One of my favorite books is Perfume by Patrick Suskind. My friend A told me about it and I've read it a couple of times. It's a charming little story (sarcasm) about a very bizarre serial killer in 18th century France. The writing is beautiful, the concept is really different, and the use of words to create the obsession of the killer is amazing. Now, not everybody in my book club liked it; it's a bit gruesome, but I highly recommend it.
Anyway, "they" made a movie out of a book that seems not likely to transfer well to the screen. For example, the killer spends years of his life (kind of) meditating in a cave. When I heard the movie was being made, I didn't understand how it would be made. As it turns out, I don't think they did it very well. Some of the big scenes in the book are cut, which happens for good reason, but what is left doesn't hang together very well. If I hadn't read the book, I think I would have been lost. Plus the music (sweeping and cloying) sucks.
The best thing in the movie is Ben Whishaw, who plays the killer. He is creepy intense, and a great actor. He was in Bright Star this year, also playing an intense personality. Check him out in either movie.
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