A wonderful film! It's really funny but also very moving. Adams and Blunt are terrific! I didn't want it to end.

Grade: 9/10 (A-)

told ya you would like it

As much as I want to see this, I can't imagine it being better than ADVENTURELAND. You should have went to see that, Mike.

I prefer Adventureland, but obviously Mike would see this first, seeing as it stars one of his favorite actresses and the trailer impressed him.

questions on the movie....

I really don't think I would have liked that as much. I'd rather support this, especially since of the two it's the underdog at the Box Office. And of course because I really, really wanted to see this. Adventureland is more of a DVD movie for me.

Eh I wasn't really into it. Worthwhile for the performances, not much else.

I didn't like how two random girls can just start cleaning up crime scenes without a permit/liscense, training, etc., and without the police knowing and partly controlling who's doing it. Just a real stretch that the movie completley relies on.

Didn't like the Steve Zahn thing. Seemed like most of Adams' self-depreciation was from not being married yet or "chosen" by this guy. Between that and her classmates all being pregnant housewives, the heaven stuff, and the family themes, there's definitely a right wing twinge here. Of course that's neither a good nor bad thing... I won't criticize a film for not following my views, but anyways.

The Winston storyline on the other hand made me lol. It felt like the real actor dropped out at the last second, so they just found some random tech dude on the set and said "Hey, wanna be in our movie?" Wins the award for most random/strange love interest in a film

The lesbian nurse Chloe/Blunt storyline... it worked while it lasted, but it felt so left in the air. Both the lesbian part of it and in general. I'm not sure what it added to the film.

Arkin and the kid felt been-there.

Overall, fairly middling indie. 2.5/5

Clearly, because you missed the whole point of the film. It all rested on/explored

Wow I can't believe I didn't connect that, wtf. Brain = mush

C+

Definitely enjoyed the performances, however I just think the film falls flat far too many times when the camera leaves the sisters. Also many aspects of the film just feel out of place and are just thrown in there to emphasis a point we already know. For instance the chocolate in the nappy part of the baby shower.

Watched it again. I'll stick with the rating I initially gave it. It's such a wonderful little film, especially if you're a fan of the leads. Adams and Blunt are great. I love Blunt's character.

I'm a fan of both, but hardly found anything in this film to be impressed with. Despite all the cliches and predictable -and worse- unnecessary 'turning-point' that have been thrown into the plot (lighting the candle to burn the house? seriously?), it was still okay to watch. There were also few things that, IMO, the film got them right. But then came the toilet scene. Arrgghhh! C+

Wonderful wonderful movie. I was into it from beginning to end. Adams and Blunt were terrific. I was really surprised about the latter and I couldn't decide which one was better. They worked perfect as sisters. This is the type of movie I really love. A- for now but I could see it going higher over time.

Sunshine Cleaning is a wonderful film in that you can connect with the characters easily. The film follows sisters Rose and Norah as they begin their own crime scene cleanup company. While it is a brand new gig for them it also brings back memories of their past and test some of their prior concerns. The film's core however isn't the cleaning buisness but more of the connection of a small family. The acting across the board is wonderful including Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin, and a very strong supporting role from Clifton Collins Jr. One of the film's moments near the end involving the sisters' mother in a movie role adds a lot of emotion and depth to the meaning of the film as well. A wonderful treat. ***

B+


Sunshine Cleaning is a really enjoyable film that works completely thanks to its wonderful cast. Pairing Amy Adams and Emily Blunt (two of my favorite actresses in business at the moment) was a terrific idea. Both are as great as ever in the film. Each gets moments to shine on their own. Adams as a caring mother who feels inadequate when compared to her former classmates and always in search for a great relationship with her hopes being blown over and over and Blunt as the unreliable sister with an identity crisis and a great feeling of guilt for her mother's suicide. the two really nail their roles. Their best moments, however, are when they are interacting. Both just play off each other so well that it's a joy just watching them on screen. Alan Arkin's supporting turn is also very solid and adds well to the film's offbeat quirkiness.

The plot itself is alright, but nothing to be excited over. The themes of having achieved little in one's life or the guilt over a relative's death have been done many many times in the past and this is neither the best nor the worst take on these topics. I also wasn't really fond of the film's ending which seemed a bit abrupt and somewhat of a copout and Clifton Collins Jr.'s love interest, Winston, seemed really out of place here (though I normally like the actor). But the chemistry between the two leading ladies more than makes up for this film's flaws and create a very comforting warmth that can be felt in each of the film's moments.