Perfume - The Story Of A Murderer

Amazon.com

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

Stills from Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

Good movie with an unexpected ending.......2007-09-14

the ending was really unexpected! i thought it was really clever and i liked it!
i was really surprised with the scenario of the movie, very realistic, i never saw something like that in other movies...
really cool movie

Great at first, then spiraled downward.......2007-09-11

At first I thought this movie was so original and imaginative. It is filmed beautifully. The clothing and scenery. The colors. The music. I enjoyed the narration. But you keep waiting for Ben Wishaw's character Jean-Baptiste to get interesting. He is emotionless. As another reviewer said you almost don't care what happens to any of the characters. (Although I thought Alan Rickman and Dustin Hoffman did a fine job with their smaller roles). Especially Jean-Baptiste. But he's so irritating with his lack of personality or emotion that I really disliked him. Stop reading here is you don't want to read a spoiler. The main plot twist is that Jean-Baptiste wants to get his hands on the beautiful Laura and so since he is the villian of the story you hope that he will, of course, not kill her like all the other girls. And even when he gets into her room you hope, somehow she will escape. You hope that finally one of the girls will be able to defend themselves... but no, that would have actually given the movie a little suspense. He killed any chance of that when he killed her. But I kept thinking that the movie might improve with an interesting twist of an ending. There is a fine line between interesting and just ridiculous. Some people loved this entire movie including the ending. I felt the ending became so bizarre and strange that it was unpleasant to watch. It was so unfufilling and stupid that I have to give this movie 1 star, despite it's promising beginning. Maybe, as another reviewer said, the book is great. I haven't read the book. But I hated this movie. Unless you enjoy period movies, enjoy great costumes or really, really bizarre movies I recommend renting this movie - like if you have Netflix and you won't be wasting $5 to watch it. If you want to see a good movie with interesting characters, suspense and mystery see the Illusionist instead.

If you loved the book, skip the film!.......2007-09-09

The book was fabulous. The film adaptation is horrid. Where to begin? Dustin Hoffman is a fine actor, but nothing of his ability and screen power come thru in this film. Ben Whishaw? Forget it. His performance is bland and boring, his performance lacking any emotion or inspiration. You simply don't care about him as a character. In fact, that is the primary fault of the entire film. Character development is so poor that you simply don't care what happens to anyone in the film.

Alan Rickman, as usual, delivers a strong screen presence, but his role is so small that he cannot possibly save the film. John Hurt with his characteristic voice also does a fine job of narrating the film.

Perfume is an excellent novel - a unique, well-developed story. Definitely read the book! But the film is a real stinker (pun intended).

Ridiculous movie.......2007-09-08

And again, everyone loves the emperor's clothes and how pretty all the colors are. Dustin Hoffman's career is circling down the drain much in the same manner that Robert De Niro's is, by showing up in films like this that are so utterly undeserving of his talent. If this is esteemed as a work of vision and depth, then the fix is truly in and the moviegoing public has been broken on the wheel of mediocrity- happily ingesting any substandard, contemptible feed Hollywood wishes to slop into the entertainment trough. Just because someone can recreate the streets of Paris or can CGI color a few fruits and hairdos to convey beauty and richness of experience doesn't mean that we should all clap and be awestruck. This movie is meaningless and unbelievable, a mockery of the period piece, the detective thriller, the psychosexual drama, the tortured genius expose, or any other genre it unintentionally parodies.

In politics, some say we get the government we deserve. By heaping praise on hollow window dressing like "Perfume", it looks like we will all continue to get the movies we deserve. Giving further life to this box office bomb via rentals or DVD sales is simply irresponsible. I bet the author of the book had to be restrained from going into the lot when this was filming, hoping he could find the screenwriter and sock him(and I say 'him' because I'm having trouble with the idea that an intelligent woman would countenance abetting the creation of such mindless exploitation of the fairer sex) in the jaw.

Original And, Despite The Ending, I Found It Fascinating.......2007-09-05

Wow, this is really a bizarre story with an ending that probably will turn off 98 percent of viewers who stick with this two hours, 147-minute film. I'm not sure what to make of it, other than totally understanding if people are left unsatisfied after watching this movie. As I said, I'm not sure how to interpret it as I just finished it minutes ago. It leaves you almost stunned.

Rather than judging that finale or divulging it, let me just comment on the first two hours of the film, which I found utterly fascinating. If I wasn't such an admirer of photography, art and special-effects, I doubt I would have found the movie so appealing because the story is "not for everyone." However, thanks to stunning French city and countryside scenery, 18th century period and beautiful women it enhanced the story to me. Yet, regardless of the visual treats, the story was so unusual it still would have held my attention.

Ben Wishaw, who plays the lead character "Jean-Baptist Grenouille, has a face that is perfect for this role. His emaciated body, which survived a brutal childhood existence from the moment he was born also makes his character all the more credible. The looks of shock and awe on this man's face throughout the picture also add to his believability. He was mesmerizing with his haunting expressions. Dustin Hoffman and Alan Rickman provide "name" actors the film but it's Wishaw's movie, all the way.

I can only recommend this movie to those who share similar interests in cinematography and who like a "different" story but there are so many things in here - especially the ending - that could offend so many people, I would be hesitant to recommend this to the general viewer.

Average customer rating:

Violet Perfume
Starring: Maria Rojo , Arcelia Ramirez , Ximena Ayala , Luis Fernando Pena , and Nancy Gutierrez
Director: Marisa Sistach
Manufacturer: TLA
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

General | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000TKCNW4
Release Date: 2007-09-04

Product Description

Poignant and deeply moving Violet Perfume (Perfume de Violetas) is one of director Maryse Sistach s most powerful films. It is the first in the Tragaluz Trilogy of Cruelty ( Trilogia de la Crueldad ) on teenage violence. Setting her sights on the growing problem of sexual assault in Mexico City, she fictionalizes the true story of a friendship between two teenagers, Yessica (Ximena Ayala, Ciudades Oscuras/Dark Cities) and Miriam (Nancy Gutierrez), which is torn apart when one of them is brutally raped.

Emmanuelle 6-DVD Box Set [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Netherlands ]

Average customer rating:

Sexy, erotic and fun

Emmanuelle 6-DVD Box Set [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Netherlands ]
Director: Francis Leroi
Manufacturer: Just
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

ASIN: B000FBUFRW

Product Description

"Netherlands released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: English (Dolby Digital 2.0), Dutch (Subtitles), SYNOPSIS: This boxset contains 7 of the Emmanuelle stories, directed by Francis Leroi, and starring Sylvia Kristel and Marcela Walerstein: Emmanuelle's Revenge Emmanuelle Forever Emmanuelle's Magic Emmanuelle's Secret Emmanuelle's Perfume Emmanuelle in Venice Emmanuelle's Love SPECIAL FEATURES: Multi-DVD Set, Interactive Menu, Box Set, "

Customer Reviews:

Sexy, erotic and fun.......2007-08-23

This is excellent soft porn. If you can get over the badly dubbed english (they are speaking English, it's just out of sych with the lips) then you will throughly enjoy these seven movies. Watch from the beginning as there is a loose arc which is explored. The characters are quite good. An appearance by one time Bond George Lazenby is welcome. Sylvia Kristel reprises her role as Emmanuelle, this time older and relating stories from her younger days (in which another actress steps into the role).

They are very sexy stories too and for soft porn I found the sex scenes to be a major turn on. The men are incredibly sexy (most of them) and the sex is shot in such a way that you don't need to see anything more explicit than what is shown. Very very hot! You see enough male and female flesh to enjoy though.

Buy these and have a lot of fun by yourself or with a friend.

Average customer rating:

A Glimpse Behind the Scenes...
Unexpectedly Ambitious
cheap perfume
Excellent Film*****
Um.... what is this movie about again?

Perfume
Starring: Joanne Baron , Sonia Braga , D.W. Brown , Omar Epps , and Michelle Forbes
Director: Michael Rymer
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000062XFN
Release Date: 2002-04-23

Customer Reviews:

A Glimpse Behind the Scenes..........2006-05-16

... of the giddily-demented and lunatic world of high fashion along with its tandem industries, where all the egos come "super-sized". Always with personal dramas big enough to match, as everone is truly an "artiste"... of one type or another, and ALWAYS facing a career-altering and earth-shattering crisis of some kind, it's as if they're all living on some isolated island... cast-off from the real world, sucking-up all the abundant co-dependent and self-perpetuating "it's all about me" energy available just to remain alive, slowing sinking into their own self-importance; they are collectively their own eco/ego-system... but so many of us actually listen to what they have to say!!! Their pronouncements are biblical in proportion. I must admit that I watched this film three times, back-to-back, totally absorbed and fascinated.The many wonderful actors, obviously with specific real people in mind and drawing upon same, superbly paint their characterizations in broadly egocentric stokes, creating a rich glimpse into the closed, insular ghetto-ized world of high fashion, where everone is a STAR... or at least believes themself to be, and certainly behaves "as if ". BRAVO!!!

Unexpectedly Ambitious.......2006-02-14

Wow, I never expected to find myself in the position of defending a film like "Perfume" which I only watched because Angela Bettis had a small role. But having recently viewed similar fashion industry/magazine films, "Fashionably LA" and "The Intern", I am unexpectedly well versed in this narrow sub-genre. Coming from that perspective "Perfume" is a lyrical masterpiece, both more ambitious and more successful than those two disasters. But since everything is relative this comparison may not translate into anything very useful for the prospective viewer.

First on the agenda is a cautionary statement about the trailer, the DVD cover, and the general promotional campaign. The cast is grossly misrepresented. Carmen Electra is given first billing but appears in only one short scene, a wide shot of her talking to Paul Sorvino. Supermodel Estella Warren is highlighted on the promotional poster but is just window dressing in two scenes. The five biggest parts are played by Rita Wilson, Leslie Munn, Joanne Baron, Jared Harris, and Sorvino, none of whom are even mentioned in the promotional materials.

But promotional misrepresentation, even to this extreme, has no relationship to the quality of the film. What "Perfume" has going for it (like Robert Altman's "Pret a Porter") is success working on two levels, as a glimpse inside the fashion industry and as a metaphorical extension (of what it reveals) to our day-to-day struggle in the competitive world. Whether we are artists, artisans, robots, or drones; each day is one of struggle with external competitors and internal demons.

How well the film works for individual viewers will be determined by the identification process, which will naturally be easier for those familiar with the world of high fashion or with other environments where creativity is exploited for profit.

Although "Perfume" was a scripted film there is considerable improvisation in the performances, with mixed results. For example, Harris and Mariel Hemingway do a photographer/model photo shoot where his improv is excellent and hers is somewhat lame. Although this initially seems like poor directing, on reflection it is more authentic than giving Hemingway carefully scripted lines and a smooth delivery.

"Perfume" is recommended for those who might identify with its setting or its themes. The production design, the editing, and the soundtrack are first class. But if you are annoyed rather than challenged by films with an elliptical storytelling technique and many characters you would do well to give this one a wide berth.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

cheap perfume.......2004-04-20

This movie was absolutely terrible. They were trying to work the whole "artsy" angle, you know- New York and fashion mixed with culture. I didn't even know when I started to watch the movie that the actors were improving, but I didn't need to- it was a dead give-a-way! The actors had uncomfortable silences almost in a "Curb Your Enthusiasm" way, but no where near entertaining. Let me just roll my eyes and say "Find a (good) script and stick to it!"

Excellent Film*****.......2003-02-04

Date: 3/2/2003
Summary: Incredible film; bears watching more than once!

A review in IMDB can't say it better! -

Quote-Excerpt:

If you've ever been around "the fashion world," or grown up reading "fashion magazines," you will understand EXACTLY what this film portrays: "Life, Exactly As They Know It!" The "choppiness" and "vagueness" objected to by other reviewers is EXACTLY why this is such a great film, why this is such a "Real" film: anyone who has ever been around "these people" will see exactly how the dialogue mirrors "real life" in the fashion / magazine biz. The "one real scene" between Hemmingway and the photographer (as described by another reviewer) is precisely showing how rare and difficult a "real" moment is to find. In fact, they are ALL "real scenes," wherein lies their power. The scene where the daughter, (not "drug addled," by the way, as described by another reviewer) who is the antithesis of "fashion," describes how reading magazines "makes her feel bad about herself" and her mother's instant rejection and leaving of the restaurant, is telling precisely the truth. And then any woman who rejects "fashion standards" is left alone at the table. The emptiness of the life and the constant ebb and flow of current, changing tides, makes any real or lasting connection impossible. This is even alluded to with Paul Sorvino in one discussion about going to the hip-hop look: something to the effect of "in Europe, classic can last... in America, you have to keep moving!" Then the hip hop boys point out that the baggy-pants hip hop look was born from poverty and "10 brothers and sisters, but the suburban kids will follow" even at an unaffordable $150.00 a pop! But that's the game!" Until I saw this film, I never understood why I was not accepted - could never connect with anyone in the "Fashion Crowd" when I lived in Paris and New York. Now I know why. What was there to connect to? People who "didn't want to be nothing" People who made their living preying on others creativity and beauty, at the cost of making everyone else feel like "less?" An industry that feeds on people's insecurities and wanting to "fit in?" I liked the daughter the best. She stood alone, sad and lost, but stayed true to herself in the end and went on home, wherever that might be. There are so many profound statements in the dialogue of this film that it would be worth printing every one of them here. Perhaps some film buff / college student might write a dissertation on this film alone. Who sang the beautiful music with hip hop and opera combined? I would love to have a music CD of the film, and am buying the DVD just so I can "listen to the film" again and again. Hope to see more. Thank you all! Great job!

Um.... what is this movie about again?.......2002-11-28

I watched this movie not to long ago with one of the guys in my dorm and we were both at an extreme loss as to what the movie was all about. There quite literaly was NO plot what so ever. The acting was ok, no great or poor but ok however that does not make up for the very poor character development,lack of plot twists (aside from the dude dying from cancer there were none) and I was confused why they put Carmen Electra all over the over, the back and in the trailer when I only saw her for 15 secconds. I'm sorry but I don't think 15 secconds of Carmen is worth my time, I get more of her when I watch Battlebots before the first commercial break.

Product Description

THIS MOVIE IS REGIONS 1 & 4 AND WILL PLAY IN THE U.S., CANADA AND SOUTH AMERICA. DISFRUTE DE LA MAGNIFICA ACTUACION DE VITTORI GASSMAN COMO FAUSTO, UN CAPITAN CIEGO E IRASCIBLE QUIEN DEBE REALIZAR UN VIAJE DE TURIN A NAPOLES, ACOMPANADO DEL CADETE CICCIO, PARA ENCONTRARSE CON SU AMADA SARA Y LLEVAR A CABO UN PLAN SECRETO EN COMPANIA DE UN TENIENTE AMIGO SUYO, TAMBIEN CIEGO.

Average customer rating:

Perfume, Cockroaches, Men, and More

NOVA: Mystery of the Senses - Smell
Director: Larry Klein , Nigel Ashcroft , and Michael Gunton
Manufacturer: Wgbh Boston
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

Science & Technology | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

WGBH Boston | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

Science & Technology | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( N ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

NOVA | PBS | Specialty Stores | DVD | Video

General | Instructional | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000JJ5F70
Release Date: 2007-01-09

Customer Reviews:

Perfume, Cockroaches, Men, and More.......2007-03-07

Like the other installments I've seen from the Senses series, this shows how the brain works with or processes smell. The taste episode covered France and Latin America. The touch episode went to sub-Saharan Africa. This episode visited the Arab world.

As I expected, this episode compared our inferior sense of smell to the superior sense of dogs. However, it showed that cockroaches have strong senses of smell and the Jungian in me just did not need to see a jar containing cockroaches. I will just take scientists' word that they are impressive creatures, but I don't need to see it. In the installment on taste, it was emphasized that our taste helps us avoid poisons. I wish this work spoke about bad smells. Honestly, one great thing about smell is how it helps humans avoid flatulence and excrement.

As a series for public television, it danced around sexual matters. At one point, they film a Thor-like male athlete throwing a javelin. The phallic nature of the scene is not commented upon. The female narrator says men have stronger pheremones than women. She goes into a locker room shower area, positions herself in the middle of bare-chested men with towels on, and says, "Yup! I smell men." Ladies, rarely does every man in a male locker room have on a towel. This scene almost had camp value.

This was the first installment which almost implied that a sense can be inferior to another. It was subtly suggested that smell is not as important as sight and hearing. I appreciated this because the touch installment seemed overblown. With the taste episode, I wanted to eat afterward; with the touch episode, I still felt no need to touch a person or be touched. This episode was in-between: I did leave it thinking, "Maybe I should buy some more colognes."

Average customer rating:

Perfume De Violetas
Starring: Jimena Ayala
Manufacturer: Libro Sin Fronterras
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

De la Calle

ASIN: B000A34594
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Perfume: The Story Of a Murderer (El Perfume: Historia De Un Asesino) [NTSC/REGION 1 & 4 DVD. Import-Latin America]

Average customer rating:

Perfume: The Story Of a Murderer (El Perfume: Historia De Un Asesino) [NTSC/REGION 1 & 4 DVD. Import-Latin America]
Director: Tom Tykwer
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Product Description

Sinopsis Jean-Baptiste Grenouille fue abandonado por su madre al momento de nacer en un basurero. El era diferente a todos los demas, no tenia olor pero tenia un gran olfato, a los 20 años consigue hacerse aprendiz de un gran perfumista que lo ayuda a ir a la capital del perfume a cambio de un favor para que asi pueda cumplir su gran obsesion.

Perfume ~The Story of a Murder~ 3 Disc Premium Edition

Average customer rating:

Perfume ~The Story of a Murder~ 3 Disc Premium Edition
Director: Tom Tykwer
Manufacturer: Taewon Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

DTS | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

Dolby Digital 5.1 & DTS
2.31:1, NTSC

ASIN: B000RM55BA

Product Description

Korean Exclusive Ltd Edition Coming with Original Sound Track CD and Original Novel (Written in Korean). Bonus DVD Features 'Making of Film (54 min)', 'Interview with Cast & Crew (42min)', and More. Region Code:3 (Only Viewable on Code-Free Players).

Le Parfum d'Yvonne [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - United Kingdom ]

Average customer rating:

A rare misfire from Leconte

Le Parfum d'Yvonne [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - United Kingdom ]
Director: Patrice Leconte
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000F5EH0O

Product Description

United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: French (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Subtitles), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SYNOPSIS: In this romantic French drama, an older man remembers a meaningful summer romance he had in 1958. It begins as Victor is seen staring into the flames of an apparent bonfire. He is remembering the day he met Yvonne in the luxurious lobby of a Swiss hotel on Lake Geneva. They encounter Dr. Meinthe, the cultured but flagrantly gay medico who provides some form of service for the Algerian war. Together, the threesome revel in a relaxing time all the while, poking fun at the elegant folk around them. SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu,

Customer Reviews:

A rare misfire from Leconte.......2007-07-01

Le Parfum d'Yvonne is a rare misfire from Patrice Leconte that doesn't really work on any level. The main problem with this remembrance of love lost is the casting: Jean-Pierre Marielle is fine as the archetypal ageing queen and matchmaker-cum-chaperone, but neither Hippolyte Girardot or Sandra Majani bring much to the lovers, leaving us with fragments of a vague relationship between two people we don't care about. Not painful, but lacking purpose and capped off with an absurd ending that seems to be there simply to give the film an exclamation point.

Second Sight's PAL UK DVD has no extras but does offera good subtitled transfer in the film's original 2.35:1 ratio.

DVD:

DVD

DVD