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The Rewatchables ·

Scent of a Woman

year 1992decade 90sdirector Martin Brestgenre Drama
host Bill Simmonshost Chris Ryanproducer Craig Horlbeck format 250th Episode
All 34 categories

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson · 1:23:11

Do not snitch and keep looking

Bill Simmons: Do not snitch or amputate your soul is the first lesson.

The film

Scent of a Woman (1992)

Directed by Martin Brest · Drama

156 minutes

IMDb Find on JustWatch Find on Rotten Tomatoes
Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Everything from the episode

In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.

22:06

Roger Ebert's review
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:22:06Read transcript
  • The stated score is three and a half stars. — Bill Simmons
  • The quoted review praises the intelligence and skill with which the movie reaches familiar coming-of-age and prep-school conclusions. — Bill Simmons
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22:30

What’s Aged the Best?

The score, class dynamics, supporting performances, Oscar debate, career-changing roles, New York locations, and the ...

The score, class dynamics, supporting performances, Oscar debate, career-changing roles, New York locations, and the hero’s heightened senses

In the discussion (11)
Approx. transcript time · 00:22:30Read transcript
  • Thomas Newman's score is praised as an active character in the movie. — Bill Simmons
  • The prep-school conflict between inherited power and the scholarship student remains a sharp depiction of class and old-boy protection. — Bill Simmons
  • The running joke in which the colonel calls Jack Daniel's 'John Daniels' is explicitly offered as something that aged well. — Bill Simmons
  • James Rebhorn is praised as an elite supporting actor at playing polished men with sleazy interiors. — Bill Simmons
  • The boarding-school setting belongs to a strong run that also includes Dead Poets Society and School Ties. — Bill Simmons
  • Pacino's advice that a young actor should never marry an actress is recalled as a colorful set anecdote. — Bill Simmons
  • The movie sits at an early point when public arguments over Oscar winners became part of mainstream movie culture. — Chris Ryan
  • The performance helped establish the cynical idea that an actor could win awards by playing a disability or other conspicuous obstacle. — Bill Simmons
  • The coveted Charlie role is used as an example of the career-changing parts that many young actors once competed to win. — Chris Ryan
  • The Waldorf and Oak Room footage preserves an appealing pre-reservation-app vision of New York access and luxury. — Chris Ryan
  • The colonel's heightened smell and hearing are treated as entertaining superhuman powers attached to a disability. — Bill Simmons
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25:34

Most Rewatchable Scene

The second half of the school hearing

The second half of the school hearing

In the discussion (11)
Approx. transcript time · 00:25:34Read transcript
  • George's threatening walk with Charlie is praised for the strange physicality and for revealing an actor who immediately stands out. — Bill Simmons
  • George's ingratiating conversation with Mrs. Hunsacker is a smaller candidate that shows him as a skilled rich-kid manipulator. — Chris Ryan
  • The airplane conversation is selected for the colonel's loudly inappropriate advice while other passengers sit nearby. — Bill Simmons
  • The Oak Room arrival efficiently establishes the direction of the weekend and the conflict between the two leads. — Bill Simmons
  • The Thanksgiving dinner is praised as a great dysfunctional-holiday sequence built around rising tension, insults, and the horrified family.
  • The tango is praised for its lesson that mistakes can be folded into the dance and for the surprise it creates in the room. — Bill Simmons
  • The tango partner said Pacino skipped the rehearsals and that she was left with several half-broken toes. — Bill Simmons
  • The Ferrari sequence includes the dealership negotiation and the implausible but exciting blind drive. — Bill Simmons
  • Charlie's intervention during the suicide attempt is praised as an emotional toe-to-toe performance with Pacino. — Bill Simmons
  • The second half of the school hearing is the final choice because the speech and immediate verdict provide the dramatic apex. — Bill Simmons
  • The final teacher flirtation is a small closing candidate because the perfume-reading premise finally pays off. — Bill Simmons
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35:19

Picking Nits

The prank, heightened senses, empty streets, Ferrari dealership, Baird discipline, and dress-uniform suicide trope

The prank, heightened senses, empty streets, Ferrari dealership, Baird discipline, and dress-uniform suicide trope

In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 00:35:19Read transcript
  • The blind Ferrari drive is called the movie's biggest nitpick and judged impossible even at low speed. — Bill Simmons
  • The active job-posting bulletin board used to arrange Charlie's holiday job is questioned. — Chris Ryan
  • The panel questions whether everyone at school would already know who committed the prank. — Bill Simmons
  • The colonel's ability to detect Charlie's movements makes his blindness seem inconsistently superpowered. — Bill Simmons
  • Donna's name is treated as a poor fit for the tango partner. — Bill Simmons
  • The Ferrari drive occurs across impossibly empty city streets without signals, pedestrians, or traffic. — Bill Simmons
  • The location of a Manhattan Ferrari dealership beside empty driving streets is questioned. — Bill Simmons
  • Baird's school-wide disciplinary hearing, blackmail tactics, and instant committee verdict seem implausible. — Bill Simmons
  • The dress-uniform suicide setup is criticized as a showy military-officer trope also used in A Few Good Men. — Chris Ryan
  • The prank depends on an improbably engineered milk balloon and the headmaster choosing to pop it while standing on his car. — Bill Simmons
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36:32

The Action Is the Juice Award for Best Milking of the Moment

Chris O’Donnell

Chris O’Donnell

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:36:32Read transcript
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47:01

The Slow Ride / Kid Cudi – Pursuit of Happiness Award for Best Needle Drop

Thomas Newman’s score

Thomas Newman’s score

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:47:01Read transcript
  • The Dolly Parton recording of Evangeline is the only song candidate. — Bill Simmons
  • Thomas Newman's score is chosen because the movie has few conventional needle drops. — Bill Simmons
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47:46

The Big Kahuna Burger Award for Best Use of Food and Drink

The John Daniels whiskey exchange

The John Daniels whiskey exchange

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:47:46Read transcript
  • The colonel's insistence on calling Jack Daniel's 'John Daniels' and his minibar inventory are selected. — Bill Simmons
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47:46

The Den of Thieves Benihana Award for Scene-Stealing Location

The Oak Room

The Oak Room

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:47:46Read transcript
  • The Oak Room is selected over the Waldorf Astoria as the scene-stealing location. — Bill Simmons
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48:01

The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot

The two-shot at the hearing verdict

The two-shot at the hearing verdict

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:48:01Read transcript
  • The selected image holds both leads at the table while the students rise and cheer behind them after the verdict. — Chris Ryan
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48:15

The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film

The extended ending and lengthy Karen Rossi setup

The extended ending and lengthy Karen Rossi setup

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:48:15Read transcript
  • The movie is said to have reached its natural ending when the teacher flirts with the colonel, making the chauffeur and homecoming scenes unnecessary. — Bill Simmons
  • Karen Rossi's long pre-trip setup with children, the cat, and Thanksgiving plans is judged disposable. — Chris Ryan
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50:07

What’s Aged the Worst?

The escort requests, dated first class, heavy drinking, and unexplained football background draw criticism.

The escort requests, dated first class, heavy drinking, and unexplained football background draw criticism.

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 00:50:07Read transcript
  • The colonel's repeated public requests for an escort would now attract scrutiny, though the behavior is defended as plausible for the pre-internet era. — Chris Ryan
  • The first-class airplane cabin looks cheap and ordinary by current standards. — Bill Simmons
  • The quantity of whiskey consumed during a short flight and across each day appears incompatible with the character remaining so controlled. — Bill Simmons
  • Charlie's sudden description as Baird's star halfback feels unsupported by everything else shown about him. — Bill Simmons
  • Frank Slade is described as a nightmare guest at holiday dinners. — Bill Simmons
  • The recurring Pacino impression is added to What's Aged the Worst because it repeatedly parodied this movie. — Bill Simmons
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53:35

The Ron Burgundy Flute Award for the Best Time for a Pee Break

The gun-loading scene after Thanksgiving

The gun-loading scene after Thanksgiving

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:53:35Read transcript
  • The first fifteen minutes of boarding-school setup could be missed. — Bill Simmons
  • The material after the teacher flirtation is another possible break because the story has already concluded. — Bill Simmons
  • The preferred break is the post-Thanksgiving gun-loading scene because the suicide plan has already been established. — Bill Simmons
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54:24

Is There a Better Title for This Movie?

Scent of a Woman

Scent of a Woman

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:54:24Read transcript
  • The original title is retained over An Amputated Spirit. — Chris Ryan
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54:41

The Neil McCauley “A Book about Metals” Award for Best Line from the Movie

“The day we stop looking, Charlie, is the day we die”

“The day we stop looking, Charlie, is the day we die”

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:54:41Read transcript
  • The selected line says the day people stop looking is the day they die. — Bill Simmons
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55:02

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

The takes place the performance outside Pacino’s best eight and condemn Karen Rossi for leaving him with a teenager.

The takes place the performance outside Pacino’s best eight and condemn Karen Rossi for leaving him with a teenager.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:55:02Read transcript
  • The performance is placed outside Pacino's best eight and possibly outside his top ten because several earlier roles are more nuanced. — Bill Simmons
  • The counterpoint says the movie is valuable precisely because Pacino commits fully to the outsized character. — Bill Simmons
  • Karen Rossi is blamed for abandoning a vulnerable heavy drinker to a teenager during Thanksgiving. — Chris Ryan
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58:46

Casting What-Ifs

Jack Nicholson, Sylvester Stallone, and Chris Rock

Jack Nicholson, Sylvester Stallone, and Chris Rock

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:58:46Read transcript
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1:01:02

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

The colonel’s shouting and Chris O’Donnell’s crying scene

The colonel’s shouting and Chris O’Donnell’s crying scene

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:01:02Read transcript
  • The colonel's enraged family confrontation, firing-range intensity, and repeated cries about being in the dark are offered as obvious overacting material.
  • O'Donnell's crying during the suicide intervention is another candidate. — Bill Simmons
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1:01:45

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

Todd Louiso

Todd Louiso

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:01:45Read transcript
  • Ron Eldard is rejected by one participant because he had been a recognizable television lead.
  • James Rebhorn is proposed as the archetypal supporting answer. — Bill Simmons
  • The colonel's brother is a recognizable alternative whose actor name is not known by the panel. — Bill Simmons
  • The chauffeur Manny, explicitly identified as Gene Canfield, is another recognizable alternative. — Bill Simmons
  • Nicholas Sadler is chosen by one participant as the familiar ringleader student. — Chris Ryan
  • The third student is the other choice based on recognizable parts in Jerry McGuire, The Rock, Apollo 13, and High Fidelity. — Chris Ryan
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1:02:52

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

Split: Bradley Whitford; the chauffeur

Split: Bradley Whitford; the chauffeur

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:02:52Read transcript
  • The chauffeur, Bradley Whitford, Gabriel Anwar, and the Ferrari salesman form the candidate list. — Bill Simmons
  • The chauffeur is selected for making a potentially thin role warm and additive through the final tip exchange. — Bill Simmons
  • Bradley Whitford is the other selection for his brief but sharp Thanksgiving performance. — Bill Simmons
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1:04:12

Recasting Couch

Matt Damon

Matt Damon

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:04:12Read transcript
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1:05:55

Half-Assed Internet Research

Locations, blindness and weapons preparation, the origin of “hoo-ah,” and a deleted hotel cameo

Locations, blindness and weapons preparation, the origin of “hoo-ah,” and a deleted hotel cameo

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:05:55Read transcript
  • The Baird scenes were filmed at the Emma Willard School in New York. — Bill Simmons
  • Pacino prepared with a school for the blind and avoided focusing his eyes on objects. — Bill Simmons
  • A lieutenant colonel taught Pacino to load and unload the pistol. — Bill Simmons
  • Pacino reportedly adopted 'hoo-ah' after hearing a soldier use it while handling a rifle. — Bill Simmons
  • A Plaza Hotel scene with Trump and Marlon Maples was filmed and then removed. — Bill Simmons
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1:07:09

Apex Mountain

Apex checks cover Pacino, O’Donnell, blind movie characters, the Ferrari, bad Thanksgivings, and the Ringer chokehold.

Apex checks cover Pacino, O’Donnell, blind movie characters, the Ferrari, bad Thanksgivings, and the Ringer chokehold.

In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 01:07:09Read transcript
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1:09:53

Best Race Horse Name from This Movie

John Daniels

John Daniels

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:09:53Read transcript
  • John Daniels is selected from a field that also includes the movie title, Ferrari Freddy, and the colonel's signature exclamation. — Chris Ryan
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1:10:12

Mallory Rubin Award: Did This Movie Need a Better Sex Scene?

No better sex scene; a brief look at the escort

No better sex scene; a brief look at the escort

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:10:12Read transcript
  • A full sex scene with the colonel is rejected. — Bill Simmons
  • One look at the escort through the window or a wave would have been welcome. — Bill Simmons
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1:14:19

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

A prestige television version

A prestige television version

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:14:19Read transcript
  • The core plot is judged small enough to fit into a television subplot despite working as a movie. — Bill Simmons
  • A series could spend more time with the prep-school students and the Thanksgiving family. — Bill Simmons
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1:15:09

Is This Movie Better With…?

Wayne Jenkins as Mr. Trask

Wayne Jenkins as Mr. Trask

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:15:09Read transcript
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1:15:53

Just One Oscar

Al Pacino

Al Pacino

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:15:53Read transcript
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1:15:53

Probably Unanswerable Questions

The ending, Charlie’s response to blackmail, racial implications of recasting, and the colonel’s finances

The ending, Charlie’s response to blackmail, racial implications of recasting, and the colonel’s finances

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:15:53Read transcript
  • The movie is said to have a clear answer to whether it should end after the teacher flirtation: yes. — Chris Ryan
  • Charlie could have reported the headmaster’s blackmail to the disciplinary board. — Chris Ryan
  • Another proposed strategy is to admit seeing three students from far away without claiming to recognize them. — Bill Simmons
  • Casting Charlie as Black in 1992 is debated as more interesting but likely to make the colonel harder to redeem. — Bill Simmons
  • The panel asks how much of the colonel's savings the extravagant weekend consumed. — Bill Simmons
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1:19:35

Best Double Feature

Dog Day Afternoon and The Chocolate War
Scent of a Woman
Dog Day Afternoon
The Chocolate War
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:19:35Read transcript
  • Dog Day Afternoon is proposed as a Pacino pairing. — Chris Ryan
  • The Chocolate War is proposed as a prep-school pairing about loyalty and betrayal. — Chris Ryan
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1:19:53

The Andy and Red – Zihuatanejo Award for What Happens the Next Day?

The colonel returns nearly broke, starts a short relationship with the teacher, and likely ruins it through drinking ...

The colonel returns nearly broke, starts a short relationship with the teacher, and likely ruins it through drinking and repeated stories.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:19:53Read transcript
  • The weekend may have consumed nearly all the disability savings he accumulated while living in the shed. — Bill Simmons
  • His large chauffeur tip is contrasted with paying Charlie only the agreed three hundred dollars after Charlie saved his life. — Bill Simmons
  • A relationship with the teacher may last briefly before heavy drinking and repetitive stories end it. — Bill Simmons
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1:22:43

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

The custom suits and cane

The custom suits and cane

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:22:43Read transcript
  • The custom suits are the first choice when the Ferrari is excluded. — Chris Ryan
  • The cane and old-fashioned luggage are the other desired objects. — Bill Simmons
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1:23:11

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

Do not snitch and keep looking

Do not snitch and keep looking

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:23:11Read transcript
  • Do not snitch or amputate your soul is the first lesson. — Bill Simmons
  • The day people stop looking is the day they die is the alternate lesson. — Bill Simmons
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1:23:37

Who Won the Movie?

Al Pacino

Al Pacino

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:23:37Read transcript
  • Pacino is the immediate consensus winner. — Bill Simmons
  • Hoffman is placed high among the beneficiaries because the small role planted the seeds for his career. — Bill Simmons
Podcast choices
Speaker not identified
Al Pacino
Speaker not identified
Al Pacino
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1:24:15

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Pacino is actively bad; his performance plays like a parody

Pacino is actively bad; his performance plays like a parody

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:24:15Read transcript
  • The producer says he did not enjoy the movie and calls Pacino actively bad. — Craig Horlbeck
  • He says the performance feels like a parody of someone playing a blind role and blames Pacino for dialing it up too far. — Craig Horlbeck
  • He also says Chris O'Donnell is not very good and calls both central performances one-note. — Craig Horlbeck
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More from the conversation

The 250th-episode opening recounts the show’s origin in an early Heat podcast and opens the full catalog to all platforms.
Approx. transcript time · 00:02:11Read transcript
The discussion traces how this performance helped produce Pacino’s louder late-career screen persona.
Approx. transcript time · 00:10:00Read transcript
The Oscar conversation argues that the career-achievement narrative displaced Denzel Washington’s Malcolm X performance.
Approx. transcript time · 00:13:17Read transcript
The prep-school discussion emphasizes how inherited wealth protects the insiders while leaving a scholarship student vulnerable.
Approx. transcript time · 00:22:30Read transcript
The producer joins at the end and offers a strong dissent that the central performance now feels like a parody of a blind role.
Approx. transcript time · 01:23:37Read transcript