Seamus Hammond
The 2006 film Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, directed by Tom Tykwer, is based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Patrick Süskind. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its visual style and performances, while others criticised the uneven screenplay and casting. The film's dark and gruesome content, including violence against women and murder, has been a point of contention for some viewers and critics. However, others have praised its bold and intimate cinematography and unique sensory experience. With its ambitious themes and erratic narrative, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer is a movie that challenges audiences and invites discussion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Movie Name | Perfume: The Story of a Murderer |
| Release Date | September 14, 2006 (Germany) |
| Director | Tom Tykwer |
| Screenplay Writers | Tom Tykwer, Andrew Birkin, Bernd Eichinger |
| Based On | 1985 novel of the same name by Patrick Süskind |
| Genre | Period psychological thriller, horror |
| Criticism | Disturbing, gruesome, violent, romanticises murder, fetishizes women's corpses |
| Praised Aspects | Visual style, performances of Rickman and Whishaw |
| Criticised Aspects | Uneven screenplay, casting of Hoffman, bland tone |
| Runtime | 147 minutes |
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What You'll Learn
- Critics gave mixed reviews, praising visuals and performances but criticising the screenplay
- The film's style and content were deemed gruesome, violent, and disturbing
- The plot was considered odd, with an unpredictable ending that some disliked
- The protagonist Grenouille was criticised as uninteresting, unlikable, and one-dimensional
- The film was seen as a faithful but watered-down adaptation of the novel
Critics gave mixed reviews, praising visuals and performances but criticising the screenplay
Critics gave mixed reviews of the 2006 film Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Patrick Süskind. While some critics praised the film's visuals and performances, others criticised its screenplay and character development.
The film is a period psychological thriller directed by Tom Tykwer, who co-wrote the screenplay with Andrew Birkin and Bernd Eichinger. It stars Ben Whishaw, Alan Rickman, Rachel Hurd-Wood, and Dustin Hoffman. The story is set in 18th-century France and centres around Jean-Baptiste Grenouille (Whishaw), a perfumer with an incredible sense of smell who becomes obsessed with capturing the scent of young womanhood.
Critics who gave positive reviews of the film praised its visuals and performances. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film four stars out of four, and several viewers on Metacritic described it as a "visual spectacle" and a "feast for the senses". The performances of Whishaw and Rickman were also praised, with one critic noting that Whishaw delivered a "revelatory standout performance".
However, other critics gave the film negative reviews, citing issues with the screenplay and character development. O. Scott of The New York Times described the film as "pedestrian creepiness", and James Berardinelli of Reelviews.net criticised the screenplay as "flawed", saying that "even the most arresting visuals cannot compensate for the movie's schizophrenic story". Some viewers also found the film's plot and tone bland and unengaging, with one critic noting that the film "loses its momentum" after setting the scene well.
Overall, while Perfume: The Story of a Murderer received praise for its visuals and performances, it also faced criticism for its screenplay and character development, resulting in mixed reviews from critics.
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The film's style and content were deemed gruesome, violent, and disturbing
The 2006 film Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, directed by Tom Tykwer, is based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Patrick Süskind. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its visual style and performances, while others found it disturbing and gruesome.
The film's style and content have been described as gruesome, violent, and disturbing. It is a period thriller set in 18th-century France, centred around the character Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, played by Ben Whishaw. Grenouille is an olfactory genius with a superhuman sense of smell who becomes obsessed with capturing the scent of young womanhood. This obsession leads him to murder several young women, and the film depicts his homicidal quest for the perfect scent.
The film's depiction of violence, particularly against women, has been a source of contention for many viewers. It includes scenes of torture, executions, mob beatings, and the attempted murder of a baby. The bodies of female murder victims are shown naked and posed, with their hair cut off, which some reviewers have interpreted as fetishisation. One scene in the film also features a mass orgy involving hundreds of characters and nudity.
In addition to its disturbing content, the film has also been criticised for its screenplay and casting choices. Some reviewers found the story uneven and the main character, Grenouille, uninteresting or unrelatable. Others felt that the film failed to capture the complexity of the novel it was based on, with one reviewer calling it a "terrible job of getting inside the characters' heads".
Despite the mixed reviews, some critics praised the film for its bold cinematography and direction, as well as the performances of the lead actors. It has been described as a "visual spectacle" and a "dark masterpiece". The film grossed over $135 million worldwide, indicating that, despite its disturbing content, it found an audience.
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The plot was considered odd, with an unpredictable ending that some disliked
The 2006 film Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, directed by Tom Tykwer, is based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Patrick Süskind. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its visual style and performances, while others criticised the unevenness of the screenplay and casting.
The plot of Perfume: The Story of a Murderer centres on Jean-Baptiste Grenouille (Ben) Whishaw, an olfactory genius with a superhuman sense of smell, and his quest to create the perfect scent. This quest takes a dark turn as Grenouille becomes obsessed with capturing the scent of young womanhood, leading to a series of murders. The plot has been described as unsettling and gruesome, with some reviewers criticising the portrayal of female corpses as fetishised and gratuitous.
The ending of the film has been described as odd and unpredictable, with some viewers finding it disappointing. One review mentions that the ending "turns this odd movie on its head", suggesting that it is a divisive conclusion that may be loved or hated by audiences. Another review mentions that the ending is "terrible", indicating that it was a negative aspect of the film for that particular viewer.
The film's plot and ending have been a source of debate and discussion among audiences and critics. While some found the story odd or unsettling, others have praised the film for its bold and intimate portrayal of sensory experiences. The unpredictable ending has also been cited as a factor that adds to the impact of the film, even if it is not always well-received by viewers.
Overall, the plot and ending of Perfume: The Story of a Murderer have provoked strong reactions and contributed to the film's reputation as a divisive and unconventional work.
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The protagonist Grenouille was criticised as uninteresting, unlikable, and one-dimensional
The 2006 film Perfume: The Story of a Murderer received mixed reviews from critics. While some praised its visuals and performances, others criticised its screenplay and casting. One of the most common criticisms of the film was its protagonist, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, played by Ben Whishaw.
Grenouille was criticised as being a one-note villain, with a reviewer from The New York Times, O. Scott, describing him as "dull, dour, and repellent". Scott also noted that Whishaw "does not quite manage to make Grenouille either a victim worthy of pity or a fascinating monster". Other reviewers echoed this sentiment, finding Grenouille uninteresting, unlikable, and one-dimensional. Some viewers found it difficult to sympathise with the character, who is on a murderous quest to recreate the scent of his first victim, a young girl. Grenouille's obsession with capturing the scent of young women and his lack of remorse for his actions may have contributed to this perception.
However, some viewers found Grenouille's character intriguing, particularly his unique perspective as a stranger in the world, driven by self-serving motives. Additionally, some reviewers praised Whishaw's performance, with one commenter on Metacritic calling it a "revelatory standout performance".
Overall, while some viewers found Grenouille uninteresting and unlikable, others appreciated the character's complexity and the actor's portrayal.
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The film was seen as a faithful but watered-down adaptation of the novel
The 2006 film Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, directed by Tom Tykwer, is based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Patrick Süskind. While the film received mixed reviews from critics, it was generally well-received by audiences, grossing over $135 million worldwide.
The film's visual style and the performances of its lead actors, particularly Alan Rickman and Ben Whishaw, were praised. However, the screenplay was criticised for being uneven, and the casting of Dustin Hoffman was also questioned. Some critics also found the film's depiction of women's corpses to be gratuitous and fetishised.
Despite its commercial success, some viewers considered Perfume a poor adaptation of Süskind's novel. One reviewer on Reddit described the film as "hands down the worst movie I've ever seen", criticising its deviation from the book's plot and character development. Another reviewer on Rotten Tomatoes echoed this sentiment, noting that the film "skips half the book and does a terrible job of getting inside the character's head".
However, other viewers found the film to be a faithful adaptation, capturing the tone and themes of the novel. One reviewer on Reddit acknowledged that while the film had a "bland tone", it accurately reflected the novel's portrayal of people as "mostly cold, ego-absorbed robots". Similarly, a review on Metacritic praised the film's cast and historical recreation, suggesting that it successfully translated the novel's strange and off-putting atmosphere to the screen.
Overall, while Perfume: The Story of a Murderer was seen by some as a faithful adaptation of Süskind's novel, others felt that it fell short in fully realising the depth and complexity of the original work.
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Frequently asked questions
"Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its visuals and performances while others found it dull and disturbing. The movie has been described as gruesome, violent, and disturbing, with a one-note villain and an unsettling plot. However, some viewers found it to be a visual spectacle with a unique tone and an interesting look into perfume-making. Ultimately, whether the movie is considered "bad" is subjective and depends on individual preferences and expectations.
Some critics found the movie to be a disappointing adaptation of the book, with a bland tone and a disappointing ending. Others felt that the film glorified violence against women and fetishized female corpses. There was also criticism of the casting and the portrayal of the main character, Grenouille, as a dull and repellent figure.
Yes, despite the mixed reviews, some viewers found "Perfume" to be a captivating and unique film. The movie has been praised for its visual style, cinematography, and bold direction. Some viewers also appreciated the performances of the cast, particularly Ben Whishaw as Grenouille, and found the plot to be intriguing and well-paced. The film's exploration of scent and perfume-making was also considered interesting and unique.
