It would be overpraise to propose that Flawless reviews itself with its title, but... how about "supremely decorous"? It is, at any rate, a film that merits a grateful salute from audiences weary of being beaten about the ... more »head and shoulders in pursuit of an engrossing caper movie. A plot to make off with a fortune in gems from England's premier diamond company unfolds without explosions, vrooming vehicles, or rapid-fire shootouts. It's like a feature-length variation on those sly, soft-spoken Alfred Hitchcock Presents episodes of the '50s, with the patient accumulation of mood, detail and character leading to wry twists and satisfying revelations. We are in 1960 and a London not yet disposed to swing. Laura Quinn (Demi Moore), the lone female officer of London Diamond Corporation, is smarter and more capable than her male colleagues, but that doesn't deter the company from promoting them over her while profiting from her talents. This has long since gotten old, so when Mr. Hobbs (Michael Caine), the mild-mannered night janitor, enlists her in a scheme to fill his thermos with two million pounds' worth of diamonds from the vault, she listens. Suffice it to say that the vault is penetrated according to plan--and then the real tension sets in. Things are not what they seem, even to those supposedly in the know (us, for instance), and distrust springs up between the conspirators as they find themselves under close scrutiny by a steely investigator (Lambert Wilson). All this is intelligently scripted by Edward A. Anderson (a maiden effort) and directed by Michael Radford with a crisp, unostentatious eye; the cold interiors of the Lon Di headquarters, generically oppressive on first sight, take on a nuanced familiarity as the place where, for the most part, Laura Quinn spends her life. Demi Moore--scarlet lips in a black-and-grey world--admirably catches Laura's not-quite-smothered ambition and frustration without breaking her cover, as it were. Michael Caine couldn't be better as Hobbs, an invisible man in plain sight (how many viewers fail to notice his first appearance in the film?); he's the master of his trade, but you knew that. There's a framing story, set more or less in the present, which seems to be an obligatory bow to feminism but sets up a tease or two of its own, then adds yet another twist to the proceedings. --Richard T. Jameson« less
Sharon F. (Shar) from AVON PARK, FL Reviewed on 7/18/2023...
I was very impressed with both Demi Moore and Michael Caine in this drama/suspense movie. I kept wondering how did they do it. And there are a couple of twists that will blow your mind.
0 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
K. K. (GAMER) Reviewed on 2/10/2016...
Complete garbage!
1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Amanda D. (sophiesperspective) Reviewed on 2/13/2013...
A movie with a message
I must say I was quite impressed with this movie. Excellent acting, filming, directing, script, wonderfully executed, and you are completely taken in. I love a movie that makes you think. This one did. At least, it made me think. It is, however, rated PG-13 for brief strong language for a reason. I believe they cursed two or three times in the entire movie, every time was strong. If it was not for the language it could easily be PG.
While the plot itself was wonderful the best part came at the very end of the movie. I was, to be completely honest, shocked at the final message the movie sent to its viewers (mentioned below under "spoilers"). I absolutely recommend seeing this movie.
WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD.
The final message of the movie shocked me because the entire film had, in a sense, been about a woman making it in a man's world. At the end of the film we hear that the woman actually never discovered herself until after she got out of the business world and stopped trying to "prove" herself to herself and others. She discovered who she was by helping others outside of "work." It was a refreshing message, and to have that delivered after such a great plot and story was very memorable and impacting.
Jean W. from JORDANVILLE, NY Reviewed on 5/25/2011...
With the acting talent in this movie, it should have been better, but it is good enough to watch more than once, but it is not a keeper.
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Linda C. from CORVALLIS, OR Reviewed on 12/25/2010...
Love Caine, as always.
1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Janice J. (dizzheart) Reviewed on 9/9/2009...
More than just a caper movie. Demi Moore is a hard working, smart, extremely capable female executive who smokes too much, but who woudn't after learning that the years of hard work and sacrifice she has put into her job mean zip to the all-male elite of her firm? She'll never make partner there and it will all have been for nothing. Michael Caine is the old, lame, practically invisible janitor who senses her frustration and targets her as his assistant in the diamond heist of the century. Except there's more to it than all that; motives are hidden and characters reveal unsuspected qualities as the tale progresses. I enjoyed this movie very much; I found it engrossing right to the end.
5 of 5 member(s) found this review helpful.
Movie Reviews
Flawless
Mrs. Magoo | California, United States | 07/06/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Review from [...]
Laura Quinn, living in 1960s London, had to work harder than any man to get her prestigious job at the world's most famous diamond corporation, simply because she was a woman. When Mr. Hobbs, the building's janitor, gives her the information that the company is planning on firing Laura simply for being a smart woman, Laura is enraged.
It is because of her anger and shock that she agrees to help Mr. Hobbs steal a few diamonds from the vault. The amount will be so small that the company won't even notice, but it'll turn a tidy profit for the two of them.
Imagine Laura's surprise when, the morning after the robbery was supposed to take place, the vault is completely empty! Thousands, if not millions of dollars worth of diamonds were taken, and, as you can imagine, the corporation's insurance company is less than willing to pay for them.
As a full-on investigation takes place, Laura is forced to solve the mystery by herself. She won't turn herself or Mr. Hobbs in, and Mr. Hobbs won't tell her anything. Laura must use her own wits to discover how and why the seemingly impossible robbery took place.
I absolutely LOVED Flawless! The plot is clever and unique, with twists that keep the watcher on the edge of his/her seat. I was surprised this movie didn't get more marketing and attention; it was fabulous."