Another one of those movies that I watched after it first was released but have only recently watched again. I must say I probably thought more of it some 30 years ago. Nothing against the actors. I think they all did a credible job. I just think two and a half hours was too long to spend with the Colonel (oops, sorry, Lieutenant Colonel).

Even Slade himself admits that he has always been a screw-up, and it seems since the incident that led to his blindness he has gotten much worse, and suicidal to boot. Fair enough, at times he did seem to be a waste of skin, so suicide was a viable option.

Lt. Colonel Frank Slade can be casually insulting or verbally abusive to any person that enters his orbit: friend or foe, family or stranger, it doesn’t matter. And he can be physically abusive for provocations that we mere mortals learn to swallow in silence or with some modicum or class. Yes, that is his style, but wait. That applies to men only, it seems. With women, whom he magically knows are attractive by their smell despite his blindness, he is courtly, charming, respectful with only occasional lapses of lewdness.

So if he can be a normal human with attractive women, what is his problem with everyone else? Well, of course it doesn’t matter, because he is larger than life and the centerpiece of the movie. All of his moods and actions leading up to a speech he delivers at the end of the film, words that prove he is the hero of the movie. I would like to think that his time spent with Charlie was transformative for him and led to real character growth, but really, I don’t think that anything short of miraculously regaining his sight would have achieved that happy result.

So Scent of a woman. This was on my list for a while now. I like Al Pacino. He has this edge about him. His deliveries are so power packed that he leaves everything behind and comes forth on the screen. He appears more of a drama actor where a single spotlight covers his speeches.

Al Pacino plays a blind retired army officer. He is now dependent on his family and needs to be watched over. On a thanksgiving weekend, the family has to leave him in the care of Chris O’Donnell, a timid but strong willed gentleman. These two people are a class apart and their moments together change them both.

Al Pacino comes off as a very strong person who needs to constantly exude the air of control. He needs to make sure that others around him are on the edge, something that keeps him alive and kicking. Chris is more laid back. Non-compromising, and strong but laid back.
Al Pacino has this outward appearance of a strong guy who is on the edge of breaking. He wants to end his life after living a perfect day. He wants to dine at a perfect restaurant, drive a Ferrari, fuck a great woman and blow his brains out. From a societal standpoint, his views are strong and irrational, but I found myself identifying with him. He is the guy who embodies what Master Oogway says to Po in Kung Fu Panda.

> The past is history, the future is a mystery, but today is a gift — that’s why they call it ‘the present’

He lives in the moment. The reason he is discharged from the army and the reason why he lost his eyesight is that he pulls of grenade pins in a drunken stupor. He just has no care of the world. Would you call him selfish? Arguably so. He has seen life. The wars have changed him. He knows the importance of living in the moment. Only a guy with tremendous confidence and charm can pull off the tango. According to me, it is one of the best scenes of the film.

His face talks so much. There is a confidence in there. There is the feeling of living it up. This is the guy who knows in his mind that he is going to blow his brains out. He gets to live this moment once. He cherishes it. Yet he makes her feel so special. She enjoys it very much. Her apprehensions fade and she opens up. He takes care of her. Showing all that as a blind man takes a lot of efforts and yet he makes it look like to effortless, so poetic. The audience is in the background looking at the pair with happiness and appreciation. Instead of more bombastic scenes, this scene is my memory.

Chris, on the other hand, is shy. He doesn’t open up. He is conflicted. He is not the kind who would compromise willingly. He has integrity, but he is just entering the real world. He is naive, he is an idealist. In Al Pacino’s company he changes. He is more steadfast by the end of the film. The film is successful because these two very different characters leave impressions on each other and you get the fuzzy feeling of having watched a great film.

I add very few movies on my re-watch list. I guess this one will go in there.