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Perfume
Perfume
	Teaser poster
Directed by	Michael Rymer; Hunter Carson
Written by	Michael Rymer; L. M. Kit Carson
Produced by	L. M. Kit Carson; Cynthia Hargrave; Nadia Leonelli; Fredrik Sundwall
Starring	Paul Sorvino; Leslie Mann; Jeff Goldblum; Rita Wilson; Jared Harris; Joanne Baron; Michelle Williams; Mariel Hemingway
Cinematography	Rex Nicholson
Edited by	Dany Cooper
Music by	Adam Plack
Distributed by	Lionsgate Films
Release date	January 26, 2001 (Sundance);
Running time	106 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Perfume is a 2001 American film directed by Michael Rymer, and featuring an ensemble cast, starring Paul Sorvino, Leslie Mann, Jeff Goldblum, Mariel Hemingway, Rita Wilson, Jared Harris, Joanne Baron and Michelle Williams. All dialogue was improvised by the actors. The film premiered at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival.

Plot

A week prior to a New York Fashion Week,^[2] various models, photographers, agents, reporters, publicists and designers, involved in the fashion industry, find themselves embroiled in conflicts.^[3]^[4]

Anthony is a fashion photographer who has to reinvent himself after his signature heroin chic style has become overused and obvious.^[5] Janice Crawford, powerful chief editor of A Magazine, offers Anthony the chance to prove himself with a cover shot. In the meantime, Janice's estranged daughter Halley resurfaces unexpectedly.^[5]

Camille is an up-and-coming fashion designer who's leaving the small atelier owned by Roberta Colaredo to join the large fashion house Fantasia, for which her current lover, Jamie, works as a talent scout.^[5] When Camille takes a deal, Roberta finds her atelier is set back.^[6]

Lorenzo Mancini is a famous Italian fashion designer who learns that he's dying of cancer, but keeps the news from his former wife Irene and his boyfriend Guido while also trying to prevent his son Mario from changing their family business into a new line that panders to hip hop culture. Lorenzo meets with some hip hop artists who help open his mind to Mario's idea to cater to new clientele. Guido contacts Lorenzo's Irene who tells their son and daughter about the cancer diagnosis, so they are able to say goodbye.

Cast

Jared Harris as Anthony, a fashion photographer
Michelle Forbes as Francene, Anthony's live-in girlfriend
D.W. Brown as Morton, Anthony's assistant
Estella Warren as Arrianne, a model who refuses to do a nude shot with Anthony
Sonja Sohn as Dandy, Arrianne's agent
Mariel Hemingway as Leese Hotton, a famous actress Anthony is hired to shoot for the cover of A Magazine^[7]^[8]
Joanne Baron as Janice Crawford^[7]
Angela Bettis as Wilemina, Janice Crawford's assistant
Mariska Hargitay as Darcy, an editor at A Magazine
Michelle Williams as Halley Crawford, Janice Crawford's estranged daughter^[7]

Leslie Mann as Camille, a talented designer working for Roberta Colaredo's atelier^[7]
Hunter Carson as Paul McMichaels, Camille's friend
Jeff Goldblum as Jamie, a talent scout for the Fantasia firm and Camille's recent hook-up^[7]
Harris Yulin as Phillip Brosco, a high-ranking manager at Fantasia
Rita Wilson as Roberta Colaredo^[7]
Morena Baccarin as Monica, Roberta Colaredo's assistant
Troy Garity as Simon, Roberta Colaredo's staffer
Lucy Gordon as Sarah, Roberta Colaredo's staffer
Steven Chester Prince as Dennis, Roberta Colaredo's business manager
Carmen Ejogo as Chloe, Roberta Colaredo's English designer
Amber Valletta as Blair, Roberta Colaredo's shoe designer
Harry Hamlin as Hancock, Roberta Colaredo's boyfriend
Michelle Monaghan as Penny, Roberta Colaredo's model who decides to leave her atelier

Paul Sorvino as Lorenzo Mancini^[7]
Peter Gallagher as Guido, Lorenzo Mancini's live-in boyfriend
Sônia Braga as Irene Mancini, Lorenzo Mancini's ex-wife
Gaby Hoffmann as Gabriella Mancini, Lorenzo Mancini's daughter
Michael Sorvino as Mario Mancini, Lorenzo Mancini's son^[7]
Carmen Electra as Simone, Mario's girlfriend
Robert Joy as Andrew, Lorenzo Mancini's butler
Kyle MacLachlan as the business manager pitching Lorenzo Mancini the extravagant "music underwear" idea
Omar Epps as J.B., a famous rapper who tries to launch his own fashion line through Lorenzo
Coolio as T, an associate of J.B.
Nabila Khashoggi as Kelley
Lee Tergesen as a lawyer

Production

The film was shot in 20 days in New York. All actors were required to improvise their own dialogue based on a detailed outline by Michael Rymer and L.M. Kit Carson.^[9]^[1]

Jeff Goldblum served as an executive producer.^[9]

Reception

Todd McCarthy of Variety wrote, "Another attempt to nail the fashion industry, Perfume is more coherent and serious-minded than Robert Altman's mess Ready to Wear, but remains a less alluring creation."^[1] McCarthy noted the characters felt thinly developed and lamented how the film’s "lack of interest in exposition, basic information about the relationships of many of the characters — whom they work for and why they’re behaving the way they are — remains vague for a considerable time."^[1] Buzz McClain of AllMovie was more critical, writing, "In the end, you learn nothing about the fashion industry, you glean no insight into the characters, and you feel as if you've watched an acting class of self-conscious performers. If anything, Perfume only serves to point out how good Altman is."^[10]

Accolades

Independent Spirit Awards

Nominated—Producers Award: Nadia Leonelli^[11]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d McCarthy, Todd (February 1, 2001). "Perfume". Variety. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
^ "Perfume (2001)". The Armchair Critic. July 13, 2007. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
^ "Perfume (2001)". letterboxd.com. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
^ "Perfume 2002". Rotten Tomatoes. April 16, 2002. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Perfume". blu-ray.com. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
^ "Perfume". oldies.com.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "'Perfume' : Story, Preview, First Day Box Office Collection". filmibeat.com. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
^ "'Perfume' : Film Locations". onthesetofnewyork.com. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
^ ^a ^b McLean, Thomas J. (February 20, 2001). "Drama spotlight: Perfume". Variety. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
^ McClain, Buzz. "Perfume". AllMovie. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
^ "36 Years of Nominees and Winners" (PDF). Film Independent. Retrieved January 11, 2023.