Sunshine Cleaning
Encyclopedia
Sunshine Cleaning is a 2008 comedy-drama
film starring Amy Adams
and Emily Blunt
. Directed by Christine Jeffs
and written by Megan Holley, the film premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival
on January 18, 2008. It was purchased by Overture Films
for distribution and opened in limited release in the United States on March 13, 2009. The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 25, 2009.
) is a thirty-something single mother, working full-time as a maid. Her underachieving sister Norah (Emily Blunt
) lives with their father Joe (Alan Arkin
), and is fired from her job as a waitress. After the school expels Rose's son Oscar for his erratic behavior, she is told she must put him on Attention Deficit Disorder medication or send him to a private school. Unable to make enough money with her current job, Rose asks Mac (Steve Zahn
), her ex-boyfriend during their high school years and her married lover, for advice. Mac recommends a crime scene cleanup
job, and with his connections as a police officer, he gets Rose and Norah into the business.
At first, the sisters poorly perform their job; carelessly handling the hazardous materials by throwing them into dumpsters instead of properly disposing of them in an incinerator. They then get the necessary tools from Winston (Clifton Collins, Jr.
), a one-armed storekeeper of a shop for cleanup material. The sisters name their cleanup business "Sunshine Cleaning" and they start making progress with their business reputation growing. The sisters begin to find meaning in their function to "help" in some way in the aftermath of a loss, just as the job stirs up memories of their own mother's suicide. At the same time, the members of the family deal with their individual problems. Rose encounters some of her former high school classmates and is embarrassed by the state of her position in life. After an encounter with Mac's pregnant wife in a gas station, Rose realizes that Mac will never leave his marriage, and ends their relationship. Norah meets and has a possible lesbian relationship with Lynn, the daughter of a woman whose house she and Rose cleaned up, unbeknown to Lynn. Joe begins to sell shrimp, hoping to raise enough money to buy a pair of expensive binoculars that Oscar wants for his birthday.
One day, an insurance company calls for "Sunshine Cleaning's" presence, giving "Sunshine Cleaning" the potential to obtain a breakthrough reputation. Unfortunately for Rose, a baby shower
is on the same day, with all of her high school classmates attending. She asks Norah to clean the house alone until she can catch up. Norah's attempt to clean the house brings up a disastrous result as she accidentally burns down the house. The burning of the house tarnishes "Sunshine Cleaning"'s reputation and the cleanup business is forced to pay a debt of $40,000. With "Sunshine Cleaning" out of business, Rose is forced to go back to being a maid. Meanwhile, Joe's shrimp plan goes awry as all the stores and restaurants he approaches refuse to buy his shrimp. Joe did not realize when he purchased the shirmp that no legitimate business would be willing to take the health risks involved in buying from a guy selling seafood out of the trunk of his car. Norah reveals to Lynn about her mother being dead, and Lynn becomes frustrated because she questions whether Norah was truly interested in her. At Oscar's birthday party, Norah apologizes to Rose, and despite still being mad at her, Rose forgives her. The family and Winston then celebrate Oscar's birthday.
Sometime later, Rose visits her father and he reveals to her that he sold his house. He then shows that with the money, he started a new cleanup business called "Lorkowski Cleaning" (with Winston's help) and asks Rose to go into partnership with him. Norah goes on a road trip to find her new self, while Rose starts working with her father at "Lorkowski Cleaning." The movie ends on a positive note, with the implication that Norah has reached a positive turning point in her life and is at peace with herself and that Rose will successfully run her business while also looking after her eccentric father.
report about two women in the Seattle suburbs who started a biohazard removal/cleaning service.
The entire movie was filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The entire storyline takes place in Albuquerque as well.
reported that it was purchased by Overture Films
for distribution. It received a small-scale release on March 13, 2009.
, the film has an average score of 61 out of 100, based on 32 reviews.
Peter Travers
of Rolling Stone
gave the film 3 out of 4 stars, stating "This funny and touching movie depends on two can-do actresses to scrub past the biohazard of noxious clichés that threaten to intrude. Adams and Blunt get the job done. They come highly recommended." The Los Angeles Times
deemed that "on the surface, Sunshine Cleaning, about a small-time crime scene cleanup crew in a crumbling corner of Albuquerque, is an offbeat and oddly endearing drama, leavened with just the right amount of comedy to even things out".
The Times
gave the film a mixed review, rating 3 out of 5 stars, saying "Given the subject matter and the sheer volume of putrefying human remains, it's remarkable that the movie still bobs along on a seemingly unquenchable current of sentimental optimism".
Critics praised the performances of the cast, especially Adams. Mick LaSalle
of San Francisco Chronicle
gave the film a positive review, saying: "The play of emotion on Amy Adams' face is the main reason to see Sunshine Cleaning." A. O. Scott
of The New York Times
wrote that the film "sometimes seems better than it is" because "Ms. Jeffs
(Rain, Sylvia) has a good touch with actors and a very good cast. Amy Adams and Emily Blunt
, playing sisters who go into business together, attack their roles with vivacity and dedication, even if the roles themselves don't entirely make sense." Of Adams' portrayal of her character, Michael Sragow
of The Baltimore Sun
said, "Adams achieves perfect clarity, with a touch of the divine."
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
film starring Amy Adams
Amy Adams
Amy Lou Adams is an American actress and singer. Adams began her performing career on stage in dinner theaters before making her screen debut in the 1999 black comedy film Drop Dead Gorgeous...
and Emily Blunt
Emily Blunt
Emily Olivia Leah Blunt is an English actress best known for her roles in The Devil Wears Prada , The Young Victoria , and The Adjustment Bureau . She has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, two London Film Critics' Circle Awards, and one BAFTA Award...
. Directed by Christine Jeffs
Christine Jeffs
Christine Jeffs is a New Zealand-born film director known for directing the British motion picture Sylvia, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Daniel Craig, and the American independent film Sunshine Cleaning , with Amy Adams and Emily Blunt....
and written by Megan Holley, the film premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival
2008 Sundance Film Festival
The 2008 Sundance Film Festival ran from January 17, 2008 to January 27 in Park City, Utah. It was the 24th iteration of the Sundance Film Festival. The opening night film was In Bruges and the closing night film was CSNY Déjà Vu.-Films:...
on January 18, 2008. It was purchased by Overture Films
Overture Films
Overture Films, LLC is an American film production and distribution company. It is a subsidiary of Liberty Media ....
for distribution and opened in limited release in the United States on March 13, 2009. The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 25, 2009.
Plot
Rose Lorkowski (Amy AdamsAmy Adams
Amy Lou Adams is an American actress and singer. Adams began her performing career on stage in dinner theaters before making her screen debut in the 1999 black comedy film Drop Dead Gorgeous...
) is a thirty-something single mother, working full-time as a maid. Her underachieving sister Norah (Emily Blunt
Emily Blunt
Emily Olivia Leah Blunt is an English actress best known for her roles in The Devil Wears Prada , The Young Victoria , and The Adjustment Bureau . She has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, two London Film Critics' Circle Awards, and one BAFTA Award...
) lives with their father Joe (Alan Arkin
Alan Arkin
Alan Wolf Arkin is an American actor, director, musician and singer. He is known for starring in such films as Wait Until Dark, The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, Catch-22, The In-Laws, Edward Scissorhands, Glengarry Glen Ross, Marley & Me, and...
), and is fired from her job as a waitress. After the school expels Rose's son Oscar for his erratic behavior, she is told she must put him on Attention Deficit Disorder medication or send him to a private school. Unable to make enough money with her current job, Rose asks Mac (Steve Zahn
Steve Zahn
-Early life:Zahn was born in Marshall, Minnesota, the son of Zelda, who worked for the YMCA, and Carleton E. Zahn, a retired Missouri Synod Lutheran pastor. Zahn spent part of his childhood in Mankato, Minnesota, attending Kennedy Elementary School...
), her ex-boyfriend during their high school years and her married lover, for advice. Mac recommends a crime scene cleanup
Crime scene cleanup
Crime scene cleanup is a term applied to any situation involving biological cleaning and or health concerning issues. Such issues may include:*Clandestine methamphetamine laboratory contamination*Flood and sewage backups*Suicides*Homicides...
job, and with his connections as a police officer, he gets Rose and Norah into the business.
At first, the sisters poorly perform their job; carelessly handling the hazardous materials by throwing them into dumpsters instead of properly disposing of them in an incinerator. They then get the necessary tools from Winston (Clifton Collins, Jr.
Clifton Collins, Jr.
Clifton Craig Collins, Jr. is an American actor.-Life and career:Clifton Craig Collins, Jr. was born in Los Angeles, of half Mexican descent and the grandson of actor Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez. He has sometimes been credited as Clifton Gonzalez-Gonzalez to honor his grandfather...
), a one-armed storekeeper of a shop for cleanup material. The sisters name their cleanup business "Sunshine Cleaning" and they start making progress with their business reputation growing. The sisters begin to find meaning in their function to "help" in some way in the aftermath of a loss, just as the job stirs up memories of their own mother's suicide. At the same time, the members of the family deal with their individual problems. Rose encounters some of her former high school classmates and is embarrassed by the state of her position in life. After an encounter with Mac's pregnant wife in a gas station, Rose realizes that Mac will never leave his marriage, and ends their relationship. Norah meets and has a possible lesbian relationship with Lynn, the daughter of a woman whose house she and Rose cleaned up, unbeknown to Lynn. Joe begins to sell shrimp, hoping to raise enough money to buy a pair of expensive binoculars that Oscar wants for his birthday.
One day, an insurance company calls for "Sunshine Cleaning's" presence, giving "Sunshine Cleaning" the potential to obtain a breakthrough reputation. Unfortunately for Rose, a baby shower
Baby shower
In some countries, a baby shower is a way to celebrate the pending or recent birth of a child by presenting gifts to the parents at a party. The term "shower" is often assumed to mean that the expectant mother is "showered" with gifts.-Description:...
is on the same day, with all of her high school classmates attending. She asks Norah to clean the house alone until she can catch up. Norah's attempt to clean the house brings up a disastrous result as she accidentally burns down the house. The burning of the house tarnishes "Sunshine Cleaning"'s reputation and the cleanup business is forced to pay a debt of $40,000. With "Sunshine Cleaning" out of business, Rose is forced to go back to being a maid. Meanwhile, Joe's shrimp plan goes awry as all the stores and restaurants he approaches refuse to buy his shrimp. Joe did not realize when he purchased the shirmp that no legitimate business would be willing to take the health risks involved in buying from a guy selling seafood out of the trunk of his car. Norah reveals to Lynn about her mother being dead, and Lynn becomes frustrated because she questions whether Norah was truly interested in her. At Oscar's birthday party, Norah apologizes to Rose, and despite still being mad at her, Rose forgives her. The family and Winston then celebrate Oscar's birthday.
Sometime later, Rose visits her father and he reveals to her that he sold his house. He then shows that with the money, he started a new cleanup business called "Lorkowski Cleaning" (with Winston's help) and asks Rose to go into partnership with him. Norah goes on a road trip to find her new self, while Rose starts working with her father at "Lorkowski Cleaning." The movie ends on a positive note, with the implication that Norah has reached a positive turning point in her life and is at peace with herself and that Rose will successfully run her business while also looking after her eccentric father.
Cast
- Amy AdamsAmy AdamsAmy Lou Adams is an American actress and singer. Adams began her performing career on stage in dinner theaters before making her screen debut in the 1999 black comedy film Drop Dead Gorgeous...
as Rose Lorkowski - Emily BluntEmily BluntEmily Olivia Leah Blunt is an English actress best known for her roles in The Devil Wears Prada , The Young Victoria , and The Adjustment Bureau . She has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, two London Film Critics' Circle Awards, and one BAFTA Award...
as Norah Lorkowski - Alan ArkinAlan ArkinAlan Wolf Arkin is an American actor, director, musician and singer. He is known for starring in such films as Wait Until Dark, The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, Catch-22, The In-Laws, Edward Scissorhands, Glengarry Glen Ross, Marley & Me, and...
as Joe Lorkowski - Mary Lynn RajskubMary Lynn RajskubMary Lynn Rajskub is an American actress and comedian, best known for her leading role as Chloe O'Brian on the Fox action-thriller 24.-Early life:...
as Lynn - Eric Christian OlsenEric Christian OlsenEric Christian Olsen is an American actor. He currently portrays Detective Marty Deeks on the CBS television series NCIS: Los Angeles.-Early life:...
as Randy - Jason SpevackJason SpevackJason Spevack , is a Canadian child actor. He has dual citizenship with Canada and the United States. Spevack has appeared in over 40 commercials for radio and television. He is most famous for his roles in Fever Pitch, Sunshine Cleaning and Ramona and Beezus...
as Oscar Lorkowski - Kevin ChapmanKevin ChapmanKevin Chapman is an American actor known for his big build and ability to play an assortment of characters ranging from the obnoxious brother, Terrence in FX's Rescue Me to street enforcer Val Savage in Clint Eastwood's critically acclaimed film, Mystic River.Chapman was discovered by the late...
as Carl Swanson - Steve ZahnSteve Zahn-Early life:Zahn was born in Marshall, Minnesota, the son of Zelda, who worked for the YMCA, and Carleton E. Zahn, a retired Missouri Synod Lutheran pastor. Zahn spent part of his childhood in Mankato, Minnesota, attending Kennedy Elementary School...
as Mac - Clifton Collins Jr. as Winston
Production
The filmmakers have said in interviews their story is based on a 2001 National Public Radio All Things ConsideredAll Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
report about two women in the Seattle suburbs who started a biohazard removal/cleaning service.
The entire movie was filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The entire storyline takes place in Albuquerque as well.
Release
Sunshine Cleaning was produced by independent film company Big Beach. On February 26, 2008, VarietyVariety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
reported that it was purchased by Overture Films
Overture Films
Overture Films, LLC is an American film production and distribution company. It is a subsidiary of Liberty Media ....
for distribution. It received a small-scale release on March 13, 2009.
Critical reception
Sunshine Cleaning received mostly positive reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 71% positive rating based on 152 reviews. On MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, the film has an average score of 61 out of 100, based on 32 reviews.
Peter Travers
Peter Travers
Peter Travers is an American film critic, who has written for, in turn, People and Rolling Stone. Travers also hosts a celebrity interview show called Popcorn on ABC News Now and ABCNews.com.-Career:...
of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
gave the film 3 out of 4 stars, stating "This funny and touching movie depends on two can-do actresses to scrub past the biohazard of noxious clichés that threaten to intrude. Adams and Blunt get the job done. They come highly recommended." The Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
deemed that "on the surface, Sunshine Cleaning, about a small-time crime scene cleanup crew in a crumbling corner of Albuquerque, is an offbeat and oddly endearing drama, leavened with just the right amount of comedy to even things out".
The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
gave the film a mixed review, rating 3 out of 5 stars, saying "Given the subject matter and the sheer volume of putrefying human remains, it's remarkable that the movie still bobs along on a seemingly unquenchable current of sentimental optimism".
Critics praised the performances of the cast, especially Adams. Mick LaSalle
Mick LaSalle
Mick LaSalle is an American Mick LaSalle is an [[United States|American]] Mick LaSalle is an [[United States|American]] [[film reviewer] and the author of two books on pre-[[Motion Picture Production Code|Hays Code]] Hollywood...
of San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
gave the film a positive review, saying: "The play of emotion on Amy Adams' face is the main reason to see Sunshine Cleaning." A. O. Scott
A. O. Scott
Anthony Oliver Scott, known as A. O. Scott , is an American journalist and critic. He is a chief film critic for The New York Times, along with Manohla Dargis.-Background and education:...
of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
wrote that the film "sometimes seems better than it is" because "Ms. Jeffs
Christine Jeffs
Christine Jeffs is a New Zealand-born film director known for directing the British motion picture Sylvia, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Daniel Craig, and the American independent film Sunshine Cleaning , with Amy Adams and Emily Blunt....
(Rain, Sylvia) has a good touch with actors and a very good cast. Amy Adams and Emily Blunt
Emily Blunt
Emily Olivia Leah Blunt is an English actress best known for her roles in The Devil Wears Prada , The Young Victoria , and The Adjustment Bureau . She has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, two London Film Critics' Circle Awards, and one BAFTA Award...
, playing sisters who go into business together, attack their roles with vivacity and dedication, even if the roles themselves don't entirely make sense." Of Adams' portrayal of her character, Michael Sragow
Michael Sragow
Michael Sragow is a film critic and columnist who has written for The Baltimore Sun, The New Times, The New Yorker , The Atlantic and salon.com...
of The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
said, "Adams achieves perfect clarity, with a touch of the divine."
Awards
| Year | Result | Award | Category | Recipient(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Nominated | Grand Jury Prize Sundance Film Festival The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new... |
Dramatic | Christine Jeffs Christine Jeffs Christine Jeffs is a New Zealand-born film director known for directing the British motion picture Sylvia, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Daniel Craig, and the American independent film Sunshine Cleaning , with Amy Adams and Emily Blunt.... |
| 2009 | Nominated | Satellite Awards Satellite Awards The Satellite Awards are an annual award given by the International Press Academy. The awards were originally known as the Golden Satellite Awards.- Film :*Best Actor – Drama*Best Actor – Musical or Comedy*Best Actress – Drama... |
Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Emily Blunt Emily Blunt Emily Olivia Leah Blunt is an English actress best known for her roles in The Devil Wears Prada , The Young Victoria , and The Adjustment Bureau . She has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, two London Film Critics' Circle Awards, and one BAFTA Award... |
| Won | Casting Society of America Casting Society of America Founded in Los Angeles, California in 1982, the Casting Society of America is a professional society of about 350 casting directors for film, television, and theatre in Australia, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States. The society is not to be confused with an industry union. The... |
Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Low Budget Feature - Drama/Comedy |
Avy Kaufman Avy Kaufman Avy Kaufman is an Emmy award-winning casting director based in New York City, New York, known for her work in film and television. Kaufman has worked with directors including Steven Spielberg, Ang Lee, and Wes Craven.... |
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