FLAWLESS

FLAWLESS is the story of Laura Quinn (Demi Moore), a driven executive at a diamond company in 1960 London, who finds herself frustrated by a “glass ceiling” after years of faithful employment. Mr. Hobbs (Michael Caine), the nighttime janitor at London Diamond, is virtually invisible to the executives working there, but over the years has amassed a startling amount of knowledge about how the company runs. Observing Laura’s frustration, he convinces her to help him execute an ingenious plan to steal a hefty sum in diamonds. Unknown to Laura, Hobbs plans go even farther than he’s letting her know.

Although FLAWLESS is yet another “heist” movie, it has a few unique twists that deepen the plot and build suspense. The strongest element is most certainly the acting. Michael Caine brings a brightness and an energy to the screen, and Demi Moore is excellent portraying a younger businesswoman in 1960’s London. The story’s simplicity keeps the movie moving along well enough to allow the viewer to overlook some rather unbelievable “holes” that exist and that would otherwise challenge a viewer’s “suspension of disbelief.” The movie is also impressive in how the director and cinematographer take us back to a very believable 1960’s London. The set design, locations, and especially the costuming leave no room for the viewer’s imagination to doubt where and when they are watching the events of the story unfold.

The movie contains no sexual content, no nudity, and no violence. However, Laura is a heavy smoker and makes the use of cigarettes look very sophisticated and appealing. Many of the characters in the movie are seen constantly smoking, and there is a mild amount of alcohol use, but no drunkenness or abuse.

Despite that, the movie is humanistic in worldview with clear anti-biblical elements. For instance, Hobbs is revealing his plot to steal the diamonds and quotes a scripture from the Bible (“the last shall be first and the first shall be last”), and then follows the quotation with the comment that the Scripture is “a load of rubbish.” This happens again by Hobbs later with another biblical reference.

In addition, the whole premise of the movie is based on stealing and the justification of that crime because the company had wronged the two main characters. This is unashamedly in contrast to biblical teachings and principles and should be the area where moviegoers use the greatest discernment in allowing younger children to view the film. The lying and deception that take place in order to attempt the heist are also contrary to sound morals and teachings. And again, these elements are presented as not only justified, but try to pull the audience into rooting for the success of the thieves.