Flawless (1999)

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

Director:

Joel Schumacher

Writer:

Joel Schumacher

Stars:

Robert De Niro, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Barry Miller

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Walt Koontz, a homophobic guy, ends up with paralyzed vocal cords because of an unfortunate stroke. His therapy includes receiving singing lessons from a neighbor who is not only openly flamboyant but also a pre-op transgenderist. Both of them are equally prejudiced; Koontz against homosexuals and the neighbor against close-minded straight people.

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Plot Keywords:

stroke | neighbor | singing lesson | singing | police | 

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Taglines:

Nobody's Perfect. Everybody's Flawless

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive language and strong violence

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 November 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Makellos

Filming Locations:

211 Avenue A, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$1,590,155 (USA) (26 November 1999)

Gross:

$4,485,485 (USA) (3 March 2000)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tribeca Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The line "I'm more of a man than you'll ever be and more of a woman than you'll ever get" was first uttered by Antonio Fargas as 'Lindy' in Car Wash.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

Leonard Wilcox: Do you know the phrase, "two closed ears and one closed mouth"? Well, that's my motto and I follow it. To hear noting. To See nothing. To speak nothing.
Walt Koontz: Eh, I don't care what goes on in this rat-trap. Who do you think you're kidding, you got the biggest ears, the biggest nose, and the biggest mouth of anybody I ever met. Which makes you the biggest asshole...

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Crazy Credits

During the credits, DeNiro and Hoffman sing the "Name Song" together while staying in character.

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Connections

References The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)

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Soundtracks

"Half Breed"
Written by Al Capps & Mary Dean
Performed by Nashom Benjamin

User Reviews

Awesome Acting 101

I am sorry to say that I saw this movie for the first time today. You know they say hind sight is 20/20. I remember when the previews for the movie were out and I thought that looks like a really great movie. It was an incredible movie.

De Niro is exceptional as the homophobic former hero cop with a speech impediment due to a stroke. Hoffman is wonderful as the singing drag queen. The chemistry between the characters is true to life and heartfelt. When they come together, we see that their dissimilar lives are not so dissimilar at all. They are both overcoming some of the same trials and tribulations just over different things. They develop an amazing bond that will help them through the tough times.

A Flawlessly Beautiful Movie.