TheCelebrityCafe.com – Cindy Ferraino
Before Philip Seymour Hoffman graced the big screen with his portrayal of Capote, Hoffman came out shining onto the drag queen scene in ?Flawless.? Directed by Joel Schumacher, Flawless hit the movie theaters in 1999.
Rusty Zimmerman (Hoffman) clashes daily with neighbor Walter Koontz (Robert DeNiro). A play by the book cop, Koontz banters and bashes Zimmerman with his homophobic zingers. Through the open windows and doors of the seedy apartment building, the foul language between these two amazing characters bleeds hatred, bigotry and just plain nasty.
One night during an altercation with another neighbor, Walt falls down the steps and remains motionless at the bottom of the stairwell. With Rusty and the rest of his drag queen entourage watching from the street, Walt is rushed to the hospital. The vulnerable side of Walter Koontz shines through when he has to deal with his paralysis and feeling inadequate.
After a home visit from the doctor, Walt begins rehab therapy. The only friend he has in the world, his therapist, suggests voice lessons to improve Walt?s condition. Without a strong voice to utter his belligerent comments, Walt asks Rusty for help. Reluctant but broke, Rusty agrees to teach Walt.
The two forge a relationship that ultimately, in the end, has both characters learning to respect the differences between them.
If you are looking for a gritty, yet comical drama to heat up your Saturday night, pop in ?Flawless.?