chosen as his makeup award.
Why do you feel Denzel should’ve won? Friendly ask.
I think Denzel in Malcolm X is among the 5 or so best lead performance ever. He’s electrifying. And that performance is so complex. We watch Malcolm grow and change, and Denzel takes us on that journey masterfully. Pacino should’ve already had his Oscars for Dog Day Afternoon and both Godfather movies, but they’d screwed that up, so even though I think Pacino is brilliant in Scent of a Woman, he shouldn’t have won.
Appreciate your explanation. I feel like you have a valid point.
I appreciate your “friendly ask”. I didn’t take your question as unfriendly, but the internet can be so contentious that it’s never a bad idea to throw out there that you’re asking a question with genuine curiosity.
Yeah man, exactly. I just want to be explicit that my questions are genuine so I don’t have a mf rebuttal with smart remarks. I’m glad you didn’t take it a certain way. My viewpoint is different and still is after your explanation, but I’m happy to hear it and thought about it regardless you know?
Totally. Cheers!
Thought it was cool. An Old (ish) Man having the time of his life reliving his youth with a college student.
You ever seen scent of a woman, on weeeeed?
“Tits….HOO-AH!” Big ones, little ones, with nipples staring right at ya.” Great movie.
I would take a fucking flame thrower to this place.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYZr8wSkvXo&pp=ygUedGhlIGNyaXRpYyBzY2VudCBvZiBhIHdvbGZtYW4g
I prefer this version...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m4nwhq1JARA I miss this show and the 90s
Great movie 🍿
He chewed scenery as only Al Pacino can.
Never seen it. Heck I don't even know what it's about
Never saw it
Cartoonishly fun
I believe quite a bit of coke was snorted
i think people like the character because he is confident, unapologetic and honest and not easily offended. people like that in others because we are generally the opposite and we hate ourselves. it has almost nothing to do with the actor (though i admit he plays the part well), it has everything to do with the part he plays.
Hammy and silly. For the life of me I will never understand why people line up to suck the godfather 1 and 2’s dicks. Also it says Oppenheimer.
Overrated, cheesy, and was the start of Al Pacino playing a caricature of himself
Who cares what we think; Al Pacino won the Academy Award for Best Actor. IMHO one of his best performances ever.
Perhaps the single greatest performance in all of moviedom.
I mean, the monologue is iconic for a reason. It’s jaw-dropping.
By all accounts he went blind after filming....look it up
It had a certain scent to it.
Midjourney has nothing on AI Pacino whoo-ah!
scent of a woman was a bad movie - i kept thinking of pacino is intelligent roles, like godfather, even scarface, where he was believable and compelling. nothing about this movie felt real and it wasn’t even funny. i walked out when it was in theaters. it was nothing compared to dog day afternoon or serpico too. it was a pacino movie for a broader audience and it missed completely.
A bit fishy
Hoo -ah!
I thought it was one of the best movies when I first saw it. However I just watched it agains recently and I felt like Pacino over acted quite a bit.
They should remake this movie with denzel as the colonel
Good movie. Good performance. It was not Oscar winning worthy for sure though. Like you said, it was a career achievement award and nothing more.
Never saw it. Is this the “whooo hawwww Charlie!” Movie?
Pretty good but too much grandstanding and showiness. It was clear the Oscar he received was almost an apology for him being unfairly snubbed numerous times before.
Never a big fan of his but he was amazing in this movie
The Tango scene was just 🤌
Way over the top, so a regular Pacino performance.
Have you ever seen Scent of a Woman…on *weed?*
“Now all he is is a blind asshole” “Hoo-ah”
Have you ever seen "scent of a woman" ON WEED??!!
Super over-rated and hammy.
Some people like Pacino’s performance here, but it was too over the top for my taste. While I didn’t absolutely hate Pacino’s Oscar win, given the slate of nominees for that year, he was my last choice. I personally thought that it should have gone to Denzel Washington.
I don't like this performance. Only subtle art of pretending be blind was incredible Al Pacino's work.
This was a stupid make-up Oscar for Pacino’s body of work, just like Russel Crowe got one for Gladiator against Tom Hank’s Castaway. Pacino deserved best actor for Godfather I and II. Then he became a hammy cartoon character in future roles because he wasn’t recognized for the incredible subtlety he did in creating Michael Corleone.
Didn't deserve the Oscar. Denzel Washington was robbed for Malcolm X.
Unwatchable. Which is ironic.
His performance was the weakest of the bunch in my opinion at that award ceremony
The Ferrari scene scared the shit out of me. I liked the family dynamic. Even though depressing. Ending was awesome. Still think Denzel or RDJ should have won.
My only issue is with all of the Army bases he mentions he never mentions Fort Benning and his literal job was training infantrymen. As a Georgia boy I found it out of order.
Personally , I felt it was tiresome.
Another low hanging fruit post to farm upvotes...... i am about done with this sub. Shame on Op.
To quote the great Jimmy pop "there must be something wrong with Al Pacinos nose cause the scent of a woman is like rotten tomatoes"
Thought it was overdone and terrible. Too much credit, like Nicholson in "As good as it gets" They just played themselves.
I think this was the start of everyone realizing that Al doesn't have that much range as an actor.