Perfume (2001)

User Rating:

4.0/10   

Directors:

Michael Rymer
Hunter Carson

Writers (WGA):

Michael Rymer (written by) &
L.M. Kit Carson (written by)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A week in the lives of a group of models, photographers, agents, reporters, publicists and other characters during a wild modeling show in New York City.

Plot Keywords:

New York | Photographer | Modeling | Female Nudity | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Lysa Apostle	...	Melissa
Joanne Baron	...	Janice Crawford
Morena Baccarin	...	Monica (as Monrena Baccarin)
Kylie Bax	...	Maitre D'
Angela Bettis	...	Wilemina
Heather J. Braden	...	Model
Sonia Braga	...	Irene Mancini
D.W. Brown	...	Morton
Chemin-Martinez Carroll	...	Posse Member 13
Leslie Mann	...	Camille
Hunter Carson	...	Peter McMichaels
Murielle Arden	...	Heidi (as Murielle Cohen)
Carol Commissiong	...	Vendela
Sara Conca	...	Model #2
Eve Cook	...	Model
Coolio	...	T
Veronica De Laurentiis	...	Lorenzo's Relative #2 (as Veronica DeLaurentis)
Paul Diomede	...	Harmon
Carmen Ejogo	...	Chloe
Carmen Electra	...	Simone
Cristen Elmore	...	Model
Omar Epps	...	J.B.
Frederic Fekkai	...	Himself
Michelle Forbes	...	Francene
Cresta Freeberg	...	Model
Peter Gallagher	...	Guido
Troy Garity	...	Simon
Jeff Goldblum	...	Jamie
Lucy Gordon	...	Sarah
Harold Guskin	...	Dr. Jenkins
Marianne Hagan	...	Sales Manager
Harry Hamlin	...	Hancock
Mariska Hargitay	...	Darcy (as Marishka Hargitay)
Jared Harris	...	Anthony
John C. Havens	...	Client Rep #1
Emma Heming	...	Model #3
Mariel Hemingway	...	Leese Hotton
Gaby Hoffmann	...	Gabrielle Mancini
Robert Joy	...	Andrew
Rainer Judd	...	Ad Exec #2
Nabila Khashoggi	...	Kelley
Sarah Knowlton	...	Wanna-Be
Austin Lysy	...	Oliver
Kadia	...	Model
Kyle MacLachlan	...	Business Manager
Michelle Monaghan	...	Henrietta
Wendy Overstreet	...	Model
Steven Chester Prince	...	Denis
GQ	...	Charlie
Stephanie Raye	...	Receptionist (as Stevie Raye)
Andre Royo	...	Posse Member
Cassandra Sanford	...	Model #1
Chris Sarandon	...	Gary Packer
Yasha Young	...	Model (as Yasha Young-Shulz)
Pamela Shaw	...	Rowena
Sloane Shelton	...	Denise (as Sloan Shelton)
Sonja Sohn	...	Dandy
Michael Sorvino	...	Mario Mancini
Paul Sorvino	...	Lorenzo Mancini
Lee Tergesen	...	Lawyer (scenes deleted)
Richard Thomsen	...	Jimbo
Tariq Trotter	...	Posse Member #2 (as Tarik Trotter)
Amber Valletta	...	Blair
Estella Warren	...	Arrianne
James Wilder	...	Billy
Michelle Williams	...	Halley
Rita Wilson	...	Roberta
Traci Ann Wolfe	...	Model
Yvonne Woods	...	Bobbi
Lee Wong	...	Alfred (as Takeo Lee Wong)
Jonathan Yaker	...	Ad Executive
Harris Yulin	...	Phillip
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Griffin Dunne	...	Himself (uncredited)
Alexander Xavier Ponce-Bonano	...	Ex-boyfriend (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Rymer
Hunter Carson		(opening sequence)

Writing credits (WGA)
Michael Rymer		(written by) &
L.M. Kit Carson		(written by)

Produced by
Joanne Baron	....	co-executive producer
D.W. Brown	....	associate producer
L.M. Kit Carson	....	producer
Vikram Chatwal	....	associate producer
Loretta Crawford	....	co-producer
Robert Feld	....	associate producer
Jeff Goldblum	....	executive producer
Cynthia Hargrave	....	producer
Eric Kopeloff	....	associate producer
Eric Kopeloff	....	line producer
Nadia Leonelli	....	producer
Damita Nikapota	....	executive producer
Michael Paseornek	....	executive producer
Fredrik Sundwall	....	producer
Andrew Tilberis	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Adam Plack

Cinematography by
Rex Nicholson

Film Editing by
Dany Cooper

Casting by
Aisha Coley

Production Design by
Gay Studebaker

Art Direction by
Johnny Hardesty

Set Decoration by
Mike Conte

Costume Design by
Shawn Barton

Makeup Department
Annemarie Bradley	....	additional hair stylist
Annemarie Bradley	....	additional makeup artist
Jane Brewton	....	additional hair stylist
Jane Brewton	....	additional makeup artist
Hildie Ginsberg	....	key makeup artist
Maria Giorgio	....	additional hair stylist
Maria Giorgio	....	additional makeup artist
Persefone Karakosta	....	additional hair stylist
Persefone Karakosta	....	additional makeup artist
Julia Lallas	....	additional hair stylist
Julia Lallas	....	additional makeup artist
Claus Lulla	....	additional hair stylist
Claus Lulla	....	additional makeup artist
Katherine O'Donnell	....	additional hair stylist
Katherine O'Donnell	....	additional makeup artist
Susan Reilly LeHane	....	makeup artist (as Susan Reilly)
Mia Thoen	....	additional hair stylist
Mia Thoen	....	additional makeup artist
Joe Trapani	....	additional hair stylist
Joe Trapani	....	additional makeup artist

Production Management
Christian Gazal	....	post-production supervisor: Australia (as Christian Gazaal)
Petra Hoebel	....	production manager
Seth I. Shire	....	post-production supervisor: New York (as Seth Shire)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steven C. Lawrence	....	second assistant director (as Steve Lawrence)
Jose Gilberto Molinari-Rosaly	....	first assistant director
Tom Self	....	second assistant director
Peter Thorell	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Millacent Fearon	....	set dresser
Christopher Fondulas	....	art production assistant
Brent Godek	....	assistant property master
Alida Jung	....	property master
Jason Liebrecht	....	art production assistant
Jocelyn Mason	....	on-set dresser
Sarah E. McMillan	....	art swing
Nikia Nelson	....	art production assistant
Chris Potter	....	lead man
Jesper Sundwall	....	graphic designer
Jeremy Tiefenbrun	....	art production assistant

Sound Department
Antonio L. Arroyo	....	production sound mixer
Kevin Bowe	....	boom operator
John D'Aquino	....	sound mixer
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Steve Murphy	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (as Steven Murphy)
Andrew Plain	....	sound designer
Andrew Plain	....	supervising sound editor
John Simpson	....	foley artist
Peter D. Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lidia Tamplenizza	....	assistant sound editor
Libby Villa	....	sound editor

Visual Effects by
Scott Balkcom	....	Inferno artist

Camera and Electrical Department
Liza Bambenek	....	assistant camera
George Bianchini	....	Steadicam operator
Matt Blades	....	best boy grip
Michael Callaghan	....	camera loader
Dominick Condi	....	still photographer
Ryan Patrick Cooke	....	grip
Charles Debold	....	additional first assistant camera
Alex Eaton	....	additional second assistant camera
David Elwell	....	additional electrician
Johnny Erbes-Chan	....	key grip
Greg Finkel	....	second assistant camera
Mara Galus	....	additional second assistant camera
Justin Scott Gravatt	....	additional electrician (as Justin Gravatt)
Erin Grgic	....	grip
Elizabeth Hedges	....	additional second assistant camera
Stuart Kaufman	....	grip
Andre Lascaris	....	best boy electric
Stephanie Martin	....	additional electrician
Scott Miller	....	gaffer
Symon Mink	....	first assistant camera
Anthony Fung Rai	....	grip
Al Rivera	....	additional gaffer
L. Andrew Sigler	....	grip
Adam Silver	....	grip
Craig Striano	....	grip
Joshua Van Praag	....	third electrician (as Josh Van Praag)
Tom Vulliez	....	grip
Bryan Wachtel	....	best boy electric
Cliff Weisner	....	best boy electric
Ian Woolston-Smith	....	Steadicam operator

Casting Department
Jaclyn Brodsky	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Victoria Khofri	....	wardrobe production assistant
Karyn Larkin	....	on-set costumer
Shana Schoepke	....	wardrobe supervisor
Sherri Yoochison	....	wardrobe intern

Editorial Department
Don Ciana	....	color timer
Rich Cohen	....	negative cutter
Megan Doneman	....	assistant editor
Bert Feldman	....	negative cutter
David Forsyth	....	avid technician (as David Forsythe)
David Forsythe	....	avid technician
Alicia Gleeson	....	additional assistant editor
Brett McManus	....	additional assistant editor
Jamal A. Swinton	....	post-production consultant

Music Department
Julia Taylor-Stanley	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Shawn Alexander	....	production assistant
Lynn Appelle	....	production coordinator
Roni Armstrong	....	craft service assistant
James Baylor	....	production assistant
Casey Block	....	post-production accountant
Neke Carson	....	location scout
Tobias Core	....	production assistant
Janna DeLury	....	script supervisor
John B. Finn	....	post-production accountant
Alain Fleuriot	....	assistant accountant
Kelly Foster	....	script transcriptor
Leslie Friej	....	script transcriptor
Dave Ginsberg	....	production assistant
Thomas Hanna	....	location manager
Marilyn A. Harvey	....	location scout
Max Hoffmann	....	production assistant
Brad Huddleston	....	production assistant
Josh Jacobs	....	production assistant
Robert Jean Pierre	....	production assistant
Donna Joyce	....	assistant production coordinator
Jason Kadlec	....	production assistant
Karl Kimbrough	....	concept: opening sequence
Victoria C. Lang	....	production assistant (as Victoria Lang)
Robin Lester	....	production assistant
Sergei Moltov	....	production assistant
Jessica Moriber	....	script transcriptor
Kimberly Rimer	....	assistant to director
Josh Schneider	....	accountant
Susan Strine	....	production accountant
Katarina Sundwall	....	assistant to producer
April Taylor	....	production assistant
Verna Vittles	....	craft service
Jonathan Yaker	....	assistant to producer
Wendy L. York	....	additional script supervisor (as Wendy York)
Abigail Zealey Bess	....	assistant location manager
Paul Zulkowitz	....	location scout (as Paul H. Zulkowitz)

Production Companies

• MainPix
• Manifesto Films
• Moonstar Entertainment
• Parseghian/Planco

Distributors

• Imagem Filmes (Brazil) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• Lions Gate Films
• Studio Home Entertainment
• VCI (2001) (Argentina) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Soundfirm  sound mixed at
• Spectrum Films International  post-production facilities
• Title House Digital  opticals
• Video Post and Transfer  post-production facility

Also Known As:

Dress to Kill (USA) (video title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-11 | Iceland:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Philippines:PG-13 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

MainPix

Trivia:

All the dialog was created by the actors.

Movie Connections:

References The Godfather (1972)

Soundtrack:

Rusulka

Hems and Hums

I avidly pursue these small straight to video films because sometimes you hit gold. Last year, I was rewarded twice with 'Panic' and the delicious '10 Things...' That film resembles this in some ways. But then this resembles so many other projects, most closely Altman's 'Ready to Wear' but done in a 'Best in Show' technique where the actors devise the dialog. I'm very skeptical of that technique because actors just don't have the skills or interests to shape all the dimensions of a project. But they do well enough here to not embarrass and in one case: Sorvino and Gallagher as gentle lovers they do very, very well.

But overall -- except for one major exception -- nothing in the film rises beyond pleasant spacefiller. There are lots of elements that might have been exploited but were not: the design of the eponymous perfume bottle, the state of the adrift daughter, the intelligence of the street designer (indeed, mirroring of one designer's acceptance and ones rejection of damaged children), the entrée to the big time through a sexual initiation and rejection, the drive to style and influence.

The sad thing is the lack of style in the whole project: It lacked any, and this seemed strange: it was as if the whole thing were told through an urchin's eyes.

There is one thing, one sequence, that makes this project worthwhile. As with most modern scripts, there is a self-referential bit. Here, the filmmaker is represented by a photographer who is presented with a promising subject. But she comes attached with 'dialog' that they both feel uncomfortable with. So they forcefully eject those that force these constraints and just ad lib the session. Naturally, that's what Rymer is doing with the film, so this scene is underscored. (The photographer is later rewarded for his intuition.) The importance of these scene is further emphasized by framing the whole film by two other sessions of this photographer -- the first is of him photographing nude women (obviously a nod to the expected exposure of the raw personalities of fashion to come). This is a glam heroin shot that emphasizes the wan 'pain' of the girls. Estella shows up and refuses to participate.

Then at the end, we have the same photographer, on the street, shooting a healthy-looking Estella while the drugaddled daughter walks by in the background. So that scene in the middle where the photographer/filmmaker takes things into his own hands is the soul of the movie. And it is a worthy sequence.

First of all, it features Mariel Hemingway, someone whose mere presence is impressive. The implicit pun on hemming is not beneath the level of allusion here. More powerful is the association with her famous grandfather (who killed himself) and her sister (who also killed herself). That sister made a big splash by endorsing perfume. Mariel is an enormously compelling screen presence, here at 40, and hypnotizingly lovely.

The dialog in this section is wonderful -- that stuff they say when the actual shoot is underway. In the story, that relationship between seer and seen, between designer and human art forms the armature for the whole evening: It is only a couple minutes -- he with his Mighty Mouse, she with her Moody Blues.