Movie Review: Flawless
(by Karl Scott - April 15, 2008)
 Michael Caine and Demi Moore star as strange accomplices in a big time diamond heist flick. MC is no stranger to heist films having been in Gambit (1966), Deadfall (1968) and The Italian Job (1969). Flawless is told mainly via flashback with a few scenes taking place in the “present day” and the rest of the story in 1960.
MC plays a widowed janitor at Europe’s major diamond seller known as LonDi or London Diamond. He mops, waxes and dusts from nightfall to dawn. Demi plays an American lady trying to work up the executive ladder. She fails at every try, mainly because “it’s a man’s world”. MC talks her into a scheme to obtain the combo to the safe and he will break in to steal a thermos bottle full of diamonds that they will split.
Everything goes according to plan……up to a point. That’s the point I can’t tell you about or it would ruin an otherwise flawless review. MC is fine as the old timer out to fatten his retirement check. DM does her best to keep up. Other roles are cast with a good group of veteran actors. Production values are up to par. As heist films go this one has a pretty good “keep you guessing” plot with just enough suspense to keep things moving.
Unfortunately, the movie overstays its welcome at it’s close to 2 hour running time. The denouement after the long flashback is interesting but not as good as it ought to be. Ho Hum might be the best way to describe it.
Flawless opened to a German market in 2/07 and moved to Spain and Indonesia in September and October of last year. Its American debut is 3/28 with a Pay Per View and free viewing in some High Def markets before it makes it to the actual big screen. If it does at all.
Flawless will have as much effect on DVD as it will in the theater. I say wait for the DVD but encourage you to make up your own mind…..then do exactly as I tell you to do.
Rated 2.5 out of 4.0 carats
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