"Perfume" *** 1\2 (out of ****)Given this film's story-line, under normal circumstances, you'd think what a moronic, pathetic, waste of time. What kind of person would even think to write such a film? And worst yet, what kind of person would even bother to film such a story? Yet here I am, giving this movie three and a half stars.
"Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" is about one man's unique sense of smell. He can distinguish any scent in the world. Along the way he acquires a desire to capture all the beautiful scents of the world by killing beautiful young ladies in an attempt to capture their scent.
But the film tells this story with such confidence the viewer can't help but get drawn in. No one in the film seems to realize what an absurd story this is. This could have been the kind of junk John Waters makes. Yet because the film believes in itself, we follow. It seems to know what it is doing so we trust it.
The film was directed by Tom Tykwer, director of one of the greatest modern films I have ever seen, "Run, Lola, Run". It was made on a budget of 65 million and grossed, in the U.S., a little more than 2 million. By all accounts it was a failure. But don't let that stop you from seeing one of the most unusual films you will see in mainstream Hollywood.
Ben Whishaw plays Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, the young boy with the gift of scent. Because of his talents he luckily gets a job working for Giuseppe Baldini (Dustin Hoffman), a once famous perfume maker, whose best days are behind him. Though with Grenouille's help, he soon finds himself respected again.
After Grenouille becomes obsessed with capturing scent, he decides to leave Grenouille in order to go on a killing spree. He finally sets his sights on Laura (Rachel Hurd-Wood) daughter of Richis (Alan Rickman), who begins to realize a serial killer is on the towns hands.
This story story-line in some ways reminded me of "Sweeney Todd". In that film a man kills so a woman can use the meat for her pies. Here a man kills so he can create a better perfume. Both characters have the wrong idea about what to do with humans. Oddly enough, Tim Burton was once considered to direct this film.
"Perfume" like "Todd" takes the viewer so closely on this journey that at times we feel we are there with the characters. We can almost smell what Grenouille smells. The look of the film is, to be blunt, perfect. I can't imagine the film looking any better. It is a visual fest for the eyes.
There is only one flaw I have with the film and it is in the final moments, after Grenouille is discovered for his activities. It let me down. I understand the film's message, I just wanted a different fate for the character. Something more horrific. But, aside from that "Perfume" is worth sniffing out for.
Posts
