Review of Sunshine Cleaning (2008) by Elizabeth M — 27 Aug 2010

A slice-of-life movie that is more about the journey than the destination. Although I found it to be charmingly offbeat, ironic, and poignant, it is not for everyone. I would recommend it to indie fans, and patient viewers willing to wait out the rough spots to find the hidden gems of wisdom scattered throughout.

It may be too slow for some people, and the humor is tempered with an almost palpable melancholy. There are still bright moments of obvious comic relief and subtle irony. What really struck me were the more silent moments in between made all the more powerful by Amy Adams and Emily Blunt.

You can really relate to the characters. Adams does a genuine heartbreaking performance and I was really impressed with Blunt, she was equally tragic in her feigned indifference. The basic concept revolves around these two women taking up the unsavory business of cleaning up after crime scenes(mostly suicides).

It gives you an idea on how various people cope with death. So, if you enjoy dark comedy combined with character-driven films that spend time on touchy topics, then this may be right up your alley. Give it a try when you have time to yourself, you might be pleasantly surprised.

(BTW this is on Netflix instant).