Something I would not have thought possible was achieved in this film. Tykwer (the director) somehow managed to relay the genuine sense of smell visually.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer is one of the most imaginative films ever made in the serial killer genre.
It follows the life of Jean-Baptiste, an orphan who has developed a near-perfect sense of smell, and is affected and motivated by smells on an almost sexual level. I won't go too far into the plot as the sense of discovery is one of this film's strongest suits.
The second major benefit of the film is Tykwer's direction. The visual flair that he established in Run, Lola, Run is present here, and has matured and become more focused.
Acting throughout is fine indeed, with Hoffman and Rickman playing their roles to the hilt, with John Hurt's narration spot on. Of particular note is Ben Whishaw as Jean-Baptiste. He posses two of the most expressive eyes in years, and he uses them perfectly. You don't hate him at the end of the film (at least I didn't) and feel almost a sense of pity and understanding. That is an achievement for any actor portraying a serial murderer.
If you are expecting a gore fest - don't look here. While the body count is fairly high (13? 14?) there is virtually no blood. The murders are practically antiseptic for the most part - which makes them all the more disturbing.