MovieChat Forums > Scent of a Woman (1993) Discussion > what really annoys me about the movie

what really annoys me about the movie


Those who claim it is a classic or a masterpiece, I just don't get it.

Granted, it is entertaining, but there are so many things that for me disqualifies the movie as a great movie:

1) the scenario is unrealistic. First of all, no way that any school would have made such a public hearing for such an affair, and no way that the students would have been interested in the matter (but the film makes it look like all the students are so passionate about that affair, and when charlie wins, you can even see the students jumping for joy at the exit). Then, the blind man was way out of line and wouldn't have been granted as much speech time as he was, especially considering that he was threatening the school. In real life, it isn't about how loud you speak or how many "f.ck" you can place in a sentence that gives you credibility. Finally, no way the disciplinary comity would have taken a decision on the spot based on how enthusiastic students were towards the colonel's speech. Are we forgetting that there was damage of property and that it is absolutely normal to expect and demand compliance from material witnesses? So what are the principles the school should be built on? that student camaraderie is more important than compliance with the school rules or the law? Whether you agree or not, the discipline comity bears its name well: it is there to apply DISCIPLINE, and that is exactly what it would have done in real life.

2) the characters are stereotyped. Too much emphasis on the fact that the colonel is blind. The scene that made me cringe is when he crossed the street without waiting, and he ends up tripping and falling in a garbage can or something (rolling my eyes). So if he is blind he can't be anything else? I found there was such little finesse in the creation of the characters. So he is blind and he is loud, and rude and annoying (in real life no one could have stood 5 minutes around a man like this). I felt it was acting withing acting. The character itself was playing a role. Didn't feel right to me.

3) the ending is so cliché.

- the man ends up with the woman in the end. They just HAD to give it a complete happy ending. Like 90% of all american movie, the hero DESERVES a woman, so the colonel right after his victorious speech, has to come back home with a woman, or at least with the promise of a woman.

- happy colonel becomes happy grandaddy. So you've been neglecting your grandson and granddaughter all this time, and now you talk about hot chocolate with marshmallows, while your new pal Charlie tenderly watches from afar (yawn).

4) what is the morale, the values of the movie? Be true to yourself (don't you be a snitch against a bunch of ungrateful criminal spoiled brats even if you lose your chance of Harvard!)? life is worth living even if you're a handicap person (Charlie opens up the eyes of the colonel to the beautiful flowers of life, like a blind person can't be happy or find happiness on its own??)?


Im a queen b!tch!

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Not only is it unrealistic to hold the disciplinary meeting in front of the whole school, it also makes no sense. Of course a student is less likely to tell on his fellow students when all other students are watching! It's one thing if people suspect you are a rat, it's another if they have seen you do it. George would probably have given a much more definitive statement if it had just been him, his father and the headmaster in the latter's office.

And since the headmaster didn't know whether the two students would end up cooperating, making this hearing public carried a huge risk of him being embarrassed in front of everyone a second time - which of course did end up happening. No headmaster in his right mind would take the risk of standing in front of everyone unable to enforce the rules of the school, it completely destroyed his authority over the students.

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Well, I'm not so sure I agree with your first point. Remember both George and Charlie had already met privately with Trask. Even if George's Dad had been there the most you could have hoped for was the non-statement he gave at the assembly. Besides, the pranksters would know who ratted them out regardless, either George or Charlie so f#$@ them both.

But you have a good point about the assembly being too risky for Trask. Especially since the evidence he has is only circumstantial, which is why George can wiggle out of it with his bs about glasses and contacts.

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Only thing that bothered me was the trial-like hearing to get two students to "snitch". Not even the driving scene was as unrealistic 😄

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what really annoys me is that it 2.5 hours of nothing. Its just an empty hollywood film put in a blender.

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It's amazing because of its philosophy, and what it teaches of blindness and suicidal tendencies.

I didn't really get why there was a wannabe court case in school which everyone attended, but I'm letting it slide. The kids all cheering was odd, though. In fact, I think the police would be involved in reality.
The colonel would definitely have been asked to leave at the first hint of a swear word, but what "campus security"?
The colonel admits he doesn't know the right or wrong of it, so I don't understand why Charlie telling the truth and being a "snitch" on these criminals is a bad thing. That's integrity. I would certainly have "snitched".

What on earth on you mean, stereotyped? Too much emphasis on what is causing him to be suicidal? What a silly thing to say. The colonel was clearly and fantastically multidimensional; sensitive, kind, charming, humorous and intelligent as well as rude and loud.

Yeah, it was a bit of a cliche. But to be honest, I didn't know why that hottie didn't have a woman in the first place. Maybe because of his attitude. I would have been his woman...
In real life, just because he wanted a woman to wake up to certainly doesn't become true for everyone, especially not for someone as difficult as him. But if the speech had happened, I don't find it unlikely for a woman to come along. It was an impressive, passionate, charismatic speech.

Again, a bit of a cliche. Wait, they were his grandchildren? Is he even old enough? I'm so confused about this colonel's family tree. Don't get me started on that brother who looks nothing like his brother.
I don't think he was horrible all the time before. That woman said he had a soft side. I dunno.

Friendship and love, I guess. I was disappointed at their goodbye. Aren't they going to stay in touch? In all honesty, I wouldn't get by being blind. I wouldn't live.
Are you handicapped? Is there something wrong with needing someone else?

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