Sunshine Cleaning

In Sunshine Cleaning, Amy Adams and Emily Blunt star as Rose and Norah Lorkowski, sisters who start a crime scene clean up service. With that I don’t mean a bit of spring cleaning. This involves blood, brain matter and bodily fluids. Not your everyday job, but the perfect situation around which to build this American indie. Despite the “feel good” marketing campaign there are actually very few laughs to be had. What we have instead is a well acted drama. The characters are believable, and the screenplay plays heavily on the pathos of their lives and the people they encounter in the aftermath of their job. Though with a relatively short running time, it does mean that many of the scenes and situations feel somewhat contrived. In addition, some of the decisions made by the sisters are somewhat out of kilter and unrealistic in respect of the portrayed circumstances of their lives. However, the direction is unobtrusive as we focus on Rose and Norah and the crossroads they both find themselves in their own respective lives. Adams and Blunt are certainly believable as sisters and, in a role playing their father, Alan Arkin provides his usual solid support. Acting honours though go to Clifton Collins Jr (as a possible love interest for Rose) whose performance is low under the radar and ends up stealing the film. Overall, this is an enjoyable, and at times, thought provoking film.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
Though not a real push for anyone, this is a well acted and classically quirky American indie. A good tonic for anyone with the Blockbuster blues. Rating: 6/10.