Flawless
London, 1960. Laura Quinn is the lone female executive at London Diamond Corporation. She is frustrated as her talents are rarely acknowledged and her less-experienced male co-workers are promoted ahead of her. She is shocked, but intrigued, when the mild-mannered night janitor, Mr. Hobbs, approaches her with a daring but simple plan to steal a handful of diamonds from the vault. Laura agrees to help, but she is soon in over her head. And it is not long before insurance investigator Mr. Finch has his eyes on her.
The film box office disappointment against its respectable budget of $20.0M, earning $6.8M globally (-66% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its innovative storytelling within the crime genre.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Flawless (2007) demonstrates strategically placed narrative architecture, characteristic of Michael Radford's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 48 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.7, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Laura Quinn works as the only female executive at London Diamond Corporation in 1960, surrounded by sexist colleagues who dismiss her despite her competence and dedication. She's trapped in a glass ceiling, passed over for promotion.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Laura is officially denied the promotion she earned, with the position going to a man. This devastating professional rejection is the catalyst that makes her vulnerable to Mr. Hobbs' proposition.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Laura makes the conscious decision to participate in the heist. She crosses the line from law-abiding executive to criminal, entering the world of the heist., moving from reaction to action.
At 54 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat The heist succeeds - the diamonds are stolen over a holiday weekend. False victory: they've pulled it off, but now the real danger begins as the theft is discovered and investigation intensifies., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 81 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Mr. Hobbs is identified and dies (or disappears), taking the secret of the diamonds' location with him. Laura faces losing everything - the diamonds are unrecoverable and she may still be caught., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 86 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Laura realizes or discovers where Hobbs hid the diamonds (or the true nature of his plan). The revelation about Hobbs' real motivations - he wanted to expose the company, not just steal - recontextualizes everything., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Flawless's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Flawless against these established plot points, we can identify how Michael Radford utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Flawless within the crime genre.
Michael Radford's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Michael Radford films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Flawless represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Michael Radford filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional crime films include The Bad Guys, Batman Forever and 12 Rounds. For more Michael Radford analyses, see The Merchant of Venice, The Postman.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Laura Quinn works as the only female executive at London Diamond Corporation in 1960, surrounded by sexist colleagues who dismiss her despite her competence and dedication. She's trapped in a glass ceiling, passed over for promotion.
Theme
Mr. Hobbs, the janitor, makes a comment about how the company treats its workers as invisible and disposable, establishing the theme of institutional injustice and the invisibility of those deemed "lesser."
Worldbuilding
Establishment of 1960s London Diamond Corporation, Laura's daily humiliations at work, the vault's security systems, Mr. Hobbs' position as night janitor, and Laura being definitively passed over for managing director in favor of a less qualified man.
Disruption
Laura is officially denied the promotion she earned, with the position going to a man. This devastating professional rejection is the catalyst that makes her vulnerable to Mr. Hobbs' proposition.
Resistance
Mr. Hobbs approaches Laura with his audacious plan to steal diamonds from the vault. Laura initially resists and debates the moral and practical implications. Hobbs reveals his motivations and the feasibility of the plan.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Laura makes the conscious decision to participate in the heist. She crosses the line from law-abiding executive to criminal, entering the world of the heist.
Mirror World
Laura's deepening partnership with Mr. Hobbs represents the mirror world - a relationship built on mutual respect and equality, contrasting sharply with her treatment at the corporation. He sees her value.
Premise
The planning and execution of the heist. Laura and Hobbs work together, utilizing her inside knowledge and his access. Tension builds as they navigate security, timing, and the mechanics of stealing millions in diamonds.
Midpoint
The heist succeeds - the diamonds are stolen over a holiday weekend. False victory: they've pulled it off, but now the real danger begins as the theft is discovered and investigation intensifies.
Opposition
Police investigation led by insurance investigator intensifies. Laura must maintain her composure under interrogation. Suspicion falls on various employees. The net tightens as investigators get closer to the truth.
Collapse
Mr. Hobbs is identified and dies (or disappears), taking the secret of the diamonds' location with him. Laura faces losing everything - the diamonds are unrecoverable and she may still be caught.
Crisis
Laura processes the loss of her partner and contemplates her situation. She faces the dark night of potentially having committed this crime for nothing, while still under suspicion.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Laura realizes or discovers where Hobbs hid the diamonds (or the true nature of his plan). The revelation about Hobbs' real motivations - he wanted to expose the company, not just steal - recontextualizes everything.
Synthesis
Laura navigates the final confrontation with investigators, secures her position, and executes the endgame. The full scope of Hobbs' plan becomes clear, and Laura must decide what to do with the diamonds and her knowledge.
Transformation
Laura in the present day (framing device reveals story was told in flashback), transformed from the compliant executive into someone who took control of her destiny. She escaped both the company and the heist with her freedom and dignity intact.