Movie Review - Flawless


Reel rating:						3/5

Reel commentary: ... Photographed in smooth looking blues, grays, and browns, the goings on have a regal look. It feels suspiciously like a remake of a film from the era it depicts; granted, it’s not. All the same, it pays homage to the debonair mannerisms of the original Ocean’s Eleven (1960) and The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), and the modern stealthy heist-iness of each film’s respective remake, The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) and Ocean’s Eleven (2001) ... full review

Movie Review

By Louis Boram

On the off chance that movie viewers have been wondering where one of the 1990’s top female cinema draws, Demi Moore, has been hiding out (she’s earned just one top billing, Half Light, 2006, in the last ten years), look no more. She’s safe—trying not to get caught breaking into same. Assuming the identity of Oxford-educated Laura Quinn in her latest leading feature, Flawless, the former brat-packer is schlepping back and forth, working a 9-5'er abroad.

On the upside, no one’s wondering the whereabouts of her more seasoned counterpart, Michael Caine. Eisenhower was the U.S. president when the Englishman began acting in the mid 1950’s. A lot has happened in the world—outside of camera’s view—since Caine stepped before it for the first of his 140-plus TV show and feature film appearances. Not the least of which is the professional fluidness with which he dependably delivers the thespian equivalent of a bases loaded single each time he takes a turn at bat. Akin to multifaceted affecting gems like Gene Hackman and Samuel Jackson, Caine may not always appear in winning productions, but far more often than not, he shines.

At 38-years-old, the unmarried Quinn (Moore) works for the London Diamond Corporation in titular city, the global distributor for the world’s diamond supply. In the company’s employ for 15 years, she’s its first—and only—female manager. Quinn has appreciated the risky gender-pioneering investment the firm’s made in her, almost as much as hers in it. Not anymore. Quinn’s been passed over five times in three years for promotions of men obviously less qualified. It’s happened again. Be it only 1960, this upwardly mobile maiden is equipped to move up one way, or another.

Mr. Hobbs (Caine) is London Diamond’s fixture janitor. A disabled man with a slight gimp to his gait, the widower looks to be at the end of his profession—if you can even call it that. Career choices be damned, this caretaker is going to do just that.

When Hobbs tactically pitches his outlandish plan to Ms. Quinn to separate London Diamond from some, and then later the sum, of its inventory, he banks on finding a sympathetic partner. He just might, as Quinn’s one-time loyalty has given way to bitterness. When the crafty Hobbs let’s Quinn in on a not so insignificant little secret—the company plans to terminate her employment—she realizes her options are indeed finite. If she can’t break through the glass ceiling through conventional hard work, her only remaining resource may be to illicitly cut through it with the London Diamond’s namesakes in hand. Partners primed, the job is on.

With the proverbial bases “juiced,” it's now merely a matter of execution. Can Moore and Caine combine to deliver for audiences that which they collusively covet for the picking? Events crystallized, serviceable is a more apt description for Flawless’ sequent maneuvers. The duo’s underhanded machinations comprise the quintessential heist movie formula, replete with a David vs. Goliath match up, corporate sleaziness, and personal motive. (“Just money?—nothing important ever is.”)

The film production pivots on a couple of impressive points, displaying sparkling facades and phonetics. The supporting cast (Lambert Wilson as Finch, Derren Nesbitt as Sinclair) capably establish the elegance the movie so naturally wants to create—gentlemen wearing well-tailored suits (London Diamond is strictly a man’s world), distinguished looking (and ever-present) cigarette useage, and sophisticated sounding English accents. In the latter’s case, Moore’s diluted British enunciation is explained away be subtly pointing out that Quinn is American born. This biographical detail translates into giving Moore authorization to regrettably rob from both accents at her uttered pleasure.

British director Michael Radford (The Merchant of Venice, 2004) composes a period piece that’s sufficiently atmospheric. Photographed in smooth looking blues, grays, and browns, the goings on have a regal look. It feels suspiciously like a remake of a film from the era it depicts; granted, it’s not. All the same, it pays homage to the debonair mannerisms of the original Ocean’s Eleven (1960) and The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), and the modern stealthy heist-iness of each film’s respective remake, The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) and Ocean’s Eleven (2001).

The risk of the robbery. The reward of getting away with it. Through it all, be it Flawless’ Demi Moore, or in the erstwhile ladylikeness of Angie Dickinson, Faye Dunaway, Julia Roberts, and Rene Russo, one woman’s steely capacity inside a man’s world.

Louis Boram

Comments

Tom Says:
July 28, 2008 at 20:26

The movie "Flawless" is seriously flawed: How did the Demi Moore character get the African Star diamond? At the beginning of the film she states that she stole it. But something is amiss with the direction and/or editing. We see Michael Caine's character return to diamond to the President of London Diamond, giving credence to his ransom demand. But we never see it stolen by Ms. Quinn! Seems an important detail has been overlooked, making this a flawed film.

DVD Information

Screen Formats: 1.85:1

Subtitles: Spanish

Language and Sound: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo

Other Features: Color; interactive menus; scene access.

Flawless (2008)