RojoPerfume
I read Perfume years ago and the first thought I had was "I'm going to direct this film". Well I didn't, Tom Tykwer beat me to the punch (then who the hell am I ?). Author Patrick Suskind reportedly stated that no one would direct this film but Stanley Kubrick, Stan said that it was un-filmable. I discussed with other people long ago why Perfume couldn't be made into a film their reasoning was all the same.
In the book, the Grenoville spends, I think, months in a cave, living inside his head, this to me is irresistible for a film maker. Like Paul Schrader reasoning to director Patty Hearst. The protagonist spends a third of the film bound in a closet, he felt that she was in her head, this gave him licence to do anything. This was my reasoning with Perfume and the cave scenes, while in the cave the film maker had licence to do anything. Tom just axed it all together briefly touching on him in the cave but not taking it as far as he could, a missed opportunity I feel.
The orgy. Oh my god the orgy. This out did the book; I mean credit has to be given to the extras, were they filming a gang bang movie next door or something? This was an amazing feat of film making. Combined with the actions of the journeyman parading his soaked hanker-chief conducting their love with every sweep, this to me was the zenith of the film.
So these are two things that make this film great, what else? Well how's this? It is so true to the book it rivals “The God-father". If I were an Aussie Rugby League commentator I would say “Big wraps to the screen writers".
The performances are good, Hoffman and Rickman can't be shit even if they tried, though either parts could have been played by anyone else. I actually ponder the motivation for casting for these two, I can only muse it was star power, or the fact they both loved the book and wanted to be on board, in either case they were good but I think many others could have played them better. When I say better, I mean hunger will drive a man to extend himself, these men are well feed.
Ben Whishaw (who?) as Grenoville was great. I didn't come away with the man crush I usually get when I see hot young talented actors kicking ass and taking names on screen (James McIvor, Cilian Murphy) but I was impressed with him. I did have a problem and that was with the art department. I can hear you who have seen this saying “what is this cat on about, the art department was amazing”, and yes it was, truly sublime, and this is why I have a problem with it (I know I am contradicting myself all over the show today). But the attention to detail, the faithfulness to the book give Grenoville colour in his cheeks. He was white like the Great Grand Wizard in the book, to me this was an extension of him being sans smell. Nit picking, nay-saying, playa hating? Not really you go that far you achieve that much and you leave that out, as I write this I'm trying to imagine how it would have been if he was sans colour can't do it now, why?
Because I've seen the movie, and now when I think of the book I see the movie, again the Aussie commentator “Big wraps to the film makers”.
8.5/10
I've read the book about two dozen times. I always thought it was "filmable". I'll watch it now. Just on your recommendation.
tza