Perfume - The Story Of A Murderer [2006]

Average customer rating:

Umm, yes!!

Dont bother!!

heady

Loved it!

A brave attempt, but just a little short of the mark...

Perfume - The Story Of A Murderer [2006]
Starring: Dustin Hoffman , Alan Rickman , Rachel Hurd Wood , and Ben Wishaw
Director: Tom Tykwer
Manufacturer: Pathe Distribution Ltd
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

All Drama | Drama | Categories | DVD | Video
DVDs from £4.97 | From £4.97 | By Price | DVD Bargains | Custom Stores | Substores | DVD | Video
DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Black Book [2006]

Notes On A Scandal [2007]

Babel [2006]

The Last King Of Scotland [2006]

The Illusionist [2006]

ASIN: B000MTF09A
Release Date: 2007-04-30

Amazon.co.uk Review

Based on Patrick Suskind's novel about a serial killer who hunts victims with his superhuman sense of smell, Perfume: Story of a Murderer is a florid, grisly portrayal of this historical drama set in 18th century France. Jean-Baptiste Grunuis (Ben Whishaw) is born under his mother's table at the fish market, onto a pile of muddy fish guts, establishing from the beginning his repulsion for putrid scents. A childhood of neglect and, later, a job at a tannery, encourage Jean-Baptiste to develop his olfactory sense rather than his verbal skills, so that an opportunity to prove his worth to Parisian perfumist, Giuseppe Baldini (Dustin Hoffman), results in his immediate hire into a promising new career. His successes in perfume mixing are negated by a blinding obsession for capturing the sublime beauty of human soul, which in his twisted logic requires the killing of young women to reduce their body fats to essential oils for the ultimate, cannibalised eau de parfum. An omniscient narrator tells the story with much sympathy for Jean-Baptiste's perverted psychology, making it, often, too obvious that his need for love justifies his murderous desire to capture misguided sexual attractions in a vile. Continuous close-ups of Grunius's nose, countered by close-ups of the places and objects he smells, enhance the viewer's understanding of his sensitivity. Repeated comparisons are made between the killer and dogs who aid, then expose his sick experimentation. The settings are fascinating, especially Baldini's perfumery and some later scenes in enflorage factories outside Provence. Whishaw's and Hoffman's performances are both grand. But Perfume unnecessarily spells out Jean-Baptiste's psychosis, squelching any chance for metaphor. This is unfortunate, considering the story's paradoxical nature. As this crude hunter navigates his way through a world of utmost delicacy, one craves ambiguity rather than explanation. --Trinie Dalton

Customer Reviews:

Umm, yes!!.......2008-03-04

I saw the trailer and imagined this to be a good Art House style film. Had to stop the film half way through to the relief of myself and my husband. I watched the rest tonight, wish I hadn't bothered. Bizarre, and rather puzzling. Probably very close to the original novel, which I shan't bother to read.

Not my cup of tea and I definitely don't recommend this film for an entertaining evening in!

Dont bother!!.......2008-02-18

Totally weird, bizarre movie. My wife and I looked at each other at the end, open mouthed, not beleiving we had sat through and watched it all!!

heady.......2008-01-29

Still not sure how I feel about this film but months later I still think about it. On one hand it was so good that I could almost smell it, on the other it nearly made me vomit! I had to give it 4 stars, the acting is outstanding and the cinematography is breathtaking. I think I watched this open mouthed for the first half an hour. It's uncomfortable in places and downright disturbing in others but I'm left with the feeling that this is a work of art.

Loved it!.......2008-01-26

My husband bought me this DVD as I had read the book years ago and loved it and to be honest I was a tad wary of watching it as I couldn't quite believe that the film would in any way be able to stay faithful to the book, it being so bizarre.

I was wrong. It was fantastic! I was blown away by this film, particularly as it took me right back to the book I had loved years ago. The acting was great (no over the top dramatics) and Grenouille was fantastic (if not a hell of a lot better looking than I remember from the book, but that's no bad thing!) as the understated orphan outcast. The whole point of him was that he went so unoticed as he had no smell so he managed to avade capture for so long as a serial killer as he wasn't on anyones radar.

I was curious whilste watching to see if the film would have the same ending of the book as I wasn't sure how that would work, but it did have and it did work. A lot of people have commented on the bizarre ending but that was the whole point, that was what the character of Grenouille was working up to the whole time. I agree with some other reviewers that you do have to pay close attention to the film and it is not one you can dip in and out of.

In a nutshell, I highly recommend this film and it is one I will watch again and again. I thought it was brilliant. And if you need another good reason to watch...........Alan Rickman! Yum!

A brave attempt, but just a little short of the mark..........2008-01-24

I know this book is based on a novel I've not read, so that should be borne in mind in my review as I can't reference the novel.

Firstly, the film scores highly in creating a sensory illusion of France and the filthy squalor that used to exist. As a period piece, it does the job very well.

The acting is commendable - I was suprised to see Dustin Hoffman (having not noticed he was in the movie) and he adds much to the film. The male lead creates a great sense of dread and worthiness of pity at the same time.

The downside, and I say this as it may well be true to the novel, is the ending - it's too "out there" in truth, yet does link with the film and an earlier event.

A dark, unhappy film, but beautifully rendered to screen and a story well told. Just a pinch of the proverbial at the end.

Perfume - The Story Of A Murderer (Single Disc Edition) [2006]

Average customer rating:

Perfume - The Story Of A Murderer (Single Disc Edition) [2006]
Starring: Rachel Hurd Wood , Alan Rickman , Dustin Hoffman , and Ben Whishaw
Director: Tom Tykwer
Manufacturer: Pathe Distribution
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

All Drama | Drama | Categories | DVD | Video

DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000V6YRO8
Release Date: 2007-09-17

Amazon.co.uk Review

Based on Patrick Suskind's novel about a serial killer who hunts victims with his superhuman sense of smell, Perfume: Story of a Murderer is a florid, grisly portrayal of this historical drama set in 18th century France. Jean-Baptiste Grunuis (Ben Whishaw) is born under his mother's table at the fish market, onto a pile of muddy fish guts, establishing from the beginning his repulsion for putrid scents. A childhood of neglect and, later, a job at a tannery, encourage Jean-Baptiste to develop his olfactory sense rather than his verbal skills, so that an opportunity to prove his worth to Parisian perfumist, Giuseppe Baldini (Dustin Hoffman), results in his immediate hire into a promising new career. His successes in perfume mixing are negated by a blinding obsession for capturing the sublime beauty of human soul, which in his twisted logic requires the killing of young women to reduce their body fats to essential oils for the ultimate, cannibalized eau de parfum. An omniscient narrator tells the story with much sympathy for Jean-Baptiste's perverted psychology, making it, often, too obvious that his need for love justifies his murderous desire to capture misguided sexual attractions in a vile. Continuous close-ups of Grunius's nose, countered by close-ups of the places and objects he smells, enhance the viewer's understanding of his sensitivity. Repeated comparisons are made between the killer and dogs who aid, then expose his sick experimentation. The settings are fascinating, especially Baldini's perfumery and some later scenes in enflorage factories outside Provence. Whishaw's and Hoffman's performances are both grand. But Perfume unnecessarily spells out Jean-Baptiste's psychosis, squelching any chance for metaphor. This is unfortunate, considering the story's paradoxical nature. As this crude hunter navigates his way through a world of utmost delicacy, one craves ambiguity rather than explanation. --Trinie Dalton

UK DVD:

UK DVD List

UK DVD