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Created Mar 27, 2008 12:33AM PST • Edited Mar 28, 2008 02:12AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   OK 2.5

   This movie was certainly fantastic in imagery and direction, and even in its storyline. However, while I found parts of the fictitious movie quite believable, most of the time it seemed just so farfetched that I found myself thinking, “Too bad … they almost had me!” The story is based around a man who has an incredible sense of smell; to describe scents in words is difficult, but to depict scents through visuals (as this movie attempted to do) is nearly impossible. Though I have yet to read the book, I’m sure that it will take us directly into the main character’s mind, thus making the book will be more believable than the movie. While hesitate to recommend this movie, it is worth watching for its truly non-jaded plot.

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   I found it disappointing that this movie had to tout that it had Dustin Hoffman and Alan Rickman “headlining.” The cast did a rather good job, rather outshining, I thought, Hoffman. See components.

5. Male Stars Great 4.0

   I’d love to see Ben Whishaw (Jean-Baptiste Grenouille) in another role soon – his acting, considering that most of it was done through his nose and body language as he had virtually no speaking lines, was good.

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

7. Female Costars Great 4.0

8. Male Costars OK 2.5

   Alan Rickman is a superb actor, though I’m sad to say that I have trouble, after all those Harry Potter movies, separating him from the caracter of Snape. This role did not seem to challenge him, and certainly did not increase his appeal as an actor.

   Dustin Hoffman I did not like at ALL in this movie. His put-on accent only worked half the time, and when it did, he sounded more like a Jewish mafi member than a Parisian perfumer. His acting was of a very low caliber, and so it saddens me that he was cast in what could have been a very interesting role just because he’s Dustin Hoffman.

10. Film

    Very Good 3.5

    Really good. Unfortunately, some of the directorial decisions left me barely hanging on the brink of believing in the story rather than totally submersing me in it. See components.

11. Direction OK 2.5

12. Play Very Good 3.5

    The little dialogue and narration that there was were really the only things that kept the movie moving and the viewers inside Jean-Baptiste Grenouille’s head; unfortunately, we weren’t ENOUGH inside his head.

13. Music Really Great 4.5

    Wonderful music. I’d say it was the best part of the movie.

14. Visuals Really Great 4.5

    Interesting camera work with lots of panning, zooming, and focus shifting.

15. Content

16. Edge

    Sordid 3.0

    See components.

17. Sex Lewd 3.9

    There was a lot of nudity.

18. Violence Savage 4.1

    While not much violence happened on screen, there was some depiction of it, and what wasn’t shown onscreen was certainly implied in no uncertain terms.

19. Rudeness Polite 1.0

21. Reality

    Supernatural 3.7

    The story is based on a man who can smell better than any human being; his ability allows him to smell (and remember) everything with miles.

22. Circumstantial Natural 1.0

23. Biological Fantasy 5.0

24. Physical Fantasy 5.0