The acting alone makes Flawless essential. In desperation, he goes to Rusty for singing lessons, this hardcore conservative policeman asking a transvestite for help. Walt struggles to come to terms with his stroke, agonised by its debilitating effect on his ability to walk and talk. Beneath the gay repartee and camp high jinks, he is lonely and sad. He has a sharp tongue, a dazzling wit and a deep desire to become a woman. Rusty (Hoffman) lives in the apartment looking down on Walt's, where he rehearses his club act with the other girls (guys). He collapses on the stair and is rushed to hospital. A drug dealer's heavy mob are tearing the place apart in search of stolen money. Walt takes his gun and goes out to investigate. One night there are shots and sounds of fighting on the floor above. He knows everyone and, since his wife died, feels comfortable there, except for those faggot fruitcakes in the room upstairs who make such a racket with their music and nonsense. Walt (De Niro) lives in a cheap hotel in the bad quarter of New York. He works in the mainstream and yet has an edgy reputation, as if secretly yearning for low-budget independence. He started life as a costume designer before becoming a writer (Car Wash, The Wiz) and director. Joel Schumacher has made disappointing movies (Dying Young, Batman & Robin) and surprisingly good ones ( Falling Down, A Time To Kill). Philip Seymour Hoffman and Robert De Niro exceed all expectation - which for them is saying something. But the performances aren't average either. A drag queen saving up for gender reassignment and a stroke victim who happens to be a retired cop are not your average Hollywood heroes.
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