by Frank Calvillo
Cinapse Pick of the Week
Exactly what it sounds like, the Pick of the Week column is written up by the Cinapse team on rotation, focusing on films that are past the marketing cycle of either their theatrical release or their home video release. So maybe the pick of the week will be only a couple of years old. Or maybe it’ll be a silent film, cult classic, or forgotten gem. Cinapse is all about thoughtfully advocating film, new and old, and celebrating what we love no matter how marketable that may be. So join us as we share about what we’re discovering, and hopefully you’ll find some new films for your watch list, or some new validation that others out there love what you love too! Engage with us in the comments or on Twitter or Facebook! And now, our Cinapse Pick Of The Week…
Remember 90s Demi Moore? The A-list actress who spent most of the decade in a bevy of star vehicles which played on her tough girl image such as Striptease and G.I. Jane? It seemed that with the odd exception here and there, most of Moore’s films had a habit of bypassing critical acclaim and box-office gold, only to become guilty pleasures from a bygone era.
Some years later, following a self-imposed hiatus, Moore has carved out a place for herself in a number of smaller-scale films which, unlike her 90s projects, have offered the actress a chance to explore interesting character parts in a diverse group of movies. Roles like the serial killer-chasing detective in Mr. Brooks, the washed-up, alcoholic singer in Bobby, the Wall Street player in Margin Call and the stealth marketer in The Joneses have showcased Moore as an adventurous actress, rather than a star persona.
Adding to this continuously watchable list of latter-day roles is the 1960’s-set mystery Flawless, co-starring Michael Caine and directed by Michael Radford.
In Flawless, Moore plays Laura, the lone female executive of the London Diamond Corporation. A tireless employee, Laura is fiercely dedicated to her job, yet stands idly by as she keeps getting passed over for every promotion that opens up. On the opposite end of the company is Hobbs (Caine); an elderly janitor nearing retirement who also operates as the secret eyes and ears of the building. Upon learning that Laura is about to be fired, Hobbs proposes a plan to steal a small collection of diamonds from company’s most secure vault in a bid for revenge. Laura reluctantly agrees, but the plan quickly takes an unexpected turn leaving both Laura and Hobbs trying to keep one step ahead of both the authorities, and eventually, each other.
The plot’s mystery is solid, yet fun and, largely thanks to the era it’s set in, with Flawless’ script offering up just enough turns to keep audiences guessing without feeling overwhelmed. Those watching Flawless may be fooled by its simplistic nature, only to find a variety of hidden clues scattered throughout a truly well-written story. Radford’s direction is subtle, yet potent. A key scene after the heist has taken place is so exquisitely shot, combining expert camera moves with a surprising plot twist, it stands as a shining example of the director’s talent and the story’s cleverness.
For an independent feature, Flawless is a stunning film to look at. The production design rivals some 60s classics like The Thomas Crown Affair, and in particular the sequences shot inside the actual corporation itself remain a perfect example of the architecture of the day. Meanwhile, the diamonds themselves command most every scene they’re featured in, that they might as well have gotten credit on the film’s poster.
Flawless features quality supporting work from Lambert Wilson as the detective assigned to recover the stolen diamonds, Joss Ackland as the President of the company and a pre-Game of Thrones Natalie Dormer as a present-day reporter.
But it’s Caine and Moore’s show all the way and the duo carry things off without a hitch; boasting great chemistry in their scenes together and showing a true investment in their characters. Caine has a field day playing a man invisible to the world, yet maintains a cunning interior. His playful slickness combined with a lovable everyman quality is just what the character requires and which only an actor of Caine’s skill can deliver.
Apart from an unnecessary, yet serviceable, British accent, Moore is pitch perfect playing a woman with a quiet rage and steadfast will to conquer in a man’s world. When the plan goes South, Laura maintains a quiet desperation under a shaky coolness. Its interesting to see Moore play a handful of her scenes with sparse dialogue, relying solely on her face and eyes to convey the intensity Laura has hiding underneath her.
Watching Flawless for the first time, I recalled those old reruns of Alfred Hitchcock Presents I used to watch as a child and which I occasionally revisit on DVD. Those self-contained mysteries were always so entertaining for their emphasis on the thrilling and mysterious aspects of everyday life. Flawless echoes those episodes in its cleverness as a mystery, but more so in its characters; two individuals from decidedly different ends of the spectrum whom the society of the day has little-to-no use for and are brought to life brilliantly by two of the cinema’s most reliable actors.
