History Film / ScentOfAWoman

* LaserGuidedKarma: [[spoiler:For all main characters. Slade's nephew argues that he was a mean-spirited person who deserved to be blinded by an accident he caused himself. As Charlie has endured his arrogance and saved him from suicide, Frank saves him at the hearing. The corrupt Trask is HoistByHisOwnPetard twice in front of all his students; in the prank, and at the hearing. George rats out his mates for a bribe, but gets nothing in return. While Harry, Jimmy, and Trent don't get caught specifically, they get probation for pulling the prank, and you can tell the Dean is gonna do everything in his power to make their lives utter Hell from now on. Also, Frank says "[[PrecisionFStrike fuck you too]]" for not turning themselves in once their buddies got threatened]].

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Mrs. Hunsacker and the joint faculty-student disciplinary board. [[spoiler:While Mr. Trask was unmoved by the Colonel's speech, the group listened intently and within thirty seconds of the Colonel finishing, grouped together on the stage, deliberated, and made their judgement punishing those suspected of the initial prank, denying George Jr of any rewards for snitching, and excusing Charlie from any further inquiries about this topic]].

* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Frank starts ''way'' too off the cynical side, but by the end of the film he starts to side with Charlie's idealism. Charlie gains some cynicism too (mostly enough to start acting on his desires, rather than wait for shit to fall into his lap.)

* LaserGuidedKarma: [[spoiler:For all main characters. Slade's nephew argues that he was a mean-spirited person who deserved to be blinded by an accident he caused himself. As Charlie has endured his arrogance and saved him from suicide, Frank saves him at the hearing. The corrupt Trask is HoistByHisOwnPetard twice in front of all his students; in the prank, and at the hearing. George rats out his mates for a bribe, but gets nothing in return. While Harry, Jimmy, and Trent don't get caught specifically, they get probation for pulling the prank, and you can tell the Dean is gonna do everything in his power to make their lives utter Hell from now on. Also, Frank says [["PrecisionFStrike fuck you too"]] for not turning themselves in once their buddies got threatened]].

* LaserGuidedKarma: [[spoiler:For all main characters. Slade's nephew argues that Slade was a mean-spirited person, who deserved to get blind from an accident he caused himself. As Charlie has endured Slade's arrogance and saved him from suicide, Slade saves Charlie at the hearing. The corrupt Dean is HoistByHisOwnPetard twice in front of all his students; in the prank, and at the hearing. George rats out his mates for a bribe, but gets nothing in return. While they don't get caught specifically, the boys who pulled the prank get probation, and you can tell the Dean is gonna do everything in his power to make their lives Hell from now on. Also, Slade told them "fuck you" for not turning themselves in once their buddies got threatened]].

* KangarooCourt: What Charlie faces when he goes before the Disciplinary Committee in front of the entire school. [[spoiler:That is until Frank comes in]].

** Frank shrugs off the insensitive comments about his life and actions that left him blind and [[spoiler:one of his buddies dead]] from his nephew when he crashes his brother's Thanksgiving dinner with Charlie. But he completely loses it when his nephew unnecessarily insults Charlie.

--> '''Charlie:''' Pull the trigger you miserable blind motherfucker!!!
* HandicappedBadass: Let it be said the colonel is blind. Not disabled. He can dance the tango and if one is within an arm's reach, he can throw said person into the wall and choke the person with little effort.

* IJustShotMarvinInTheFace: Frank Slade lost his sight while juggling with a hand grenade. [[spoiler:The same grenade killed his friend]].

** "Harry, Jimmy, Trent, wherever you are out there, fuck you too!"

Hired by the colonel's niece to help him while she and her husband and children get away for Thanksgiving, Charlie is told it will be an easy job. It isn't. The colonel, unbeknownst to his niece, is planning a trip to NewYorkCity and is dragging Charlie along with him. Hijinks and drama ensues as the Colonel is staring down his own dark path and past filled with many regrets and a young Charlie burdened by a choice lingering back at his school: to snitch on some students or not.

* SadistTeacher: The Dean shows signs of sadism. [[spoiler:He actively intends to reward George, the snitch who sells out his friends, for doing so, not punish those George identified because it was such a vague answer, and has the nerve to talk about the school's morals and integrity and how it develops character, and how Charlie has betrayed those aspects of the establishment. Frank, by contrast, argues that he doesn't know if Charlie is right by not speaking up, but declares that it actively displays those values the school holds dear, because Charlie won't sell someone out for himself]].

* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney: The logic which the three pranksmen follow and which they think will save them. Col. Slade even lampshades this is how these boys will roll.
* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Frank Slade starts ''way'' too off the cynical side, but by the end of the film he starts to side with Charlie's idealism.
** Notable that Charlie gains a bit more cynicism too (mostly enough to start ACTING on his desires, rather than just waiting for shit to fall in his lap.)

* BadassGrandpa: Lt. Col. Frank Slade is a tough, no non-sense man who can still put an insensitive dick into a Ranger choke hold, dance a tango perfectly, and will defend the integrity of others.

** Frank shrugs off the insensitive comments about Frank's life and actions that left him blind and [[spoiler:one of Frank's buddies dead]] from his nephew when he crashes his brother's Thanksgiving dinner with Charlie. But Frank completely loses it when his nephew unnecessarily insults Charlie.
** Frank truly loathes those who sell out their integrity. [[spoiler:He holds no kind words for DeanBitterman Mr. Trask, who would reward George for selling out his friends and putting the onus on Charlie to back him up]].
* BigDamnHeroes: Just as Charlie is about to face the school, Frank Slade strolls in and casually saves the day.

* BlindDriving: Frank Slade briefly drives a Ferrari at top speed, following directions from a terrified Charlie in the passenger seat. And when he gets pulled over for speeding, [[spoiler: he talks his way out of a ticket and the cop never realizes he was blind]].

* ObfuscatingStupidity: George Willis Jr. appears affable yet somewhat dim to everyone, but it appears to be an act -- he's rather devious and is willing to sell out anyone. He immediately begins grooming Charlie to take the fall for everyone. Without Charlie's holiday experiences with The Colonel, he probably would have succeeded, too.

* SpoiledBrat: George and his friends all come from wealthy backgrounds and look down on Charlie's humble background.

* ObfuscatingStupidity: George Willis Jr. appears affable yet somewhat dim to everyone, but it appears to be an act -- he's rather devious. He immediately begins grooming Charlie to take the fall for everyone. Without Charlie's holiday experiences with The Colonel, he probably would have succeeded, too.

* BatmanGambit: [[spoiler: The prank depends on the Dean getting provoked by the balloon, popping it, to soak himself, and the car, with paint.]]

Hired by the colonel's niece to help him while she and her husband and children get away for Thanksgiving, Charlie is told it will be an easy job. It isn't. The colonel, unbeknownst to his niece, is planning a trip to the BigApplesauce and is dragging Charlie along with him. Hijinks and drama ensues as the Colonel is staring down his own dark path and past filled with many regrets and a young Charlie burdened by a choice lingering back at his school: to snitch on some students or not.

->''"HOOAH!"''

[[quoteright:220:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ed7bd5919132a34e8806c5c68f95f923.jpg]]

''Scent of a Woman'' is a 1992 movie which tells the story of a blind, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade (Creator/AlPacino) and a Vermont boarding school student named Charlie Simms (Chris O'Donnell). Hired by the colonel's niece to help him while she and her husband and children get away for Thanksgiving, Charlie is told it will be an easy job. It isn't. The colonel, unbeknownst to his niece, is planning a trip to the BigApplesauce and is dragging Charlie along with him. Hijinks and drama ensues as the Colonel is staring down his own dark path and past filled with many regrets and a young Charlie burdened by a choice lingering back at his school: to snitch on some students or not.

* CatchPhrase: When Slade asks for a drink : "Flowing like mud around here."

* BigDamnHeroes: Just as Charlie is about to face the school, Frank Slade strolls in and casually saves the day

''Scent of a Woman'' is a 1992 movie which tells the story of a blind, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade (Creator/AlPacino) and a Vermont boarding school student named Charlie Simms (Chris O'Donnell). Hired by the colonel's niece to help him while she and her husband and children get away for Thanksgiving, Charlie is told it will be an easy job. It isn't. The colonel, unbeknownst to his niece, is planning a trip to the BigApplesauce and is dragging Charlie along with him. Hijinks and drama ensues as the Colonel is staring down his own dark path and past filled with many regrets and a young Charlie burdened by a choice lingering back at his school: To snitch on some students or not.

* [[spoiler:LeaveBehindAPistol: The main plot. Slade is a disgraced veteran with nothing left to live for.]]

* BadassGrandpa: Lt. Col. Frank Slade is a tough, take no non-sense man who can still put an insensitive jerk into a Ranger choke hold, dance a tango perfectly, and will defend the integrity of others.

* ObfuscatingStupidity: George Willis Jr. appears affable yet somewhat dim to everyone, but it appears to be an act -- he's rather devious. He immediately begins grooming Charlie to take the fall for everyone. Without Charlie's the experience with The Colonel, he probably would have succeeded, too.

* LaserGuidedKarma: [[spoiler:For all main characters. Slade's nephew argues that Slade was a mean-spirited person, who deserved to get blind from an accident he caused himself. As Charlie has endured Slade's arrogance and saved him from suicide, Slade turns up at the hearing, to save Charlie. The corrupted Dean is HoistByHisOwnPetard twice in front of all his students; in the prank, and at the hearing. George rats out his mates for a bribe, without getting any reward. While they don't get caught specifically, the boys who pulled the prank get probation, and you can tell the Dean is gonna do everything in his power to make their lives Hell from now on. Also, Slade told them "fuck you" for not turning themselves in once their buddies got threatened]].

* CatchPhrase: "Where's my/the drink/booze ? Flowing like mud around here."

* LaserGuidedKarma: [[spoiler:For all main characters. Slade's nephew argues that Slade was a mean-spirited person, who deserved to get blind from an accident he caused himself. As Charlie has endured Slade's arrogance and saved him from suicide, Slade turns up at the hearing, to save Charlie. The corrupted Dean is HoistByHisOwnPetard twice in front of all his students; in the prank, and at the hearing. George rats out his mates for a bribe, without getting any reward. While they don't get caught specifically, the boys who pulled the prank get probation, and you can tell the Dean is gonna do everything in his power to make their lives Hell from now on]].