Flawless (1999 film)

Flawless is a 1999 American crime comedy-drama film written and directed by Joel Schumacher, and starring Robert De Niro and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Decorated and retired security guard Walter Koontz lives in a downtown apartment complex, where he is in constant conflict with drag queen Rusty and his friends.

He awakens with the right side of his body paralyzed resulting in poor speech and posture, and giving him a limp that requires him to use a cane.

Walter begins to gain confidence and progress towards resuming a normal life, his speech showing considerable improvement.

Walt tells Rusty that a former colleague of him and Tommy abused his friendship by hitching a ride to the airport, after having stolen a fortune from their employer.

Rusty responds with his own confession: He had taken Mr. Z's money after the police had vacated the building to pay for her surgery, meaning the singing lessons had been a front.

Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade of "C" on scale of A+ to F.[6] Hoffman was praised by critics for his ability to avoid clichés in playing such a delicate role.

"[7] Roger Ebert highlighted Hoffman as "one of the best new character actors", remarking that he was "able to take a flamboyant role and find the quiet details in it".