The Scent of a Woman
The Scent of a Woman is the kind of film that many would think belongs to a bygone era. While it is frank and contemporary without sugar coating it illustrates the value of character over glitz and how small acts can have long lasting consequences.
The film pits two characters who are diametrical opposites. Al Pacino plays the world weary retired Army Lt. Colonel who through a stupid accident lost his sight and his way of life. Chris Donnelly is a young prep school kid on a scholarship whose way of life may be coming to an end owing to the acts of richer kids at the exclusive prep school who pull a stupid stunt.
The blind Lt. Colonel needs an escort so that he can go to New York city and have a rip roaring time before he makes a fateful decision. The poor preppy needs to earn a few bucks to travel and is in desperate need of some advice on how to get through his crisis at school.
The interplay between the two characters is mind boggling. It is more riveting than the best Grisham novel.
Both characters are asked to make life and death decisions that call for them to reach deep into their inner core. The right decision is unhappily the tougher decision to make.
Two terrific scenes that are not to be missed. The first is in the New York ballroom where the blind Lt. Colonel teaches the actress Miss Anwar to dance the tango. It is so smooth and dramatic that even a couch potato is tempted to reach for the Yellow Pages in search of dance lessons. The second and most profound is the speech that Al Pacino makes in defense of Chris Donnelly at the prep school disciplinary hearing. It has to go down as one of the great orations of all times.
The Scent of a Woman is very satisfying on many levels. The character development is superb, dialogue terrific, glamorous locations and a story line that requires the characters to show themselves to be the people they really are. The film has a lot of funny lines and great drama. This movie make me feel the difficulties are just a little case, we should have a optimistic attitude to tackle it! And life is wonderful!
2011011917
Ding Yeqin
第二篇:闻香识女人经典片段英文对白-20xx0720修订版
Trask: Mr. Simms, you are a cover-up artist and you are a liar.
Frank: But not a snitch!Trask: Excuse me?
Frank: No, I don't think I will.Trask: Mr. Slade.
Frank: This is such a crock of shit!
Trask: Please watch your language, Mr. Slade.You are in the Baird School now, not a barracks. Mr. Simms, I will give you one final opportunity to speak up.
Frank: Mr. Simms doesn't want it. He doesn't need to be labeled, still worthy of being a Baird man! What the hell is that? What is your motto here? Boys, inform on your classmates! Save your hide.Anything short of that, we're gonna burn you at the stake? Well, gentleman, When the shit hits the fan, some guys run and some guys stay.Here's Charlie, facing the fire.And there's George hiding in big daddy's pocket. And what are you doing? You are gonna reward George, and destroy Charlie.
Trask: Are you finished, Mr. Slade?
Frank: No, I'm just getting warmed up! I don't know who went to this place. William Howard Taft?William Jennings Bryant?William Tell, whoever? Their spirit is dead, if they ever had one. It's gone. You're building a rat ship here.A vessel for seagoing snitches. And if you think you're preparing these minnows for manhood, you better think again.Because I say you're killing the very spirit this institution proclaims it instills. What a sham! What kind of a show you guys putting on here today? I mean, the only class in this act is sitting next to me. And I'm here to tell you this boy's soul is intact.It's non-negotiable!You know how I know?Someone here, I'm not gonna say who, offered to buy it.Only Charlie here wasn't selling.
Trask: Sir, you are out of order!
Frank: I'll show you out of order. You don't know what out of order is, Mr. Trask! I'd show you, but I'm too old, I'm too tired, and I'm too fucking blind. If I were the man I was five years ago, I'd take a flame-thrower to this place! Out of order? Who the hell do you think you're talking to? I've been around, you know? There was a time I could see. And I have seen, boys like these, younger than these, their arms torn out, their legs ripped off. But there is nothing like the sight of an amputated spirit. There is no prosthetic for that. You think you're merely sending this splendid foot solider back home to Oregen with his tail between his legs. But I say you are executing his soul! And why?Because he’s not a Baird man. Baird men, you hurt this boy. You're gonna be Baird bums, the lot of you. And Harry, Jimmy,Trent, wherever you are out there, fuck you too! Trask: Stand down, Mr. Slade!
Frank: I'm not finished. As I came in here, I heard those words “Cradle of leadership”. Well, when the bough breaks, the cradle will fall. And it has fallen here, it has fallen! Makers of men, creators of leaders, be careful what kind of leaders you're producing here. I don't know if Charlie's silence here today is right or wrong, I'm not a judge or jury, but I can tell you this: he won't sell anybody out to buy his future! And that my friends is called integrity. That's called courage! Now, that's the stuff leaders should be made of. Now I have come to crossroads in my life, I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew, but I never took it. You know why? It was too damn hard. Now here's Charlie, he's come to the crossroads. He has chosen a path. It's the right path. It's a path made of principle that leads to character. Let him continue on his journey. You hold this boy's future in your hands, committee. It's a valuable future. Believe me. Don't destroy it. Protect it. Embrace it. It's gonna make you proud one day, I promise you.