Flawless

Rating:
Summary: Offbeat movie with a point
Review: 'Flawless' is an offbeat story about Walter Koontz (Robert De Niro) an ex-cop who suffers a stroke and loses partial ability to speak. In an effort to regain some of his speech capabilities it is recommended to him that he take singing lessons. So he decides to ask his neighbor Rusty (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who is a female impersonator, to give him singing lessons. This is an unlikely pairing because Walter is a belligerent homophobe.

This film was written and directed by Joel Schumacher. His story, though peculiar, makes some powerful points. This is a story about hatred, bigotry and reconciliation. Walter learns through his disability who his friends really are, and who they are not. It seems that the people he hates treat him a lot better than the people he thought he loved. Ultimately, he is able to look past his prejudices to find the human elements that make him and Rusty not so different after all.

This was an excellent character study of both main characters, giving a lot of insight into the motivations and lives of each. Unfortunately, the story meanders too often to irrelevant characters and scenes that don't really contribute much (like the Gay Republicans). Schumacher would have been better to concentrate on the relationship between Walter and Rusty rather than digressing so frequently into Rusty's relationships with his friends.

De Niro was outstanding in this film. Not only was he excellent in the emotional portrayal of a man having to deal with a sudden debilitating stroke, but he was very realistic in his portrayal of the physical disability itself. The combination of his struggles to do the simplest of tasks and the obvious look of anguish and frustration on his face was poignant and affecting.

Hoffman brought a lot of emotional energy to his part, and his imitation of a drag queen was passable, though somewhat forced and unnatural. Wilson Jermaine Heredia, who played Cha-Cha, the winner of the Flawless contest, was a much more convincing queen.

I rated this film a 7/10. This is a good film that helps us understand that the remedy for the fear wrought of our differences is understanding, not hatred. In that respect it makes an important contribution. If cross dressing and blatantly gay themes put you off, perhaps you should defy your inclinations and see it.

Rating:
Summary: Don't bother, go and watch some paint dry !! zzzzzZZZZZZ
Review: .
If I could give this film NO stars I would.

This is 1 of the worst films I've ever seen - I'm actually proud of myself for staying awake throughout the whole movie.

I only bought this movie because the bloke I bought it off said he'd sell it to me for a specaial price (He must have seen me coming (I'm a complete muppet) & I don't think he could have sold any copies).

I'm actually thinking of using the dvd as a drinks coster.

It's a [bad,bad,bad] movie, its got 1 hell of a rubish storyline - I cant say this strongly enough it was "bad" - If your going to throw your money away throw it in my direction. It's the sort of film I wouldn't even give to my worst enemy.

Robert Deniro usually stars in some great films, I think he must have done this film because he lost some sort of bet or for a laugh or maybe he was fed up of staring in good film & wanted a change.

Heres some advise for Mr Deniro "READ THE SCRIPT BEFORE YOU SIGN THE CONTRACT"..

If you want to watch some good Deniro films heres a few - "Analyze This", "Meet The Parents", "The Score", "Casino" & "Heat".But Whatever you do don't get this film.

Rating:
Summary: A Study In Humanity
Review: A retired, conservative New York City policeman and a drag queen manage to overcome some significant barriers between them, to form an alliance for their mutual benefit in "Flawless," written and directed by Joel Schumacher. In his apartment building, Walter Koontz (Robert De Niro) suffers a stroke while coming to the aid of some neighbors who are trying to elude a gunman; two people are killed in what turns out to be a matter concerning some money stolen from a local drug dealer. Walter ends up with his right side paralyzed, barely able to walk, and his speech impaired; which is one of the major obstacles he must learn to overcome. He is encouraged to try singing lessons in an effort to learn how to speak again. To that end, he enlists the help of a neighbor, with whom he had heretofore been at odds, a drag queen named Rusty Zimmerman (Philip Seymour Hoffman). "Busty Rusty," as he is billed at the club where he works, is saving for a sex-change operation, and can use the extra money, so he accepts the job. This leads to an unlikely bond between Walter, a man who values his independence, and Rusty, a tortured soul who wouldn't wish his life upon anyone. Rusty can identify with the sense of isolation Walter is feeling from being unable to do for himself any longer; he understands his self-pity, and helps him try to get past it: "I've been to that pity-party myself," Rusty tells him. Meanwhile, the tension throughout the building remains high; the drug dealer is convinced that his money is being kept by one of the residents, and the constant presence of his hired goons becomes a menace to everyone who lives there. Ultimately Walter and Rusty become involved in it, which leads to a climax that pointedly illustrates the magnanimity of the human spirit. De Niro, as expected, turns in a sterling performance here; he is so physically convincing, shading Walter's disability with such finesse, that you forget that this is an actor playing a role. There is no De Niro on the screen; this is, in fact, a man named Walter Koontz. Hoffman, as well, turns in a brilliant performance, imbuing Rusty with every nuance; he aptly conveys his subtle anxieties and the rancor that surrounds him, and with which he must live, every day of his life. Skipp Sudduth does a good job, also, as Walter's friend, Tommy, who must work through his own confusion in dealing with Walter's situation, and the people with which he now finds him involved; before the stroke, drag queens were definitely not a part of their immediate circle of friends. The supporting cast includes Barry Miller (Leonard), Christopher Bauer (Jacko), Daphne Rubin-Vega (Tia) and Karina Arrovave (Amber). Schumacher has deftly crafted a character study that examines diversity and proffers the rewards of a symbiotic existence. The message is that no one is flawless; we're imperfect creatures living together in an imperfect world, and if we can only get beyond ourselves and our prejudices, we just may find that gold at the end of the rainbow. "Flawless" is not without it's own flaws, either; some of the scenes involving the other drag queens and some of the criminal elements are somewhat overplayed at times, but that's a minor complaint. This film is deeply felt without being sentimental, and sheds some light on the human condition. It holds up a mirror to all of us, and asks the flawless among us to step forward.

Rating:
Summary: well meaning but awkward drama
Review: A small film filled with laudatory intentions and high-powered star performances, "Flawless," is, regrettably, better in its individual parts than as a whole. This most opposite of opposites-attract love stories features a homophobic stroke victim and a less-than-gorgeous drag queen who forge an unlikely friendship as neighbors in a rundown apartment located in a crime-infested section of New York City.

In the early part of the film, writer/director Joel Schumacher fills in the backgrounds of this retired cop and this struggling chantreusse, drawing parallels between their seemingly alien worlds, intercutting, for instance, between the subdued ambience of a straight dance club and the raucous atmosphere of a no-holds-barred transvestite stage performance. As the two neighbors brush up against each other in occasional random encounters in hallways and elevators, we see the seething hatred that comes from the fear of the unknown and the inexplicable that routinely divides human beings one from another. Then Walter Koontz is felled by a stroke which leaves him paralyzed on one side and virtually without the ability to speak. On a doctor's advice, Walter swallows his pride and asks Rusty to give him singing lessons to help him regain his speech.

Thus, the stage is set for a couple of characters who intitially feel they are worlds-apart in their lives, interests and values, to discover the common humanity that lies beneath the surface and actually ties them together. The stroke, as the great leveler, makes Walter, in particular, cognizant of the struggles Rusty has had to undergo as a result of his very noticeable "difference."

If "Flawless" had stuck to this two-character format it might have been a more powerful film. Two elements weigh it down, however. One is the overly familiar and predictable arc the film travels; we simply know well in advance where this story is taking us. More serious are the constant diversions in the form of superfluous subsidiary characters and obscure subplots that keep pulling us away from the movie's center of gravity - which are the dynamite performances of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Robert DeNiro who invest both their tricky roles - one dealing with a physical handicap, the other the flamboyance normally associated with the drag queen stereotype - with a subtlety and humanity that could easily have been lost in a welter of method-actor hamminess and hyperbole. Instead, both actors - especially Hoffman - rivet our attention in a way that few of the other elements in the film do. Particularly annoying are a routine drug-dealing subplot and an "action movie" denouement of astounding inappropriateness and stupidity. In a way too, the film is rather schizophrenic in its portrayal of gay people. On the one hand, the drag queens are all made to seem fun and likeable, but, on the other, they also all fit the cliche of homosexuals often presented to the outside world. In fact, the film expends no effort in according similar sympathy to "straight acting" gays, particularly in a scene in which the queens are confronted by a group of gay Republicans in suits who want the "ladies" to tone down their flamboyance for the upcoming gay pride parade. Thus, in attempting to make an important observation about elements of homophobia lurking in the gay community itself, Schumacher, ironically, becomes guilt of the same crime himself.

"Flawless" is worth seeing for the performances of the two lead actors, for its admirable call for tolerance and understanding and for its occasionally incisive encounters between these two very appealing misfits. However, for a far less contrived, far more convincing examination of this subject, check out the Cuban film from a few years back, the delicious "Strawberry and Chocolate." That film achieves the type of thematic unity and gripping emotional power "Flawless," despite all its good intentions, never really manages.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Performances
Review: As usual, DeNiro gives a fine performance. Outstanding is Philip Seymour Hoffman as a drag queen. The movie teaches us not to judge others too quickly. When the chips are down we may be surprised to discover who our real friends are and who has been using us. A film well worth seeing.

Rating:
Summary: This COULD have been a beautiful picture.
Review: Flawless is set up as a comparison of Rusty and Walter--both feel trapped in bodies which, for different reasons, do not feel like "home." Both are involved in unhealthy relationships, and are forced to deal with that cold truth each in his way. From those parallels COULD spring a truly moving story of self-discovery and broadened awareness of common humanity.

What happens instead seems to be that Flawless sinks into a celebration of drag--of caricaturing roles both expected and unexpected, without concern for the subtle humanity of the persons behind the masks. Are all New York Police officers sensitivity-challenged jocks? Are all hispanic New Yorkers drug addicts and gangsters? Are all women helpless pawns to the whims of the men around them? Are all gay men either bitchy drag queens or stammering Republicans? (We won't even begin to examine the view this film seems to have of transgenderism.)

DeNiro and Hoffman, excellent character actors both, offer performances which, extracted from the banality of this script, would have been career points. Their relationship is what this film SHOULD have been about; the dead canary and the kicked-over motorcycle should, in my view, have been left on the cutting room floor. If you can sit patiently through the mind-numbing plot tangents, you may just glean enough from Flawless to feel it was worth your time.

Rating:
Summary: Entertainment With A Difference
Review: Great story, great characters, superb acting, amazing direction and flawless cinematography. From the highs and lows of the characters to the absolute amazing performances of these individuals, I believe it is one of my favorite movies. Yes, I believe it's true. I'm neither gay, macho or a drag queen. I just love good movie characters, and this one hits the bulls eye!

Rating:
Summary: Flawless is PERFECT
Review: Great story, great characters, superb acting, amazing direction and flawless cinematography. From the highs and lows of the characters to the absolute amazing performances of these individuals, I believe it is one of my favorite movies. Yes, I believe it's true. I'm neither gay, macho or a drag queen. I just love good movie characters, and this one hits the bulls eye!

Rating:
Summary: Oh. My. God. Over the top terrific.
Review: How on earth did this movie get made? It's so offbeat, such improbable fodder for the movie mill of Hollywood, so, so, so.... So over the top in every way. Two very special and talented actors hold down the story. DeNiro plays a homophobic cop who is trying to recover from a debilitating stroke; he starts by taking singing lessons from his neighbor, played by the incomparable Philip Seymour Hoffman, a pathetic drag queen who is trying to save up enough money for a sex change operation.
Well. You can imagine the looks DeNiro gives him, the comments, the eye-rolls, as Hoffman vamps or slumps around in a kimono or wig or feathered scarf. Really, really good stuff. You suspect DeNiro will emerge from this encounter as a more tolerant man, and you would be correct - but that's not the end of the tale.
There's another whole plot line about drug deals and stolen money that comes up against the gay community and the drag queens, prostitutes of all three sexes, the cops (both honest and dis) - and when the goons come to call, you fear that these people you've come to care about will come to a sad fate.
I won't say more. Just don't miss it.

Rating:
Summary: DEFINTELY NOT "FLAWLESS"
Review: I anticapated to see this film a few months ago upon learning that a member of the emerging dance act,The Ones,had a prominent supporting role and that a friend of mine whose an affilate of The Ones was an extra.What made me anxious to see this movie
wasn't only the apperances of those two but the fact that Robert DeNiro-THE Robert Deniro(!)-starred in it and Joel Schumacher directed it.More than anything,I was amazed that a film with such star power could be released so quietly by a major studio(MGM).

So I finally copped the DVD of "Flawless" and let's just say that it's now no big secret why this film was swept under the rug so quickly.
"Flawless" is the tale of a retired homophobic cop(DeNiro) who after attempting to save a girl from getting murdered is paralyzed and must take speech thearpy from his much hated,
flamboyant,gay drag queen neighbor(Phillip Seymour Hoffman).
So overall,it seems like this movie is supposed to tackle themes of tolerance and homophobia.But...

The script is not there and "Flawless" is anything but.
"Flawless" comes off very cheesy and unformed.It's a wonder why such a prestigious an actor as DeNiro would work with such a flubbed script.And one can't help but notice the tired,striking gay male sterotypes.(Come on,four "queens" singing Slyvester's "You Make Me Feel Mighty Real"...that's not sterotypical?)I thought this movie was supposed to challenge prejudices about homosexuality.
If that's not all,the movie drags and is rather unintresting in many parts.

The 2 star rating is for DeNiro because I'm a DeNiro fan and he can make even a stunted film like this work at times and because
Phillip Seymour Hoffman gives an entertaining performance as struggling drag queen,Rusty Zimmermann.Plus(as I noted above),
Nashom Benjamin of The Ones does a good performance as Rusty's
drag queen pal,"Amazing Grace" and I saw that friend I mentioned
too!

Other than that,"Flawless" is a very FLAWED,mediorce,semi-entertaining film that should be kept under the rug.