Christine Jeffs Directs Sunshine Cleaning
Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin, Clifton Collins, Jr. Star
Jun 22, 2009
Sunshine Cleaning, like many films of its kind, has been given the dread label "quirky" that means everything and nothing all at once. First of all, it's largely touted as a "dark comedy," which it is not. Despite some humorous moments, it is a drama with human stories at its center, namely those of the Lorkowski family. The movie may have a hard time knowing what it wants, but to be fair, the plight is the same for its characters.
An Only-Slightly Dysfunctional Family
Rose (Amy Adams) works for a cleaning service and sleeps with her married ex-boyfriend Mac (Steve Zahn). She used to be the head cheerleader in high school; he was on the football team. She struggles to believe her daily affirmations ("I am powerful"), but instead harps on a future that never materialized as she raises her son by herself. Her sister Norah (Emily Blunt) is not so much disappointed by her life as she is lost and directionless. Unable to hold down a job, she lives at home with their father (Alan Arkin) and delights in being the "bad" influence on Rose's son Oscar, telling him scary stories and buying him temporary tattoos that say, "Li'l Bastard."
Starting Your Own Bio-hazard Business
When Oscar ends up needing to go to private school after consistently getting in trouble at school (he's a little unusual), Rose has to come up with the money. Mac, local law enforcement, gets her the connection to stop cleaning houses and start cleaning crime scenes. Once she employs Norah to help her, they take the long way around, learning the hard way how things are supposed to be done. Helping out in a big way is Winston, the man who runs the cleaning supply store. He's quiet but patient, particularly with eight-year-old Oscar.
Addressing the Past and Embracing the Future
The two sisters do a great job initially with the new business. The family's past is marred with sadness, revealed as the film progresses. The work lets Norah find a way to come to terms with her memory, and Rose starts to feel genuinely good about herself for the first time in years. One of the film's best scenes has Rose explaining to her old (critical and privileged) high school friends what it is she does now. The pride she takes in her work is evident--her eyes positively sparkle with enthusiasm--and suddenly she finds the ability to let the past go. It's underplayed and nicely moving.
Adams and Blunt the Stars of the Story
The two stars of the film are exactly that--both Adams and Blunt do a wonderful job. Adams reigns in her doe-eyed gushing naivety, but retains her winning sweetness. Blunt manages to score sympathy for a seemingly lost girl, also expertly masking her British accent. Adams proved her range with Doubt, but it's worth noting her ability to tone down her oft-bubbily sincerity.
While Sunshine is clearly Rose's movie, Blunt is essential in support as Norah. Her character is fleshed out when she tracks down a victim's unknowing daughter (a superb Mary Lynn Rajskub). Norah's intent is to tell her about her mother's death, but smothered by confusion, she stalks and then befriends her. These scenes are riveting, but they do not end well. Norah's good intentions fair no better in separate events near the end of the film, but they do eventually propel everyone into taking responsibility for themselves.
Realism in Writing
Sunshine Cleaning takes a glimpses at the lives of a realistically written family. They fight a (repressed) heavy past each day, and all three characters' ability to embrace the future makes for a promising end. These are well-written, well-acted characters set against an unusual backdrop (crime scene cleanup), but it merely entertains as their conflicts continue to rear their ugly heads until they are resolved.
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