Flawless

I disagree... this film is far from being flawless.

Rarely has anyone ever accused Demi Moore of being a great actress. Sure, she has delivered a few star turns worthy of note ("Passion of Mind" was her best role)-- but the majority of her performances are rather blah. In "Flawless", one gets the distinct impression that the film would have been far better with virtually any other actress (Madonna excluded) at the helm. In fact, I think I remember hearing that Scarlet Johansson bagged this role when the film was first announced a couple of years ago. Shame.

The story is told in flashback, as Laura Quinn (Moore) sits for an interview and confesses to having stolen a mega-karat diamond from the company she worked for in the 1960's…

That very male-chauvinistic company keeps passing her over for a deserved promotion... and Laura is angry. She dreams of strolling out the front doors with diamonds glued under her long red fingernails.

Michael Caine plays a janitor in the building who approaches Laura with a proposition. He has a plan -- a heist that supposedly involves "very little risk". His hope is to enlist Laura, who is now, very much, a disgruntled employee with nothing to lose.

This first half of this film's premise is reminiscent of the great 2001 flick, "The Score", starring Ed Norton, Robert De Niro and Marlon Brando. However, the execution is inferior. While the tension is ever-present, it never rises to the levels one would hope for. The plot is also far too reliant on coincidences, incredible timing and absurd circumstances -- it stumbles over the line of plausibility on too many occasions.

However, at about the half way point, “Flawless” takes a sharp turn. The heist does not occur quite as the viewer might expect. This represents the films strongest moment. The mystery is quite intriguing and will have you pondering the wondrous possibilities. Rather predictably though, the answers will leave you wanting and the resolution will leave you chuckling.

I’d have been able to forgive the silly plot if the performances had been solid. However, the greatest flaw in "Flawless" lies at the feet of Demi Moore. She does not embody any part of a 1960's businesswoman or, for that matter, a woman who would embark on such a dangerous heist. Her accent is inconsistent. Her dramatic confidence quivers as if she has been reading her own reviews. It just doesn't strike me as her type of role.

Michael Caine stars as Michael Caine in a performance that is utterly mailed in. He is as serviceable as usual, but this is not the type of movie where he bothers to bring his A-game. Caine has famously admitted to doing certain films for paychecks and this is absolutely one of them.

“Flawless” feels like it was made for Lifetime Women’s Network – it may just end up there before long. I cannot envision a major release for this movie. It will come and go faster than Demi Moore’s career peak. I like heist movies – perhaps because I’ve secretly always wanted to try one. If I ever do muster up the onions for such an endeavor, I guarantee that it will be more thrilling than this little ditty.

© Written by TC Candler

Director

Michael Radford

Cast

Demi Moore
Michael Caine
Joss Ackland

Running Time

108m

Rated

PG

Official Website

n/a