Other Crap

The trailer for Perfume - The Story of a Murderer

• This is Tom Tykwer's new film. He's Germany's Orson Welles in training, the guy who directed Run, Lola Run and The Princess and the Warrior. Since then he has mostly been writing music (he's also a composer), except for "Heaven" and an award-winning short film starring Natalie Portman.
• "Heaven" starred Cate Blanchett, but it was basically an arthouse film scripted by the legendary Kieslowski, so it was a complete box-office bomb in the US and UK. Although it stars Cate Blanchett and Giovanni Ribisi, it is in both Italian and English. It received 73% positive reviews at Rotten Tomatoes, but the British critics reviled it. I had mixed feelings.
• Tykwer is a genius, the film is based on a cult book, and the package will be distributed in the USA by Dreamworks, so all the auspices are favorable. This may be the sleeper hit and potential Oscar-winner of the year. Or it may be too-arty-by-half.
• Previous directors who have considered filming this book include Stanley Kubrick, Ridley Scott, Martin Scorsese, Milos Forman, and Tim Burton. Pretty impressive all-star team.
• Rumor has it that the film also includes copious nudity. They were casting in Barcelona for "beautiful redheads willing to appear totally nude."
• Official blurb: "Based on the bestselling novel by Patrick Suskind, 'Perfume' is a terrifying story of murder and obsession set in 18th-century France. Jean-Baptiste Grenouille (Ben Whishaw) has a unique talent for discerning the scents and smells that swirl around him, which he uses to create the world's finest perfumes. Strangely lacking any scent of his own, he becomes obsessed with capturing the irresistible but elusive aroma of young womanhood. As Grenouille's obsession turns deadly, twelve young girls are found murdered. Panic breaks out as people rush to protect their daughters, while an unrepentant and unrelenting Grenouille still lacks the final ingredient to complete his quest."
• Here is an incredibly detailed summary of the plot, including complete spoilers of every plot point.