Take 20: Flawless

Tuesday: Take - My "take" on a film 

"Flawless"

Browsing Netflix for film titles with the letter F, Flawless (2007) caught my eye. Michael Caine and Demi Moore together in a jewel heist? This I had to see. And I'm glad I did.

Not a fast paced thriller (after all, the thief is an aged janitor), but the story pulled me in and kept me there. I was hooked the moment Laura Quinn (Demi Moore) states, "I haven't set foot in this city as a free woman for over 40 years" then reveals a huge honking diamond (168 carets, 58 facets) and admits, "I stole it. From London Diamond."

The film continues with her story.

In 1960, the much younger Laura struggles to advance any further in her management career with London Diamond, the world's number one diamond corporation. Passed over for promotion six times in three years by men less qualified, she tries to deal with the frustration.

Enter Mr. Hobbs (Michael Caine), a night janitor who quietly goes about his work while absorbing the inner workings of Lon Di. He's aware of Laura's ambitions and disappointments. He's also aware the upper management plans to fire her, and uses that information to pull her into his plan to steal some diamonds. Just a small amount of diamonds, mind you, worth two million pounds to split between them. An amount the corporation, sole supplier of diamonds to six continents, would not miss.

His plan is flawless.

The movie, with an engaging story, strong characters, superb cinematography, was nearly flawless, too.


Notes on content:

• No sex, nudity, or violence.
• Infrequent vain references to Deity.
• And one f-word thrown in, completely out of character for that time period. It's doubtful Sir Milton Kendrick Ahstoncroft, a wealthy British gentleman, would use that word in the presence of a woman, especially in 1960.