Scent of a Woman (1992)

Scent of a woman is a drama released in 1992 and it is surely a true tribute to star power and reminder to us of times when actor's charismatic screen persona used to dominate screen space. Though I am a big fan of Al Pacino's work but this movie truely stands out from others and for me remains one of the crystalline performances of this terrafic actor. I saw this movie in 2002 and till date I have seen it zillions of time and still can sit throughout if get a chance which I always make once in a while.

Story involves two people having completely opposite personalities. Lt.Col Frank Slade (Al Pacino) is a blind retired army veteran who still carries the same flair and persona. Charlie Simmons (Chris O'Donnell) is a poor high school student on the verge of losing his scholarship and way to ivy leage school if he doesn't given in names of his friends involved in a prank. Chris meets Al Pacino over thanksgiving break to look after later for some money and Pacino takes him for a surprise outing to New York which he terms as `A little tour of pleasures'. Al Pacino has a hidden agenda of commiting suicide after tour is over and Chris prevents him in doing so and also Pacino prevents Charlie from getting fired from school and exemplies Chris for standing for truth and dignity and honor in front of his school.

Al Pacino undoubtedly gave one of his best performances ever and got deserving oscar in 1993 for the same and took home trophy which eluded this greatest actor for almost two decades since his dedut. It was risky performance as we realize he is blind and lonely but because of his own stupidity and alcohol. As the movie progresses, we realise Charlie has what Al Pacino wanted to achieve all his life i.e integrity and guts to take tough path. Al Pacino's acting is superb and heart-wrenching and above all it pours emotions from your heart when he is ill treated by his own brother's family on the eve of thanksgiving. I personally feel Pacino manages to reveal the complexities of his character in a way that no other actor could have managed.He gave his character authority, humour, stuborness and a sense of class and actually it just grows on you as the movie progresses.

Chris O'Donnell is good too and it must have been difficult to match up with Al Pacino but I think he fares well and also complements in intense scenes with his awkwardness and boyish charm and this might remain his one of the best works.

Movie is full of memorable scenes and be it ending in courtroom or Al Pacino driving Ferrari and fooling a policeman or performing tango or Al Pacino explaining Chris about woman and emrarassing him but I rate courtroom scene as the best and for me it remains one of the amazing monologues I have ever heard from an actor. The sheer intensity which Al Pacino got in that scene brings out goose bumps and they way he modulates his tone remembering his times and failures is heart wrenching.

There are many memorable quotes in this movie and I like particularly the one where Al Pacino says in school court, "Now I have come to the cross-roads in my life. I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew, but I never took it. You know why? It was too damn hard. Now here's Charlie. He's come to the cross-roads. He has chosen a path. It's the right path. It's a path made of principle that leads to character. Let him continue on his journey." That surmises the whole story and brings fitting end to the movie. Al Pacino brings out his failure by saying, "There are two kinds of people in this world: those who stand up and face the music, and those who run for cover. Cover is better".

Background score deserves special mention as it is one of the best and it just sets the tone and mood of every scene in the movie.

The Scent of a Woman scores ace on many levels. The character development is excellent and story line requires the characters to show themselves to be the people they really are which is a very difficult task when we potray it over screen. It remains one of the best cinematic experiences I ever had and this movie will always remain in top 10 for me. A must to have in your collection and a true tribute to one of the most gifted and amazing actors of our generation. I would rate it as one of the best dramas of all time.

Unforgiven (1992)

Unforgiven is a western drama directed by hollywood's own cowboy, Clint Eastwood has tried to stay away from all typical western movie ingredients in this movie and its his treatment of a simple story interwoven with sharp potrayl of moral conflicts in characters which makes this movie a treat to watch.Usually Client Eastwood movies usually allows silence to do most of the talking but director has remained generous with lines exchanged between characters and conversations become highlight of the movie

Story revolves around Bill (Eastwood) and his partner Ned (Morgan Freeman) going after bounty set on two cowboys by bunch of prostitues. They are confronted by Little Bill (Gene Hackman) who rules the town as Sherrif and is against people carrying fire arms in his area and maintains law and order. Whole movie deals with morality and how a person deals with it. Clint Eastwood has scars from his past crimes and he gets haunted by them throughout and he brings them up throughout the movie during conversations. Morgan Freeman has made peace with his past and doesn't allows morals to rule his present actions. Gene Hackman keeps his morals at stake when it comes to delivering the justice.

Eastwood has tried to break all the set norms by western genre movies in this directorial effort and has been very much successful indeed. There are lots of closeups on faces which is very rare and cowboys are humiliated throughout the movie physically. Director has made western more realistic here by showing physical injuries, curses and weakness of high flying cowboys in the movie. There is only one gun fight in the end which is very rare in western classics and director has defied westerns movie making norms by showing abuse of women

Performance wise Gene Hackman is winner with superb dialogue delivery and also potraying a complex character of sherrif who has zeal for defending justice with a dangerous desire to define it at the same time. The tension which he creates is outstanding. His performace bring out wickedness along with a responsibility and in the end we wonder did he deserved to die after all by hands of a person who made mockery of moral values and justice in first place.

Clint Eastwood excels as director but as an actor I feel he should have allowed silence to take precedence and Morgan Freeman doing the talks which he did in his later movie, Millin dollar baby (2004). But still he is successful in bringing out the moral complexity he carries with himself and also brings out sheer rage in his eyes which he has done ample amount of times in other movies. Morgan Freeman is fine and there was nothing for him to excel in the role he potrayed.

Though there are many dialogues in the movie but I liked particualy the one where Gene Hackman says, "I don't deserve to die like this" and client Eastwood responds saying "Deserve's got nothing to do with it". Also when he tells his repenting partner, "It's a hell of a thing, killin' a man. Take away all he's got, and all he's ever gonna have"

Client Eastwood deservingly got an oscar for best director and best movie and Gene Hackman got an oscar for best supporting actor. This movie is in top 100 of all time imdb list and truely deserves its place. 'Unforgiven' will always remain as an refreshing yet different look on life, man and the real west and I rate it as one of the most powerful films of the '90s. It is a true gem exploring moral values and their scars remaining with you.