Search - Scent of a Woman on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Strong Sexual Content, Not For Children, Profanity, Substance Abuse Movie Release: 1992 DVD Release: 04/29/1998 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Special Collection Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 37 mins Studio: Universal Studios Total Copies: 2 Genres: Drama, Coming-of-Age See Also: Scent of a Woman [HD DVD], Scent of a Woman

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. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide

Al Pacino - Lt. Col. Frank Slade
Chris O'Donnell - Charlie Simms
James Rebhorn - Mr. Trask
Gabrielle Anwar - Donna
Philip Seymour Hoffman - George Willis Jr.

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. ~ Oliver Thornton, All Movie Guide