Today’s quick review: Flawless. Repeatedly passed up for promotion, Laura Quinn (Demi Moore), the London Diamond Corporation’s first female manager, agrees to help Hobbs (Michael Caine), a kind janitor, break into the vault and steal a small fortune in diamonds. Quinn steals the combination and Hobbs uses it to get into the vault. But when the heist doesn’t go as planned, Quinn ends up as one of the prime suspects in the ensuing investigation.
Flawless is a crime drama set in London in the 1960s. Demi Moore stars as Laura Quinn, a career woman who has worked hard to get where she is, only to have her advancement blocked by the maneuverings of executives. Michael Caine plays opposite her as Hobbs, whose harmless demeanor hides a sharp mind and iron resolve. Flawless has a limited premise but plays it out well, throwing some interesting complications in an otherwise simple plan.
Flawless’ narrow focus ends up costing it. Quinn and Hobbs are the only characters of note. The supporting cast does play a role, especially in the aftermath of the heist, but their personal connection to the main characters is tenuous. And while the heist itself is satisfying, with a plausible setup and a clever mystery, there’s not much else to the story. Even Quinn’s hunt for respect is only half-resolved by the time the movie ends.
Flawless works when you’re in the mood for a straightforward heist movie with one or two twists. The movie sticks to its premise admirably, and it does a good job of maneuvering within its limitations. But it’s also missing a lot of the scaffolding that helps draw the viewer in, gambling everything on two mediocre characters and the heist itself. Fans of the genre should give it a shot. Viewers looking for a more emotional story should skip it.
For a crime comedy with a similar premise, try Mad Money or Ocean’s Eight. For another Michael Caine diamond heist, try King of Thieves.
[6.8 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780516/). I give it a 6.5 for a well-constructed plot with a few limitations.