Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer
Bavarian writer Patrick Suskind wrote 'Perfume' in 1985, but refused to sell the rights for 15 years, certain that his book's main theme, smell, could not work in a visual medium. At various stages, Tim Burton, Stanley Kubrick, Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott have been tipped to direct. This one, however, is being helmed by Tom Tykwer, who made the stylish 'Run, Lola, Run'.
It's all about a young man called Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, born in 1744 with an acute sense of smell. He becomes obsessed with capturing scent after accidentally killing a girl with an irresistible aroma. It's a stylish sensory feast with thespians Alan Rickman and Dustin Hoffman.
- Director:
- Tom Tykwer ('Run, Lola, Run')
- Writer:
- Andrew BirkinBernd EichingerTom Tykwer
- Cast:
- Ben WhishawAlan RickmanRachel Hurd-WoodDustin Hoffman
Reviews & comments
odd but good I think??
Perfume left me with a feeling that amounts to shock, sympathy for the main character but with a fit of the giggles. It was beautifully shot, despite some of the accents being a bit off, The story itself and the joy of watching the Older lady in the seat in front of me deciding whether to pretend to look in her handbag or just place it straight over her...
A Charming tale with little bite.
Having not read the book (which is said to be good) i went into the cinema with few expectations.The film is more or less a grotesque folk tale, beautifully and lavishly costumed and full of top rate actors/ess. However, the film is longer than neccesary, quite indulgent at times, and it seems the similarly themed 'Eyes without a face' (1960) by Georges...
Variety
pressThe seductive, sensory prose of Patrick Suskind's bestseller, "Perfume," reaches the screen with loads of visual panache but only intermittent magic...
The New York Times
pressTry as it might to be refined and provocative, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer never rises above the pedestrian creepiness of its conceit...
San Francisco Chronicle
pressThis isn't pleasant to watch. Neither is it amusing, intellectually engaging, whimsically fascinating, coldly satirical or painfully poignant, though at any given moment in this erratic film director Tom Tykwer might be trying for one of these conflicting tones...
New Zealand Herald
pressBanal and obvious adpatation entirely misses the point of a subtle and brilliant bestseller...
Newshub
pressRelative unknown Brit Ben Whishaw is a revelation, capturing completely the silent disturbing and entrancing Jean-Baptiste...
Empire Magazine
pressThe odd conclusion renders it somewhat oblique, but Perfume is a feast for the senses...
Christchurch Press
pressPerfume's allure is really because it hits all the right notes for both audiences who watch films with their head, and those who lead with their heart...
Variety
pressThe seductive, sensory prose of Patrick Suskind's bestseller, "Perfume," reaches the screen with loads of visual panache but only intermittent magic...
The New York Times
pressTry as it might to be refined and provocative, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer never rises above the pedestrian creepiness of its conceit...
San Francisco Chronicle
pressThis isn't pleasant to watch. Neither is it amusing, intellectually engaging, whimsically fascinating, coldly satirical or painfully poignant, though at any given moment in this erratic film director Tom Tykwer might be trying for one of these conflicting tones...
New Zealand Herald
pressBanal and obvious adpatation entirely misses the point of a subtle and brilliant bestseller...
Newshub
pressRelative unknown Brit Ben Whishaw is a revelation, capturing completely the silent disturbing and entrancing Jean-Baptiste...
Empire Magazine
pressThe odd conclusion renders it somewhat oblique, but Perfume is a feast for the senses...
Christchurch Press
pressPerfume's allure is really because it hits all the right notes for both audiences who watch films with their head, and those who lead with their heart...
odd but good I think??
Perfume left me with a feeling that amounts to shock, sympathy for the main character but with a fit of the giggles. It was beautifully shot, despite some of the accents being a bit off, The story itself and the joy of watching the Older lady in the seat in front of me deciding whether to pretend to look in her handbag or just place it straight over her...
A Charming tale with little bite.
Having not read the book (which is said to be good) i went into the cinema with few expectations.The film is more or less a grotesque folk tale, beautifully and lavishly costumed and full of top rate actors/ess. However, the film is longer than neccesary, quite indulgent at times, and it seems the similarly themed 'Eyes without a face' (1960) by Georges...
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