Review of Cleaner (2007) by Sheba L — 03 Oct 2008

The Cleaner.

Drama.

2008.

Rated: R.

Running Time: 88 minutes.

Starring: Samuel L Jackson, Ed Harris, Eva Mendes, Luis Guzman.

Directed By: Renny Harlin.

Rating: 6 out of 10.

Outline.

A crime cleaner is in a fight for his life after he cleans a crime scene that has not yet been reported.

Review.

The Cleaner may not blow your mind in terms of story but it does enough things right to get this critics recommendation. The story is based around Tom Cutler (Jackson) a crime scene cleaner. He is the guy who cleans up the mess after the investigation is over and the body is removed. The movie starts off with a brief but interesting look into the world of crime scene clean up. It goes through Tom Cutlers methods of cleaning up and the process of removing the blood and gore. The film drags in certain areas but always is working in the sense there is very little wasted film watching. With a very short run time this film gets to the core of the story quickly which saves the film from dreary plotlines that are not needed. The cleaner is a pretty appropriate title as this story is as clean as it gets with no muddy subplots that ruin the film. Tom Cutler goes about his business day by day cleaning up mess after disgusting mess. Until one fateful day when the mess he cleans up was not supposed to be cleaned up. He arrives on the scene to do his work and everything looks fine but the truth is he has been set up. The mystery and intrigue are always at the heart of this story with a who did it question always bubbling to the surface. Samuel L Jackson does an above average job of driving the story and while this role is not a stretch for him by any means he seems to be able to pull it off time and time again making it look effortless. The story unravels before you and anyone could be the person who set him up. The dialogue is standard but I like what the writers did with the film. They added Tom Cutlers personal life into the mix by having him as widowed father of one. Tom and his daughter add a real personal element to this film without tainting it with boredom. Jackson is supported nicely by Ed Harris his former partner and the always fun Luis Guzman. Eva Mendes also lends an acting hand and the four of them seem to fall into the story like puzzle pieces. Now is this story going to make you hold your breath or sit on the edge of your seat? The answer is a most certainly no as the writers although providing a crisp script lacked a lot in imagination and originality. How ever the films limited settings and solid camerawork allow the viewer to sit back and watch a nice cop drama unfold. This film will definitely appeal more to people who do not watch a lot of films as the story never really sets itself apart from other films and the ending is rather predictable. Why the ending works however is it is not a twist so crazy that it is unbelievable which a lot of these types of dramas tend to end with. Besides the unoriginality of this film it is a pretty solid watch from start to finish. In a world of stale dramas and hours of wasted film watching The Cleaner streamlines it to a pretty decent film. Give this one a chance with a solid cast and an interesting profession you will be pleasantly surprised. I give this movie my recommendation especially if you like cop dramas and prefer decent stories over mindless action.

T Factor + If you like Samuel L Jackson as an actor this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor â?? If you like lots of action for your cop dramas then this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Gone Baby Gone, or Street Kings.