Flawless

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Flawless

R,

1999,

1h 52m,

Comedy/

LGBTQ+

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Watchlist

42%

52 Reviews

Tomatometer

54%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

42%

Tomatometer

52 Reviews

54%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

A former security guard, Walt Koontz (Robert De Niro), experiences a severe stroke, and must begin physical therapy after leaving the hospital. Part of Walt's recovery program includes regaining his speech by taking singing lessons, and he gets paired with Rusty (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a vocal instructor and neighbor. Walt, however, is extremely homophobic, and Rusty is flamboyantly gay and awaiting gender reassignment surgery, so the two don't have an easy start to their relationship.

Critics Consensus

Robert De Niro and Philip Seymour Hoffman's Flawless performances live up to this dramedy's title; unfortunately, they're outweighed by the misguided picture surrounding them.

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Emanuel Levy

Variety

Jul 3, 2006

D

Outdated and schematic, this two-character melodrama belongs to the 1970s, when transsexuals were "novel" dramatic persona; even the gifted Philip Seymour Hoffman is defeated by the writing and direction.

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Steve Murray

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Feb 21, 2004

Its weary clichs and flat comic bits are apparently supposed to be fresh and insightful.

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David Wood

BBC.com

Apr 17, 2001

3/5

The involvement of several real-life drag queens contributes to both the exhuberence, authenticity, and sheer panache to mark something of a return to form for the idiosyncratic director.

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Chuck Klosterman

Akron Beacon Journal

Oct 28, 2023

2/4

The problem is that we really don't care about either of these people. Instead of feeling nervous, I felt bored.

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Jonah Koslofsky

The Spool

Feb 4, 2021

The more you pull at Flawless' threads, the more it unravels. It's not a Green Book level travesty, but it's plenty ill-conceived and outdated.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Jan 16, 2016

C

There's nothing flawless about this clunker.

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Hermione S

May 1, 2018

really enjoyed the performances. totally reminded me of downtown in the early 70's

Ron R

Aug 12, 2017

Kudos to the brilliant performances of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman and Robert De Niro, the story of an unlikely friendship of a heterophobic transexual and his homophobic neighbour recovering from a stroke is grounded in gritty realism and surprisingly heartwarming, making this one of Joel Schumacher's most underrated works.

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Kylo R

Jul 5, 2017

I have to resist the urge to go over-the-top here due to seeing Phillip Seymour Hoffman - who was so good in general - and was so good in this. Damn. That's a guy I do not want to be gone. But the movie itself has a few problems. Good intentions no doubt - the tolerance theme is good - but the actual plot is pretty weak. There is a weird love sub-plot with the Deniro character that doesn't hold water. But I do love PSH - and this was the good Deniro - so I'll generously give it a 6 out of 10.

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Abraham M

Jun 26, 2017

I absolutely love this film! DeNiro and Hoffman did a beautiful, realistic job. The harshness of the film pulled me in kept me engaged. Some of the criticisms about having "another" drag queen in a film, seem more homophobic than anything. Rusty was a great counterbalance to the rough delusional cop with a huge chip on his shoulder.

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Joel Schumacher

Director

Robert De Niro

Walt Koontz

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Rusty Zimmerman

Barry Miller

Leonard Wilcox

Chris Bauer

Jacko

Skip Sudduth

Tommy Walsh

Flawless: Official Clip - Rusty and Amazing Grace

2:09

Now Playing

Flawless: Official Clip - Rusty's Mother

2:12

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Flawless: Official Clip - Drag Queen Fight

1:27

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Flawless: Official Clip - Paying For Love

2:00

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Flawless: Official Clip - Dancing With Tia

2:06

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Flawless: Official Clip - Cha-Cha Likes Walt

0:52

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Flawless: Official Clip - Getting to Know Rusty

2:11

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Flawless: Official Clip - Cha-Cha Embarrasses Walt

1:17

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Flawless: Official Clip - Singing Lessons

1:09

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Flawless: Official Clip - Walt Tries to Sing

2:18

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Synopsis

A former security guard, Walt Koontz (Robert De Niro), experiences a severe stroke, and must begin physical therapy after leaving the hospital. Part of Walt's recovery program includes regaining his speech by taking singing lessons, and he gets paired with Rusty (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a vocal instructor and neighbor. Walt, however, is extremely homophobic, and Rusty is flamboyantly gay and awaiting gender reassignment surgery, so the two don't have an easy start to their relationship.

Director: Joel Schumacher
Producer: Jane Rosenthal, Joel Schumacher, Robert De Niro
Screenwriter: Joel Schumacher
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Tribeca Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 24, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.5M
Runtime: 1h 52m
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS-ES, DTS

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