Sunshine Cleaning is a 2009 dramedy film starring Amy Adams and Emily Blunt. Directed by Christine Jeffs and written by Megan Holley, the film premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2008. It was purchased by Overture Films for distribution and opened in limited release in the United States on March 13, 2009. The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 25, 2009.

Plot

Former high school cheerleading captain Rose Lorkowski (Adams) is a thirty-something single mother who cleans houses for a living. Wanting to send her trouble-making eight-year-old son Oscar (Jason Spevack) to a private school, Rose decides to take the advice of her married lover (Steve Zahn) and get into the "lucrative" business of crime scene cleanup. Rose convinces her disillusioned, underachieving sister Norah (Blunt) to join her in the enterprise, which she calls "Sunshine Cleaning." The sisters begin to find meaning in their function to "help" in some way in the aftermath of a loss, just as the job stirs up memories of their own mother's suicide. Their priorities and goals tested, Rose and Norah face hard challenges as they strive to improve their lives.

Cast

* Amy Adams as Rose Lorkowski

* Emily Blunt as Norah Lorkowski

* Alan Arkin as Joe Lorkowski

* Mary Lynn Rajskub as Lynn

* Eric Christian Olsen as Randy

* Jason Spevack as Oscar Lorkowski

* Kevin Chapman as Carl Swanson

* Steve Zahn as Mac

* Clifton Collins Jr. as Winston

Production

The filmmakers have said in interviews their story is based on a 2001 National Public Radio All Things Considered report about two women in the Seattle suburbs who started a biohazard removal/cleaning service.

The entire movie was filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The entire storyline takes place in Albuquerque as well.

Release

Sunshine Cleaning was produced by independent film company Big Beach. On February 26, 2008, Variety reported that it was purchased by Overture Films for distribution. It received a small-scale release on March 13, 2009.

Critical reception

Sunshine Cleaning received positive reviews from critics:

Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 74% positive rating based on 152 reviews. On Metacritic, the film had an average score of 61 out of 100, based on 32 reviews.

It received 3 out of 5 stars in The Times, saying "Given the subject matter and the sheer volume of putrefying human remains, it's remarkable that the movie still bobs along on a seemingly unquenchable current of sentimental optimism".

In Rolling Stone, where it got 3 out of 4 stars, film critic Peter Travers said, "This funny and touching movie depends on two can-do actresses to scrub past the biohazard of noxious clichés that threaten to intrude. Adams and Blunt get the job done. They come highly recommended."

The Los Angeles Times also stated that "on the surface, Sunshine Cleaning, about a small-time crime scene cleanup crew in a crumbling corner of Albuquerque, is an offbeat and oddly endearing drama, leavened with just the right amount of comedy to even things out".

Awards

See also

*Cleaner

References