Flawless, released by Metrodome on 18 May and directed by Michael Radford (The Merchant of Venice), should be a brilliant watch due to its more than capable cast, crime thriller storyline and stylish 1960s interiors. A heist thriller set in 1960s London, Flawless is a film about an odd duo who conspire to steal a thermos full of diamonds from the evil London Diamond Corporation. Laura Quinn (Demi Moore) is the negotiation manager at LonDi and an Oxford educated American. Despite her great experience, she is passed over for promotion six times by men of less calibre. Mr Hobbs (Michael Caine), a janitor and quiet employee of the LonDi Co. of 16 years, finds out that Quinn is about to get fired, plays on her frustrations and so convinces her to join him in his scheme to steal just enough diamonds to keep them comfortable, but not enough for anyone to notice. However, Quinn soon realises that Mr Hobbs, who is on the verge of retirement, has a grudge and will soon realise she has bitten off more than she can chew.

This film tries to re-create a sense of stylish corporate London on the verge of the Swinging Sixties, focusing on Moore’s cigarettes and red lipstick, but somehow does not achieve the same charm of recent period pieces such as TV show, Mad Men. I often felt the camera spent more time on Moore’s high heels and behind, than on the action itself. The film’s clumsy plot structure

means that throughout most of it you feel quite confused. It was the heist itself that made the least sense and events tended to happened due to pure luck rather than a carefully thought out plan. Although most movies of this kind do try to trick the audience with plot twists and turns, this film felt like it was written without an audience in mind at all.

Caine himself is like a breath of fresh air. Although this is a role he has tackled before, Caine’s portrayal of the knowledgeable working-class Londoner is both warm and sincere, although you have to wonder why he agreed to do this film. Moore’s character was a little confusing too. She is supposed to be a highly intelligent woman, who is one of LonDi’s greatest assets, however she often came across as a bit dim and a nervous wreck, not qualities you would expect of a tough diamond negotiator.

The ‘bookended’ beginning and ending is one of the worst features of the film. The film starts off with a prosthetically aged Moore telling a journalist the story of the heist and ends with it as well. This is highly unnecessary and feels corny and clichéd. Although the film sufficiently created enough tension to make me keep watching, I felt quite cheated by the predictable ending and unchallenging plot. Despite its nonsensical plot, Flawless is a lightweight and entertaining film, which should be enjoyed as such.

Words > Joanna Page