Scent of a Woman* (1992)

For years I avoided watching this film because the title sounded like a sappy romantic flick. Only after I decided to grin and bear it, because my wife wanted to see it, did I learn how wrong I was. It may not be a chick flick, or even a romance for that matter, but there is still a sap factor to Scent of a Woman that holds it back.

Prep school student Charlie Simms (Chris O’Donnell) takes a caretaker job over Thanksgiving break to earn money for a trip home for Christmas. He gets more than he bargains for when the man he is hired to watch, retired Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade (Al Pacino), drafts him into a road trip to New York City. The blind military man is full of anger, and at times finds himself at odds with his caretaker, but Slade and Simms find a kind of rapport that enables each of them to help the other through difficult situations.

This film serves as a vehicle for showcasing Al Pacino’s acting chops, end of story. Like many other Hollywood films before it, Scent of a Woman is a one man show without being a true solo performance. Pacino is fierce with his characters rage yet completely watchable. I’m not sure what blind advocates though of his performance but he seems to do well enough in playing a blind man. His line of sight never gets too focused on what a non-blind person would.

While Chris O’Donnell’s character is actually the main character of this story, he is completely overshadowed by his costar. The way the script is written, it almost feels like this was by design, because you only remember Pacino’s performance. Enjoyable as the film may be, it would have been nice to have a stronger actor playing Charlie Simms. O’Donnell has a few shining moments but he comes nowhere close to standing toe-to-toe with Pacino. I don’t know what young actor could have pulled it off but O’Donnell doesn’t convince me.

Scent of a Woman has some charm and plenty of heartwarming and uplifting moments but something feels a little paint-by-numbers. Pacino’s Oscar is certainly earned here but when one performance overpowers everything else, it takes something away from the film as a whole. This film may have something to say about honor and values but it doesn’t quite say enough to be the kind of film that people will remember forever. If it weren’t for Pacino, this film probably wouldn’t be remembered at all.

RATING: 3.5 out of 5

Batman & Robin (1997)

I used to dislike George Clooney when I was younger. I don't recall why, but I did. I used to think that George Clooney left a near-permanent stain on the Batman franchise. Having seen Clooney in films with good writing that allows his charm and acting chops to shine, I realize that Batman & Robin nearly left a permanent stain on Clooney’s career.

Batman Forever was the first Batman film I ever saw and I foolishly held it to be the standard for many years. My mistake. This film probably has more in common with the Adam West series than the comic books. Arnold Schwarzenegger seems like an interesting choice for Mr. Freeze- large, dangerous, but fragile. Then you hear the lines he is given.

Between the writing, Uma Thurman’s Poison Ivy and her henchman, the film is virtually impossible to save. A story about Mr. Freeze is unique enough, because he has a rich back story, and that’s why I don’t rate this film lower. The potential is there. The execution is not. Joel Schumacher camps up the series even further and adds unnecessary camera angles, set pieces and lighting to create a Gotham City and a Batman that nobody can believe in.

Two questions remain in my mind: 1) Why exactly was Batgirl in this movie? and 2) Who’s idea was it to put nipples on the Batsuit?

RATING: 1.5 out of 5