A DIRECTOR'S MASTERPIECE

PERFUME - THE STORY OF A MURDERER ~ “An extravagantly great movie of all times! Exceptional directorial stints having a great cinematography and original musical scoring with an aesthetic appeal of scenes delivered with a clear transition of every shot!” ~

It tells the odd story of a young man named Jean-Baptiste Grenouille (Ben Whishaw), who is born with an extraordinarily strange condition and is obsessed with scents. Specifically, he becomes infatuated with reinventing a particular legendary perfume as his ultimate masterpiece that induces a sense of well-being and delight that completely enslaves anyone being exposed to it. The basis for the scent is instilled in his mind by the odor of a young woman (Karoline Herfurth) whom he had killed unintentionally. That also becomes the basis for the film’s subtitle, since the ingredients for this rare scent are as unusual as the story.

It is very difficult and virtually impossible to like the main character, being evil and wicked, but it is even harder to dent the fact that never less the film is absolutely fascinating. Tykwer’s direction of the film is breath-taking and very exceptional. From the moment he records Jean-Baptiste’s peculiar birth to the brilliant transition to the fate of the infant’s mother.

From the very start, you will notice that this is not an ordinary film. Even some of the more peculiar casting choices (Dustin Hoffman as an aged Italian perfumer living in a crumbling house built on a bridge) fit it all. It is every edge a sumptuous looking production that is mixed with a pitch-black humor and strangeness that seems to be much shorter than its 147-minute running time. It may disturb you, and possibly even disgust you, but you will discover to see something peculiar when the film is over.

Another part of the movie you have to focus on is the original musical score by Simon Rattle in thrilling moments that catches captive emotions consistently done until the end of the movie.

It is a lengthy movie but that does not disrupt me on watching it because it is amazing on how the director executed this aesthetic film through great attack of shots used in different setting with a taste of art. And as the movie goes on you will fall deeply into the senses of the "murderer"...

"Perfume, The Story of a Murderer" a magical movie, give it a momentous chance and you will find out the cinematic gift as excellently as possible!

A DIRECTOR’S MASTERPIECE

The director has met challenges inherent to the story mainly by relying on the charisma of his actors on adopting a provocative filmography that is both dazzling and outrageous, making the central use of  musical scoring to convey the ineffable nature of scents by transforming a story that was classical in nature  and more oriented towards the external critique of the society into a more passionate and distinct interiority of the main protagonist referred to Jean-Baptiste Grenouille into an artistic package in all sorts being developed.

Indeed the director offers an overall respectful adaptation of the movie that takes rare significant liberties with the original story, has nevertheless managed to imprint the movie with a more personal touch. The screenplay and technical aspects are the result of shared vision and efforts that were both written and executed seamlessly being literally captivating, having a deep thematic sense.

The most puzzling aspect of the movie in terms of its form is a mixing of genres that seems almost not to work. If you expect the movie to be uniformly dark, then you will be surprised by your own reaction and that of the audience.

ASSESSMENT OF THE MOVIE BLACK SWAN

The movie tackles about the insecurities and scuffles of a ballerina named Nina who aims to have complete control to be perfect. It received five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Black Swan is rated R for strong sexual content, disturbing violent images, language and some drug use.  

FRIGHTENING HARM

Academy Award nominee entitled “Black Swan”, directed by Darren Aronofsky, is a film in a league of its own. Intensified in every sense, the movie offers its audience with an amusing feast of colour, music, sex, violence and the elegance of ballet. 

Natalie Portman who won in the recently concluded Academy Awards as Actress in her Leading Role in Black Swan as Nina was astounding. The character-driven portrayal of Nina consistently being gloomy is both charming and terrifying in this story of a woman’s search for the dark side of art and of life in battling her own self’s struggles.

THE BLACK SWAN

Nina (Natalie Portman) is a young dancer with a top ballet company in New York City has devoted her entire life in dancing, working long days of practicing in their home at night. She is determined to have complete control, to be perfect. Nina’s mother, played with beautiful, rigid sadness by Barbara Hershey, shares her daughter’s obsession, seeking to ease her regret over abandoning her own artistic career as a painter by riding on Nina’s achievement. It is against the context that Nina is awarded the much desired part of the Swan Queen in Swan Lake. Her director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel), wants Nina to play both the white and black swans and encourages her to release her dark side for the role. Nina begins to do so, but as her dancing improves, the rest of her life including her mind begins to unravel.

THE THRILL OF DARKNESS 

‘Black Swan’ is an emotional battle, sensually thrilling and an exhausting experience. From the moment the film begins, the audience is completely immersed in Nina’s world which is so oppressive. The camera angles follow every step of Nina like a stalker. Seeing the world from Nina’s perspective; experience her psychosis as if it is our own. The diversion between what is real and what is imaginary becomes increasingly distorted as the film progresses. And Nina’s hallucinations are so intense, it made even more frightening because of the contrary to her previous innocent world, filled with fluffy-pink bedspreads and teddy bears. There is a great sense of darkness creeping through the surface of Nina’s life. 

Majority of the set in the film is cloying and dim, including the grey boxed-in subway, Nina’s dark apartment and her mother’s bedroom that is filled with haunting self-portraits. There is a deep comparison in every aspect, the dark vs. the light, the black and the white swan, Nina and Lily (Mila Kunis) a dancer from San Francisco who becomes Nina’s substitute. 

At times the imagery feels a little heavier, the musical scoring have an intense effect being in light mood makes the story a little melodramatic. Abrupt scenes and cuts are also noticeable in some parts of the movie but most of the sensual shots were done in an artistic and very imaginative manner.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE THEMES

The movie is pact with numerous themes, being the most noticeable, one being the relationship between light and darkness. Nina is encouraged to release her dark side, which in the end destroys her. There is an interesting idea that lies beneath the link between art and chaos. Being a sacrificial lamb of one’s stability, mental health and happiness to become truly artistic? The character of Nina in the movie depicts to lose control of the balance, seeing her world in different categories that is too defined and too idealistic. Perhaps if she had been able to balance both it will come to the realization that there is a little bit of light and dark in everyone and she would have survived to dance another day. 

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE AT A GLANCE...

The cinematography of the film entitled “Slumdog Millionaire” depicts the real scenario and situationthat is currently facing by the third world country, India. Poverty, hunger-strike, maltreatment, issues of environmentalism, garbage waste disposal, rampant killings, etc. are revealed in the movie which should be addressed and be imparted to all viewers. The musical scoring of the film in light mellow mode shows the very gloomy situation of the country that really needs improvement and improvisation.

The movie also illustrates the condition of the people living in India and its territory, their traditions and culture. The value of striving and doing whatever it takes portrayed my Jamal was shown in the movie. Despite a lot of challenges, blockades and problems that come to his life including the betrayal of his brother Salim and the people around him, still he survive and seeks her true love Latika, who give him the inspiration to fight against all odds including the battles in his life. “Never give up” a lesson that you will gain from the movie.

Witty, determined, striving and motivated. He believed in himself and he never give up, he surpass all those challenges and make these bytes of uncertainties as stepping stones for survival. Bizarrely plausible movie of all times! By the use of flashbacks and inserts, the movie became remarkable with value and significance. Ironic and sacrificial ending which is very heart-warming, winning the game with the succession of the death of his brother.

Famous lines that strike my attention from the movie: Though we will only meet in death, it is written. Come away with me and live with love.