Flawless (1999)
1.5/4
Starring: Robert DeNiro, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Skipp Sudduth, Wanda DeJEsus, Daphne Rubin-Vega
Rated R for Pervasive Language and Strong Violence
not to be confused with the 2007 movie with Michael Caine and Demi Moore
Who could have thought that a movie starring Robert DeNiro and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, two of the best actors now working, could have been boring? And yet, Joel Schmaker's 1999 thriller/buddy comedy, is one long slog through cliches and boredom. There's very little of interest here.
Walter Koontz (DeNiro) is as grumpy and reactionary as they come. A former security guard who foiled a bank robbery rears ago, Walt is living in a bad apartment building in New York City. Making matters worse is that on the other side of the courtyard, Rusty the drag queen (Hoffman) lives there and sings loudly with a bunch of her friends. One night, there's a violent struggle between one of the tenants and a few thugs looking for some drug money. Walt gets his gun and tries to help, but on the way, he has a stroke that leaves him paralyzed on one side of his body. Deeply ashamed, he sits in his room all day until his doctor comes and tells him that physical therapy will help him. His physical therapist, a black man named LeShaun (Kyle Rivers) tells him that singing will help him get his speech back. Unwilling to travel very far in his current condition, Walt is forced to take lessons from none other than his nemesis, Rusty. Rusty agrees under protest, but only because she needs the money. Meanwhile, a nasty drug dealer named Mr. Z (Luis Saguar) is trying to find the money stolen from him by said tenant.
The plot line of opposites attracting is as old as the hills, but it works for the same reasons that we see romantic comedies: we see two people change and grow for the better. Life isn't that simple, but then again we rarely go see movies to see real life (quite the opposite in fact). That said, this movie is a misfire of nearly epic proportions. It's the worst movie that DeNiro and Hoffman have ever been in.
It's not their fault. They give solid, if unspectacular, performances. DeNiro plays the grump who needs to be more accepting while Hoffman plays the colorful (emphasis on "colorful") foil who shows him the light. It's not that the fundamental concept is bad. It's that the script is shallow and the characters are cliches. There's nothing about Walt or Rusty that differentiates them from other characters in better movies.
The script is awful. The dialogue is bland, and the direction by Schumaker (who also wrote the script) is pedestrian. There are only a few scenes that are interesting. One is a party and the other is the climax. The former is fun, and the latter is suspenseful.
It's clear that Schumaker's inspiration for this movie is "Rear Window." He wants us to be involved with the lives of the other tenants and the characters that float in and out of the story. The problem is that the supporting characters aren't interesting either. The only one who shows any life is Walt's friend Tommy, played by character actor Skipp Sudduth. He caught my attention more than Walt or Rusty. The subplot of the drug dealers chasing down the money is not only by-the-numbers and dreadfully boring, it makes little sense.
Trust me. DeNiro and Hoffman deserve better than this, And they have much better movies because of it. Rent one of them instead.
Starring: Robert DeNiro, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Skipp Sudduth, Wanda DeJEsus, Daphne Rubin-Vega
Rated R for Pervasive Language and Strong Violence
not to be confused with the 2007 movie with Michael Caine and Demi Moore
Who could have thought that a movie starring Robert DeNiro and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, two of the best actors now working, could have been boring? And yet, Joel Schmaker's 1999 thriller/buddy comedy, is one long slog through cliches and boredom. There's very little of interest here.
Walter Koontz (DeNiro) is as grumpy and reactionary as they come. A former security guard who foiled a bank robbery rears ago, Walt is living in a bad apartment building in New York City. Making matters worse is that on the other side of the courtyard, Rusty the drag queen (Hoffman) lives there and sings loudly with a bunch of her friends. One night, there's a violent struggle between one of the tenants and a few thugs looking for some drug money. Walt gets his gun and tries to help, but on the way, he has a stroke that leaves him paralyzed on one side of his body. Deeply ashamed, he sits in his room all day until his doctor comes and tells him that physical therapy will help him. His physical therapist, a black man named LeShaun (Kyle Rivers) tells him that singing will help him get his speech back. Unwilling to travel very far in his current condition, Walt is forced to take lessons from none other than his nemesis, Rusty. Rusty agrees under protest, but only because she needs the money. Meanwhile, a nasty drug dealer named Mr. Z (Luis Saguar) is trying to find the money stolen from him by said tenant.
The plot line of opposites attracting is as old as the hills, but it works for the same reasons that we see romantic comedies: we see two people change and grow for the better. Life isn't that simple, but then again we rarely go see movies to see real life (quite the opposite in fact). That said, this movie is a misfire of nearly epic proportions. It's the worst movie that DeNiro and Hoffman have ever been in.
It's not their fault. They give solid, if unspectacular, performances. DeNiro plays the grump who needs to be more accepting while Hoffman plays the colorful (emphasis on "colorful") foil who shows him the light. It's not that the fundamental concept is bad. It's that the script is shallow and the characters are cliches. There's nothing about Walt or Rusty that differentiates them from other characters in better movies.
The script is awful. The dialogue is bland, and the direction by Schumaker (who also wrote the script) is pedestrian. There are only a few scenes that are interesting. One is a party and the other is the climax. The former is fun, and the latter is suspenseful.
It's clear that Schumaker's inspiration for this movie is "Rear Window." He wants us to be involved with the lives of the other tenants and the characters that float in and out of the story. The problem is that the supporting characters aren't interesting either. The only one who shows any life is Walt's friend Tommy, played by character actor Skipp Sudduth. He caught my attention more than Walt or Rusty. The subplot of the drug dealers chasing down the money is not only by-the-numbers and dreadfully boring, it makes little sense.
Trust me. DeNiro and Hoffman deserve better than this, And they have much better movies because of it. Rent one of them instead.
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