Flawless (1999)

An ultraconservative police officer 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 & 4 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 cop, ends up with paralyzed vocal cords because of an unfortunate stroke. His therapy includes singing lessons from a neighbor who is not only flamboyantly gay but also pre-operative transgender. Both of them are equally prejudiced; Koontz against non-heterosexuals and the neighbor against closed-minded straight people.

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Plot Keywords:

homosexual | gay interest | gay lead character | gay republican | looking at oneself in a mirror | 

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Taglines:

They couldn't like each other less or need each other more.

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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 USA:

$1,590,155, 28 November 1999, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$4,485,485, 5 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

Rusty's line, "It costs a lot to look this cheap", is also a personal quote attributed to Dolly Parton.

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Quotes

Walt Koontz: How can a man cut off his balls, how do you do that?
Rusty Zimmerman: Because, I'm a woman trapped in a man's body.
Walt Koontz: Eh, you're ain't no woman.
Rusty Zimmerman: I'm just not *your* idea of a woman, Walt.
Walt Koontz: You're nobody's idea of a woman.

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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 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

fun, poignant, with great performances

I saw this film on a plane and thoroughly enjoyed it, particularly the performance of Philip Seymour Hoffmann whom I found spectacular as a lonely, vulnerable, witty drag queen reaching out to recent stroke victim, homophobic DeNiro. The two of them were marvelous - and the end of the film had an outtake of Hoffmann and DeNiro practicing "The Name Game" that alone was worth the entire movie. There were certainly stereotypes among the minor characters but the plot was good and so was the acting. My acting teacher used to describe plays/films like "Virginia Wolff" as love stories. Using his criteria of two people coming together, sharing experiences and touching each other's hearts - Flawless certainly qualifies as an atypical love story.