Flawless (1999) Blu-ray Review
Director Joel Schumacher’s script doesn’t quite have a fully fleshed out set of character studies for his two stars. They’re flashy and interesting shells of men, but once we start digging beneath their surfaces (Walt’s breezy enjoyment of his exalted status as a hero, Rusty’s ready steam of putdowns and invective for those who cross his path), there’s nothing more to discover: they’re both unhappy, dissatisfied individuals rather groping for something fulfilling from life that they don’t have to pay monetarily for. We don’t get any real in-depth examinations of their psyches though we see some gradual growth on both of their parts in that they can each tolerate being in the same room with one another and can allow the other’s set of acquaintances entry into their lives (a “graduation party” for Walt at the end of his therapy is one of the movie’s better scenes). Schumacher’s robbery and revenge subplot that bookends the movie and crops up from time to time throughout its running time isn’t very interesting, and with the amount of harassment going on in this building, it’s amazing that Walt wouldn’t have had his precinct investigating the beat downs that are going on. There’s an even less interesting subplot concerning neighbor Pogo (Rory Cochrane) who’s constantly dumped by his underaged girl friends and who then writes dreadful songs about their betrayals. Schumacher tries to ratchet up the drama late in the game with the hoods finally getting around to Rusty’s apartment for their search (courtesy of weasel-like apartment manager Leonard Wilcox played by Barry Miller), but unlike in his previous thriller 8MM which did tautly squeeze dramatic moments to the breaking point, they are rather sloppily handled here and not very suspenseful. The one scene at the drag club where Rusty serves as emcee/hostess and entertainer doesn’t compare to similar moments in other films where female impersonation is paramount (The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Torch Song Trilogy coming immediately to mind).
This was Philip Seymour Hoffman’s first starring role in a film, and while he goes for it in terms of wardrobe and nuanced behavior, his performance seems overly studied and actory even if it did bring him a Screen Actors Guild nomination. He’s also not a good enough singer to actually be making a living at it. Robert DeNiro gives a very good impersonation of a stroke victim, and the contrast between his strutting, popular police officer at the beginning and the almost lame and incoherent result of his health crisis later on is truly heartbreaking. He’s also quite skilled in making small improvements in his speech and physicality to suggest small gains that are worthy of celebration. Skipp Sudduth does wonderfully as Walt’s best friend who teases him about his “new” set of transvestite friends but himself grows comfortable with them over time. Of Rusty’s friends, Wilson Jermaine Heredia makes the strongest impression coming off of a long run on Broadway as Angel in Rent, another drag character. Walt’s two lady friends couldn’t be more different: Wanda De Jesus who allows him into her life as long as she gains monetarily and Daphne Rubin-Vega who carries a torch for him and eventually proves her feelings to be stalwart and true with no ulterior motives. Chris Bauer is the most effusive of the street thugs terrorizing the neighborhood, and Barry Miller also does a fine job as the mama’s boy ratting on the apartment tenants to the mob.
Oscar winners Robert DeNiro and Philip Seymour Hoffman have an acting field day with Joel Schumacher’s Flawless. Despite a less than fully developed set of character studies from its writer-director and some occasional subplots that seem completely unnecessary, Flawless does manage to poke the funny bone and touch the heart a bit. It’s not the equal either comically or dramatically to something like Torch Song Trilogy which also had a drag queen as a leading character, but it’s a serviceable little comedy-drama.
Studio: MGM
Distributed By: Olive
Video Resolution and Encode: 1080P/AVC
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HDMA
Subtitles: None
Rating: R
Run Time: 1 Hr. 52 Min.
Package Includes: Blu-ray
keep caseDisc Type:
Region: All
Release Date: 05/19/2015
MSRP: $29.95
The Production Rating: 3/5
Director Joel Schumacher’s script doesn’t quite have a fully fleshed out set of character studies for his two stars. They’re flashy and interesting shells of men, but once we start digging beneath their surfaces (Walt’s breezy enjoyment of his exalted status as a hero, Rusty’s ready steam of putdowns and invective for those who cross his path), there’s nothing more to discover: they’re both unhappy, dissatisfied individuals rather groping for something fulfilling from life that they don’t have to pay monetarily for. We don’t get any real in-depth examinations of their psyches though we see some gradual growth on both of their parts in that they can each tolerate being in the same room with one another and can allow the other’s set of acquaintances entry into their lives (a “graduation party” for Walt at the end of his therapy is one of the movie’s better scenes). Schumacher’s robbery and revenge subplot that bookends the movie and crops up from time to time throughout its running time isn’t very interesting, and with the amount of harassment going on in this building, it’s amazing that Walt wouldn’t have had his precinct investigating the beat downs that are going on. There’s an even less interesting subplot concerning neighbor Pogo (Rory Cochrane) who’s constantly dumped by his underaged girl friends and who then writes dreadful songs about their betrayals. Schumacher tries to ratchet up the drama late in the game with the hoods finally getting around to Rusty’s apartment for their search (courtesy of weasel-like apartment manager Leonard Wilcox played by Barry Miller), but unlike in his previous thriller 8MM which did tautly squeeze dramatic moments to the breaking point, they are rather sloppily handled here and not very suspenseful. The one scene at the drag club where Rusty serves as emcee/hostess and entertainer doesn’t compare to similar moments in other films where female impersonation is paramount (The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Torch Song Trilogy coming immediately to mind).
This was Philip Seymour Hoffman’s first starring role in a film, and while he goes for it in terms of wardrobe and nuanced behavior, his performance seems overly studied and actory even if it did bring him a Screen Actors Guild nomination. He’s also not a good enough singer to actually be making a living at it. Robert DeNiro gives a very good impersonation of a stroke victim, and the contrast between his strutting, popular police officer at the beginning and the almost lame and incoherent result of his health crisis later on is truly heartbreaking. He’s also quite skilled in making small improvements in his speech and physicality to suggest small gains that are worthy of celebration. Skipp Sudduth does wonderfully as Walt’s best friend who teases him about his “new” set of transvestite friends but himself grows comfortable with them over time. Of Rusty’s friends, Wilson Jermaine Heredia makes the strongest impression coming off of a long run on Broadway as Angel in Rent, another drag character. Walt’s two lady friends couldn’t be more different: Wanda De Jesus who allows him into her life as long as she gains monetarily and Daphne Rubin-Vega who carries a torch for him and eventually proves her feelings to be stalwart and true with no ulterior motives. Chris Bauer is the most effusive of the street thugs terrorizing the neighborhood, and Barry Miller also does a fine job as the mama’s boy ratting on the apartment tenants to the mob.
Video Rating: 4/5 3D Rating: NA
Audio Rating: 4/5
Special Features Rating: 1/5
Overall Rating: 3/5
Reviewed By: Matt Hough
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