Flawless (1999)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Joel Schumacher

Writer (WGA):

Joel Schumacher (written by)

Release Date:

24 November 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Tagline:

Nobody's Perfect. Everybody's Flawless

Plot:

An ultraconservative security guard (DeNiro) suffers a debilitating stroke and is assigned to a rehabilitative program that includes singing lessons--with the drag queen next door.

Plot Keywords:

Drag | Drag Queen | Homosexual | Singing Lessons | Gay Interest

Awards:

3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Robert De Niro	...	Walt Koontz
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Rusty
Barry Miller	...	Leonard Wilcox
Chris Bauer	...	Jacko
Skipp Sudduth	...	Tommy
Wilson Jermaine Heredia	...	Cha-Cha
Nashom Benjamin	...	Amazing Grace
Scott Allen Cooper	...	Ivana
Rory Cochrane	...	Pogo
Daphne Rubin-Vega	...	Tia
Vincent Laresca	...	Raymond Camacho
Karina Arroyave	...	Amber
John Enos III	...	Sonny (as John Enos)
Jude Ciccolella	...	Detective Noonan
Mina Bern	...	Mrs. Spivak

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language and strong violence.

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo | DTS

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | USA:R (certificate #36362) | Singapore:R(A) | Singapore:M18 | Brazil:12 | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Denmark:15 | France:U | Germany:12 | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | UK:15 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Tribeca Productions

Trivia:

The line 'I'm more of a man than you'll ever be, and more of a woman that you'll ever get' is tribute to "Rent". Wilson Jermaine Heredia (Cha-Cha) played a gay drag queen called Angel in the original cast.

Goofs:

Factual errors: A hemiplegic patient has a paralysis of one side and paralysis of the face on the other side which is not the case in this movie.

Quotes:

Rusty Zimmerman: There's no romance without finance.

Movie Connections:

References One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Soundtrack:

The Name Game

De Niro predictably great, Hoffman nothing short of brilliant

This film is quite simply made by 4 things.

1. Joel Schumacher's gritty photography and a style which concentrates on realism. New York is made to look exactly as it is, you can hear every sound, see every sight and smell every smell as if you were really there. The 'look' of "Flawless" is very effective.

2. The witty and heartbreakingly real script. Rusty is both hilarious, tragic and, most importantly, believable. The same goes for Walt, who is so obnoxious and yet you are able to feel bad for his predicament. Both the characters have incredible back stories that we dont fully see or hear about, but can pretty much guess.

3. The performance of Robert De Niro. This legend of the last 30 years has given us great performances....Jake LaMotta, Travis Bickle, Max Cady....and now Walt Koontz in a highly underrated performance (in a highly underrated film). De Niro captures all the bitterness and tragedy of a man who has become his own worst nightmare without letting the film become maudling. He really throws himself into the part.

4. Finally, the casual stealing of the show award goes to Philip Seymour Hoffman in a role that ought to have been Oscar niminated. He really is a brilliant actor and so versatile that you wonder why he hasnt been a leading man for years. One day I hope he does win an Oscar because I am a huge fan and greatly respect what he has done in every film I have seen him in. Together with De Niro, Hoffman lifts the film way way above average.

All in all, a film that is made by its lively script and brilliant cast. 8/10