Flawless (2008)

Good Bank Heist even if Politically Correct

My wife wanted to see this so I rented it and was prepared for a dismal show. I was surprised to see a suspensful little flick that was well made, well acted and very different in terms of execution of the heist than anythign I had seen before. The motiviations of the characters are clear and unclear but all is wrapped up in the end. I could have done without the "bad diamond company mistreats south africa" crap that was a back drop to this as well as the "women were treated poorly in corporate america" drivel but that was basically background and didn't make the movie an indoctrination film for hippies. Good film. July 20, 2008

Three and 1/2 Star Hesit Flick

Flawless is an very interesting, beautifully filmed caper. Caine and Moore (really) are both excellent in this film. Period detail and photgraphy are rich and secrets are well kept until the end. There is one fatal flaw here though - it moves at a snail's pace. While I can easily recommend this one, it does feel a lot longer than its actual running time. July 11, 2008

Big girls need big diamonds

Heist films invariably follow a formula of sorts--there's the Plan, the Execution, and the Getaway. These are the elements that provide the fun in watching capers to begin with. The cleverer these elements, the more fun. In "Flawless," the plan requires no maps, no tunneling, no gizmos, and no crew; heck, not even a getaway car. The execution is nothing more than opening an impenetrable vault, and the getaway is...well, it simply requires the elderly thief to hobble away and shuffle on home.

Not a flawless gem, but a gem nonetheless, "Flawless" is an entertaining romp through 1960s London where a clever and extremely profitable jewel heist is perpetrated by two unlikely partners in crime. Michael Caine stars as Mr. Hobbs, a long-time janitor at London Diamond Corporation, a distributor of diamonds to six continents. Mr. Hobbs will be retiring soon and would like a healthier nest egg than what his pension will provide. In same company is Demi Moore as Laura Quinn, a career-driven, Oxford-educated manager whose lacquered coiffure can't penetrate the proverbial glass ceiling despite her dedication and brains. Soon to be ousted, she's persuaded by Hobbs to be his accomplice in the theft of a mere Thermos-ful of stones, just enough to make them both rich, but not enough to make a noticeable dent in Lon Di's two-ton inventory of uncut diamonds.

There's far more to this story than meets the eye and we'd be mistaken to think that it's all about the money. Hobbs' true motivation and the cleverness of the actual heist will surprise. The film also attempts to inject some social awareness in here, what with the exploitation of S. Africa for its diamonds and the popularity of the film `Blood Diamond.' It's not for nothing that Hobbs, when speaking about his desire to enrich his underfunded retirement, remarks, "War and plunder--two reliable sources of income." These brief forays into political correctness do not impress, though, and seem oddly ill-advised since they're not dealt with in any meaningful way.

The film moves along at a nice, steady pace, neither plodding nor frenetic, and dutifully provides the requisite thrills and plot twists of a heist film. Caine is no Steve McQueen and Moore is no Faye Dunaway, but it's still an elegant and stylish film that evokes a `60s coolness, ciggy-smoking included, set to the equally cool Dave Brubeck Quartet and their "Take Five" jazz piece. As expected, Caine is a joy to watch in his cockney role (which he can probably do in his sleep). Moore, now mature and fully-clothed, is classy albeit with a British accent that comes and goes at will. Together, they're an incongruous but likeable pair, and likeability here is crucial. After all, in heist films we root for the thieves, do we not? June 14, 2008

a movie that is... flawless

London 1960s. Even after years of faithful employment and an expertise acquired over the years, Laura Quinn (Demi Moore) is denied promotion after promotion. By pure chance, the nighttime janitor, Hobbs (Michael Caine), makes her an offer she won't be able to refuse. But his plan will go further than expected.

Demi Moore looks her age, and plays the part convincingly. Michael Caine is at his best, he is the perfect man to reassure Moore's character, and is also convincing. The supporting actors were absolute gems and gave wonderful performances - even Lambert Wilson!
The directing was perfect; the cinematography and costumes brilliantly done; and the script, simply amazing.

This film shows exactly the problem with women in society - modern society as we know it today. (Did you know that women are paid 15% less than men, for the same job, no matter their expertise? This hasn't changed since the 1960s ... but I digress.)

Simply put, this is one of the greatest thrillers I've seen in a long, long time.
June 9, 2008

Not Flawless but a Good Suspense Drama

This is a well-done suspense drama, but the pace is too slow for it to be considered a "thriller". As a long-time Michael Caine fan, I enjoyed his performance, and I was pleasantly surprised at Demi Moore's believable performance as the dauntless aspirant to the upper management ranks of her company only to be thwarted by the "old boy" network (British style).

Is this a FLAWLESS suspenseful inside theft movie? No, but it's far from the worst, in my opinion. I enjoyed it because it withheld the uncovering of the final plot twists to the very end, although they were presented in a "too hurried" fashion and, therefore, lost some of their effect.

Certainly the movie has some flaws, but I liked it. I rate it 3.5 stars. June 4, 2008

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