Sunshine Cleaning
(2009)Kiwi director Christine Jeffs (Rain, Sylvia) makes her American debut with this comedy drama. Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, Sunshine Cleaning centres on Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams), once the high school cheerleading captain who dated the quaterback, now a thirty something single mother working as a maid. Her sister Norah (Emily Blunt), is still living at home with their dad Joe (the brilliant Alan Arkin), a salesman with a lifelong history of ill-fated get-rich-quick schemes.... More
Desperate to get her son into a better school, Rose persuades Norah to go into the crime scene clean-up business with her to make some quick cash. In no time, the girls are up to their elbows in murders, suicides and other grisly situations.Hide
-
Directed by Christine Jeffs ('Sylvia', 'Rain')
Starring Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin, Steve Zahn, Jason Spevack, Mary Lynn Rajskub
Written by Megan Holley
Cinematographed by John Toon ('Syliva', 'Rain', 'Broken English')
Flicks Review
BY Andreas Heinemann Flicks Writer
The producers of indie smash hit Little Miss Sunshine return with their latest project, this time directed by local girl done good, Christine Jeffs (Rain). It sets out to tell a funny story set in a world of personal despair and successfully walks that cinematic tight rope, finding just the right balance of dark laughs and feel good drama.
Its quirky, eccentric brand of humour and outlandish premise could have easily missed the mark if not for the efforts of the women involved. Amy Adams (Junebug) is incredible and elevates every scene she is in, shifting smoothly between the tragic and comical in the blink of an eye and solidifying her claim to being Tinseltown’s most versatile, consistent actress. Meanwhile, Emily Blunt delivers her best big screen performance to date and Jeffs’ emotionally sensitive direction never lets the focus leave the increasingly lovable characters and the maturation that underpins their personal journeys. Alan Arkin has a limited role but milks his grizzly character for all the laughs it’s worth.
It may not be the uber-indie crossover smash that Little Miss Sunshine was but it features the same knowing humour and emotional understanding of marginal characters. Plus, the Amy Adams master class makes for a great cherry on top of this perfectly sweet (but not sickly) piece.
The Peoples' Reviews
Reviewed & Rated by
Your rating & review
Rate / Review this movieRate and/or review
Sunshine Cleaning
BY BrionyJae superstar
This film is just one of those hidden gems, that if you haven't heard about it, it's less likely that you'll seek it out to watch. But honestly? It's definitely worth it. More than anything, I like the way that the themes and messages aren't forced down your throat, but subtly placed around, waiting for us to figure things out. Emily Blunt and Amy Adams both do a fantastic job, creating really compelling characters that we can connect with. Really well put together film :)
BY Mark superstar
Wanted to like this a lot, but only found it OK although girls like it a lot. The director forced some scenes through far too quickly, probably to shorten screen time, so a lot of it is more disjointed than it should have been. Bet a real good scene or two end up in the DVD deleted scenes.
BY Marty superstar
The screen presence of the three leads, and the subtle and orderly direction, help pull the movie out of what may have otherwise been an ordinary picture.
Showing 5 of 7 reviews. See all reviews
The Press Reviews
72%
of critics recommend.
Rotten Tomatoes Score. More reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
The material might have promise as a black comedy, but its attempt to put on a smiling face is unconvincing. Full Review
Kiwi director Christine Jeffs (Rain, Sylvia) has crafted a film that is touching, original and, yes, funny. Full Review
Could have been a little more darkly comic in places but the performances are superb. Full Review
Amy Adams and Emily Blunt are two highly attractive, naturally funny actresses on the cusp of stardom so their pairing here as two lost souls is genius. Full Review
A smartly done morality tale that couldn't be more in sync with these troubled times. Full Review
All in all, it's a mess, and much as Ms. Blunt pouts, Ms. Adams twinkles, and Mr. Arkin growls, there's nothing they can do to clean it up. Full Review
Amy Adams and Emily Blunt are a winning combination, taking commercial cleaning to a whole new level. Full Review
With Arkin's cantankerous fatherly presence casting a shadow over proceedings, it's a cinematic crime to let Sunshine Cleaning languish in unsatisfactory-ending land, but that is precisely what happens. Full Review
Sunshine Cleaning gets an A for Amy Adams. Injecting some heartfelt, three-dimensional zest into the wispy, two-dimensional story, she spares this copycat indie’s blushes and scores a winning combo with Blunt. Full Review
Director Christine Jeffs, who previously helmed "Rain" and "Sylvia," tries to strike a balance between the yarn's dark currents and offbeat comedy, but the result is often uneasy, with the humor receding as things progress. Full Review
Care to comment?