Sunshine Cleaning (www.the-usher.com)

"It was sorta a do-it-yourself thing?"

When her son Oscar (Spevack) is expelled from school, Rose (Adams) has to raise tuition for a private school. While she may only be a humble house cleaner, her on/off boyfriend Mac (Zahn) suggests that she moves into biohazard removal/crime scene clean-up to make some real money. Setting up Sunshine Cleaning with her sister Norah (Blunt), the pair start their business but as the clean ups keep coming, both Norah finds it hard to cope and Rose becomes swamped with the business, her son and her father Joe (Arkin).

With a premise of cleaning up blood covered crime scenes, you would think that ‘Sunshine Cleaning’ would be a morbid but you will be pleasantly surprised.

From the producers of the Oscar winning gem ‘Little Miss Sunshine’, ‘Sunshine Cleaning’ is a real surprise. A story of two struggling sisters who learn a life lesson by cleaning up gruesome, blood soaked crime scenes might not sound like a premise for a heart-warming comedy drama but that is what ‘Sylvia’ director Christine Jeffs and first time screenwriter Megan Holly have delivered.

The reason this story comes to life is the performances from an ensemble cast. Amy Adams is quickly making a name for herself as an actress with great talent. Easily shifting from fun, light-hearted blockbusters like ‘Enchanted’, ‘Talladega Nights: The Ballard of Ricky Bobby’ and ‘Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian’ to more challenging roles in critically acclaimed films like ‘Junebug’, ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ and ‘Doubt’, Amy Adams is a talented actress who brings Rose to life. The same can be said of the always-excellent Emily Blunt. The actress has gained acclaim for her work in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, ‘My Summer of Love’ and ‘The Young Victoria’ and as Norah, the British starlet sports a convincing America actress as she gets to grips with the more challenging role of the wayward sister.

The support for the two main female players is also good. Steve Zahn brings enough to the role of Mac, the high school sweetheart of Rose, who she is having an affair with. Clifton Collins Jr. is good as cleaning supplies store owner Winston and Alan Arkin is a joy as Joe, the sister’s father who is always looking for the next get rich quick scheme. Mary Lynn Rajskub’s Lynn is a little underwritten, needing more screen time and development to get the most out of a promising subplot. It is young actor Jason Spevack that steals every scene he inhabits however. As Rose’s slightly strange son Oscar, he lights up the screen every time he graces it and shines alongside veteran Alan Arkin.

‘Sunshine Cleaning’ is a little gem of a film. While the premise might not be one that will drawn you in, the heart felt performances and the funny and touching storyline make this a real find and a movie that will stay with you for sometime.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Widescreen 1.85:1 Anamorphic with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the transfer is good.

BONUS FEATURES

Audio Commentary featuring writer Megan Holley and producer Glenn Williamson
This two person commentary is fun and informative, giving an insight into the production of a low budget fill with a dedicated star cast. Well worth a listen.

A Fresh Look at a Dirty Business (11.17 mins)
Stars Emily Blunt and Amy Adams are joined by real life crime scene cleaners Marie Fitzgerald and Dana Hooper to talk about the movie and what it is like been real biohazard cleanup workers.

Trailers
Watch the US and UK trailers for Sunshine Cleaning

Preview
Watch the trailer for ‘Paper Heart’

OVERALL

The DVD treatment for ‘Sunshine Cleaning’ is fine for a low budget movie. The one featurette and two trailers are ok but it is the commentary that makes this a decent package.

DVD

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2009