FLAWLESS (DVD/ST&WS/ORIGINAL THEATRICAL TRAILER) DVD

Flawless
Can a homophobic former rent-a-cop find happiness learning to sing with a man in a dress? That's the big question in this comedy-drama. A retired security guard (Robert De Niro), deeply conservative and set in his ways, falls victim to a debilitating stroke. His doctors prescribe an extensive program of physical therapy once he's released from the hospital, including singing lessons to help him regain his full powers of speech. As it turns out, there's a vocal instructor living next door to the guard, so he signs up only to discover that his new teacher is a flamboyant drag queen awaiting a sex-change operation (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Written and directed by Joel Schumacher, Flawless also stars Wilson Jermaine Heredia and Daphne Rubin-Vega, both of whom first gained notice in the Broadway musical Rent, as well as Rory Cochran and Barry Miller. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Cast Robert De Niro as Walt Koontz Philip Seymour Hoffman as Rusty Zimmerman Barry Miller as Leonard Wilcox Christopher Bauer as Jacko Skipp Sudduth as Tommy Walsh Wilson Jermaine Heredia as Cha Cha Nashom Benjamin as Amazing Grace Scott Allen Cooper as Ivana Rory Cochrane as Pogo Daphne Rubin-Vega as Tia Wanda De Jesus as Karen Joey Arias as

Crew Sarah Knowles - Art Director Eli Richbourg - Associate Producer Mali Finn - Casting Caroline Baron - Co-producer Amy Sayres - Co-producer Daniel Orlandi - Costume Designer Michael Steele - First Assistant Director Joel Schumacher - Director Mark Stevens - Editor Neil Machlis - Executive Producer Bruce Roberts - Composer (Music Score) Jan Roelfs - Production Designer Declan Quinn - Cinematographer Jane Rosenthal - Producer Joel Schumacher - Producer Leslie Pope - Set Designer Gary Alper - Sound/Sound Designer John Leveque - Sound Editor Tony Milch - Sound Editor Joel Schumacher - Screenwriter

Flawless
After the back-to-back box-office failures of Batman and Robin (1997) and 8MM (1999), filmmaker Joel Schumacher retreated to a lower-budget, more personal style of project by writing and directing this character-driven comedy-drama. Schumacher uses a heavy hand with his plot, cramming in cliches such as a drug deal gone sour and a supporting cast of New York eccentrics that are straight out of central casting. However, the substance of his tale is in the relationship that develops between stroke victim Walt (Robert De Niro) and drag queen Rusty (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and it's here that the director's talent shines once again. Certainly, the delightful character interaction that forms the basis of Flawless (1999) can be attributed in great part to a pair of uniquely gifted performers. Hoffman, all gentleness and grace, finds the fractured soul inside an outrageous, flamboyant bon vivant, eschewing the hysteria with which so many other modern actors would have played the part. Opposite him, De Niro employs his great mechanical skill to convincingly mimic the mannerisms of the semi-paralyzed, even finding humor there, which is a bold and courageous choice. But credit must be given to Schumacher for crafting the scenario, choosing his leads well, and letting them shine instead of overwhelming them with the gloss and visual wizardry of his most recent films. Despite periodic forays into hand-wringing, over-the-top melodrama, Flawless is a promising and welcome return to substance for a filmmaker who appears to be back on track. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
 

Philip Seymour Hoffman: Screen Actors Guild, Best Actor (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, Spanish Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish Sound Processing: 5.1: 5 full-range channels. Includes 3 for the front speakers, 2 surround channels for rear speakers, & 1 low-frequency effects (LFE) channel to carry deep bass effects 2: PCM stereo Additional Features: Collectible booklet Original theatrical trailer DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1: Theatre Wide-Screen MPAA Rating: R DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 111 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 0. Scene Selections 1. Logo/Title/Neighbors [4:44] 2. Different Makeup [1:23] 3. Two to Tango [2:44] 4. "Femmes Fatales" [4:06] 5. The Hit/The Stroke [4:10] 6. The Hero Returns [2:45] 7. Amber's Ashes [1:26] 8. Concerned Doctor [2:44] 9. Flawless Contest [2:49] 10. A Friendly Visit [3:42] 11. Reaching Out/Threat [2:52] 12. "Welcome to Fairyland" [3:24] 13. "No Brother Theresa" [3:21] 14. Facing the Music [5:50] 15. Getting Intimate [4:52] 16. Kicked When Down [3:54] 17. "Baby" [2:35] 18. Drinks & Stories [3:31] 19. "The Boyfriend" [3:29] 20. Poker Pals [1:49] 21. Free Dance [4:42] 22. "Synthesis" [2:56] 23. Swearing on Mother [3:03] 24. "Happy Graduation!" [4:18] 25. "A True Hero" [3:01] 26. Confession Time [4:14] 27. Flowers for a Lady [3:15] 28. "A Good Friend" [2:28] 29. Heeled Heel [4:30] 30. Acts of Bravery [3:58] 31. "He's My Sister" [2:04] 32. Name Game/Credits [5:47]