Sunshine Cleaning
Tags: comedy, dark, murder, flashback, psychedelic, entertaining, storytelling

Plot synopsis:
Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams) is a thirty-something single mother, working full-time as a maid. Her underachieving and unreliable sister Norah (Emily Blunt) lives with their father Joe (Alan Arkin), and is fired from her job as a waitress. Rose's hyperactive and disruptive 8-year-old son Oscar (Jason Spevack) upsets his school officials by his erratic behavior, and they order Rose to put him on 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 are unaware how to perform their job properly, carelessly handling the hazardous materials by throwing them into dumpsters instead of becoming licensed and properly disposing of bio-waste in an incinerator. Needing to operate as a more reputable service, the sisters 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 start making progress as their reputation grows. They begin to find meaning in their function to "help" in some way in the aftermath of a loss or disaster, even though 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 low status of her position in life. After an encounter with Mac's pregnant wife in a gas station, where the cheated-upon wife mocks Rose's post high school life, Rose realizes that Mac will never leave his marriage, and ends their relationship. Norah meets and has a relationship with Lynn, the daughter of a woman whose house they cleaned. Joe (who makes exaggerated promises) begins to sell shrimp independently, 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 the services of Sunshine Cleaning, granting the sisters the potential to obtain breakthrough access to steady lucrative projects. Unfortunately for Rose, a baby shower is on the same day, with all her more prosperous high school classmates attending. She asks Norah to clean the house alone until she can catch up. Norah bungles her solitary cleaning assignment, as she accidentally burns down the house with an unattended candle. The house burning tarnishes their business reputation and saddles them with a debt of $40,000 which the sisters simply cannot afford. Sunshine Cleaning goes out of business, and Rose is forced to return to her previous job as a maid. Meanwhile, Joe's shrimp plan goes awry as all the stores and restaurants he approaches refuse to buy from an unlicensed food distributor. Joe had not realized when he purchased the shrimp that no legitimate business would be willing to accept the health and legal risks involved in buying food from a questionable source. Lynn breaks off her relationship with Norah as she questions whether Norah was truly interested in her at all. 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 with Winston, who seems quite taken with Rose.
Sometime later, Rose visits her father who says he's sold his house and explains that with the money, he has started a new cleanup business named Lorkowski Cleaning. He asks Rose to be his more knowledgeable managing partner and she agrees. Norah finally shows independence by going 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 and possibly developing a closer relationship with the quietly supportive Winston.

Review: A struggling single mom named Rose (Amy Adams in her comedy/drama wheelhouse) gets tired of working for a maid service and boldly decides to branch out into crime scene clean-up with her lay-about sister Norah (Emily Blunt, ironically named) in Christine Jeffs' observant and easy-going "Sunshine Cleaning".Although it has been marketed as one of those quirky dramedies the studios love to shove down our throats every year, Jeffs' film (from a solid screenplay from Megan Holley) is more in tune with somber yet hopeful indie character studies.
Some subplots involving Norah taking a personal interest in one of the clean-up jobs that leads to an awkward friendship with a blood-bank worker (Mary Lynn Rajskub of "24" fame) or a one-armed supply store guy (Clifton Collins Jr.) who takes a shine to Rose aren't resolved in a typical fashion, and some things are never made known or left open-ended.
Likewise, Alan Arkin as the sisters' scheming entrepreneurial father behaves and acts like a real guy who's had to struggle raising two girls alone and is just trying to help them catch a break.Amy Adams, of course, is an absolute delight.
Yet now, most of these offbeat flicks are as cold and calculated as any big budget summer movie and often drown in wacky plots and bizarre characters which are not of what free film should be an expression.Starring the consistently stellar and always delightful leading ladies of Amy Adams and Emily Blunt, Sunshine Cleaning tells the bittersweet story of two sisters (Adams and Blunt) and their struggles to purge the horror of their mother's suicide and live normal lives.
Through a less than professional police connection of Rose's (Steve Zahn) they come to start a crime scene cleanup service called Sunshine Cleaning and while they sought money, they ended up finding something more profound.Adams and Blunt truly are remarkable and give bonafide Oscar worthy performances.
Director Christine Jeffs ("Sylvia") gets to play with Alan Arkin as the always scheming father, a quick commentary on the disgusting "solution" of public schools tendency to require medication on less than robotic kids, emotionally empty relationships, and the absolute need of people to connect with others.The fine acting continues with Steve Zahn as the former high school hero turned local cop, whom Adams' character has maintained a long term "bond".
It didn't set very well with me that A) Both titles employ the word "SUNSHINE".B) Alan Arkin basically does a warmed over version of his role in "Little Miss" C) Both films are about dysfunctional families with a precocious child.Taken as a whole, it just seemed too obvious that "The same people who brought you" wanted desperately to cash in, AGAIN, and SUNSHINE(2?)is just a vehicle for doing so!
If you can tolerate the slow as molasses initial 30 minutes(OK-Wait, make that as DELIBERATE as Molasses!), you'll probably feel it was worth your while, a pretty good little indie film, which could easily have been a lot better.Catharsis, healing, coping, forgiveness and moving on, are some of the operative buzz-words for "Sunshine Cleaning".
Unfortunately, it didn't happen, but it's not really the fault of the actors, as they- Amy Adams (who doesn't like her?), Alan Arkin, Clifton Collins Jr, Steve Zahn- are all likable to one extent or another (the exception's possibly Emily Blunt, though that's more for her character than herself playing the part, and that little kid playing Amy Adams' son who at one point talks to God on a CB radio in a cringe inducing scene).It's the script, as it tries too hard to meld the quirky (yes, I'm using the word quirky, it's appropriate here) comedy and some pretty dark drama and it doesn't really come off authentic either way.
Excellent performances all round, particularly from Amy Adams as Rose, Emily Blunt as Norah and Alan Arkin as Joe. Honourable mentions should also go to; Jason Spevack as Oscar, Steve Zahn as Mac and Clifton Collins Jr. as Winston.Over all I found the gentle pace of this film quite refreshing.
With the last cinema outing being the obnoxiously loud, logic defying and a disgrace of the summer blockbuster genre in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, what a pleasant trip it was to bask in Sunshine Cleaning, scrubbing away all remnants of a forgettable, mindless movie, and trading it for something more intelligent, and with plenty of heart to boot.It's relatively easy to dismiss this as a chick flick, given that the story's by Megan Holley with Christine Jeffs at the directing helm, and stars what would possibly be the female up-and-coming stars in Amy Adams and Emily Blunt, but you'll be doing yourself no favours should you have any preconceived notions that it should be light and chirpy.
Then again for Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams), being the school's hottest cheerleader didn't prep her for a life amongst the working class, juggling a modest housekeeping job, and being the single mom to a precocious son Oscar (Jason Spevack), born out of wedlock, and having a knack for getting himself into trouble at school.As if that's not enough, she has to find real cash fast to put Oscar into special school, while also nannying around her kid sister Norah (Emily Blunt), someone who drops out in life and every single thing she does, besides getting high, relying on Rose and their dad Joe (Alan Arkin) to look out for her.
The sprinkling of comedy never for a moment detracted the audience from its intended message, and from cleaning supplier Winston (Clifton Collins Jr.) to Alan Arkin's Joe, it reinforces the notion that one shouldn't give up and must persevere, as only the tough gets going when the going gets tough, physical deformity notwithstanding.while promotional materials might scream Little Miss Sunshine, this film is only remotely similar with family members, Alan Arkin, a young kid and their collective problems that they have to deal with.
What we get is a film that avoids shocking, with none of several promising threads being investigated in depth, where the strong light of the American South-West is too warm and friendly, and where good actresses like Amy Adams and Emily Blunt are told to act nicely failing to consume the promise of a killing black comedy female couple, something we have not seen for ages on screen if ever.
"Sunshine Cleaning" depicts maid Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams), who with her irresponsible sister Norah (Emily Blunt) starts a crime scene cleanup business to pay for her son Oscar's (Jason Spevack) private school after he gets expelled from public school.
The pairing of Amy Adams and Emily Blunt is one that's literally impossible for me to resist, and while it's a little difficult to accept them as sisters, they're such good actresses that they make the core relationship between the siblings work.
And because of that, the movie works.Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, and Alan Arkin each add to the film in a unique and important way.
The result is a movie that's entertaining but too sketchy to be truly satisfying.Amy Adams and Emily Blunt play fractious sisters who go into business cleaning up crime scenes.
Adams and Blunt are good actresses, and they both manage a few effective moments, but I couldn't help but wonder the entire time how much more they might have resonated had they been given a better script to work with.The problem in this film is that things happen too easily and quickly; characters too often do things and come to conclusions because the script calls for them to, not because it seems believable that the characters would actually behave in that particular way.
Take Amy Adams ("Enchanted" 2007), Emily Blunt ("The Devil Wears Prada" 2006), Alan Arkin ("Little Miss Sunshine" 2006), and even Mary Lynn Rajskub ("24" television series 2003-2009) and the comedian actor Steve Zahn in a serious role and you have a rather interesting family drama that was billed more as a comedy.
It hasn't gotten any better, she's a single mother with a child whose been kicked out of school, and begins to realize her married cop boyfriend is never going to leave his wife.Rose's quirky Dad (Alan Arkin) tries to help out with Oscar, but he's already raised two girls on his own and wants to make more of himself.
Two twentyish, struggling sisters--Amy Adams' Rose Lorkowski and Emily Blunt's Norah-- in contemporary Albuquerque combine their talents into starting their own crime-scene clean-up service (the only thing missing from their rusty 'Sunshine Cleaning' equipment van is an ongoing audible ice-cream jingle as they head to their next assignment) but their core divisive motivations into enlarging and profiting off the putrid, isolated nature of the profession seeps into much of their personal lives and romances, ultimately exposing the fragile, tragic reason for their tenuous relationship (involving their late mother) and leading into a contrasty concluding final half increasingly alternating between warmly supportive embraces and icy interpersonal stances.
I think a more focused sequel or another film featuring these two is a great idea--SUNSHINE CLEANING is entertaining, enlivening, and not undemanding in the best independent-movie way but the basic story of two sisters starting their own crime-scene clean-up business (honestly, in the end there really is not that much in the film about that concept in relation to everything else) must have come off much funnier or ironically tragic on paper than what ends up on screen..
The cast delivers great performances overall, and the quirky idea of running a crime clean up service is very interesting, but overall it just feels like a Little Miss Sunshine rip off which had more complicated but better developed characters (although Alan Arkin could easily be playing the same person in both movies).
"Sunshine Cleaning" stars Amy Adams & Emily Blunt as sisters Rose & Norah Lorkowski.
Because of the use of the word "sunshine" in the title and the presence from actors Amy Adams and Alan Arkin, I thought Sunshine Cleaning was going to occupy the niche of "feel-good" comedy, a sub-genus in which acclaimed films such as Little Miss Sunshine and Juno are located.However, after having watched Sunshine Cleaning, I can say its intention was very different, and I did not expect to like it so much.Following the custom from independent cinema, Sunshine Cleaning is set on a small town which is full of picturesque characters, something which generates a warm atmosphere which results to be very pleasant.Screenwriter Megan Holley shows an excellent instinct to drive the emotions from the story, and she brings it sub-plots (like for example, the grandpa's shrimping business) which enrich the characters.Director Christine Jeffs brings the movie to life with a sober style, which takes the most advantage from the simple locations and the cast.What takes me to the film's strongest point: the actors.Adams and Emily Blunt may be more famous for participating in comedies like Enchanted and The Devil Wears Prada (respectively), but they are also excellent dramatic actresses, and Sunshine Cleaning brings them the opportunity to show the two facets from their talent.I was truly impressed by their ability to handle the tone from every scene, even if it is a confrontation which wakes rancors from the past up, or an unexpected humorous moment.The rest of the cast also makes a very solid work.With his character, Arkin could have simply repeated what he did in Little Miss Sunshine, but he brings another style to his performance in Sunshine Cleaning, making it different and equally memorable.And Jason Spevack and Clifton Collins Jr. also bring conviction to their characters.The only fail I found on this excellent movie is that the sub-plot which involves actress Mary Lynn Rajskub should have ended on a more natural way.However, Sunshine Cleaning deserves an enthusiastic recommendation, mainly because of its excellent performances and its deep and fascinating screenplay.In summary, I really took a very pleasant surprise with this movie..
Megan Holley's screenplay for "Sunshine Cleaning" sets up a richly acute and enticing set of circumstances: two argumentative sisters in New Mexico, both burdened with tough breaks and dead-end careers, go into business together cleaning up postmortem crime scenes; Amy Adams' Rose, a single mother who is sleeping with a married man, finds purpose in the work, while Emily Blunt's Norah seeks redemption.
In some small way we, um, we help."Directed by Christine Jeffs (Sylvia) and written by Megan Holley, Sunshine Cleaning is one of those small indie films with big performances and a feel good story that allows the audience to connect with its characters.
Sunshine Cleaning develops a "slice of life" script typical of the indie scene, quite enjoyable, carried by a very good cast with an Adam-Blunt duo that works and an always extra energized Alan Arkin.
Rose (Amy Adams) and Norah (Emily Blunt) end up in the cleaning-up-after-death business, while their father (Alan Arkin) takes care of Rose's son Oscar (Jason Spevack), who is temporarily out of school for acting out.While the semi-documentary about cleaning up blood goes on, there is the matter of a school system that insists that children be drugged, and trying to quit screwing the guy from high school that is now married, and dealing with your mother's death.
Rose (Amy Adams) and Norah (Emily Blunt) end up in the cleaning-up-after-death business, while their father (Alan Arkin) takes care of Rose's son Oscar (Jason Spevack), who is temporarily out of school for acting out.While the semi-documentary about cleaning up blood goes on, there is the matter of a school system that insists that children be drugged, and trying to quit screwing the guy from high school that is now married, and dealing with your mother's death.
Sunshine Cleaning is the kind of film I like best - an original plot, it made me think, and made me care about what happened to the obviously less-than-perfect main characters.Once you get over the premise that anyone who looks as good as these two actresses and isn't a drug addict or drunk would be toiling away desperately in loser jobs in their late 20s, you can enjoy the interesting script, which follows two sisters in their stumbling efforts to start a business cleaning up after crimes and bio-hazards.
Rose (Amy Adams) and Nora (Emily Blunt) are two sisters (Who don't look like they could be sisters) hard-up for cash and underemployed get in on the business of cleaning up after death and murder scenes.
This chick flick stands out by unexpectedly following a few weeks in the life of a working poor single mother (Rose played by the always delightful Amy Adams) who tries with only mild success to provide a better life for her disturbed son in the least attractiveness of businesses (cleaning up crime scenes).
Two sisters,Rose(Amy Adams)and Norah(Emily Blunt)set up their own crime scene cleanup business.it sounds sort of morbid,but it really isn't.ther5e's a lot going on in this film.it's fairly entertaining,and fast paced.and well written.there are a couple of sub plots running parallel with the main part of the story.son far,any movie i've seen Amy Adams or Emily blunt in has been good.Alan Arkin co-stars in a quirky performance.it'not exactly an exciting film,(i would classify it as a dramedy)so if that's what your looking for,you might wanna look elsewhere.but if you want something low key,you should check this out.for me,Sunshine Cleaning is a 7/10.
It tells the story of Rose (Amy Adams) and Norah (Emily Blunt), two sisters who decide to start a business cleaning up after gruesome incidents.
Still, the film would work better if the Zahn, Arkin, and Rajskub plot lines were pared away and replaced with more scenes of Rose and Norah in their new job.Amy Adams does fine as Rose, and Emily Blunt is terrific as Norah.
She has a son, a sister, & a father and is trying desperately to make a go of it in the business of cleaning crime scenes.The story is charming and Alan Arkins performance here is even better than it was in Little Miss Sunshine.
My only complaint is that the story about the mother of Amy Adams and Emily Blunt's characters wasn't quite as subtle as everything else in this movie and I think that might have helped some.
Rose(Amy Adams,a radiant beauty with real emotions,which is more rare than you might think in this business)has been a dutiful sister,daughter and mother,working as a maid to earn enough to keep her son in school,support her dad(Alan Arkin,good as usual in a role that looks a little TOO familiar),a widowed one-time businessman turned amateur schemer,and sister Norah(Emily Blunt,a real 180 from her part in shows like The Devil Wears Prada),a highly emotional,potential unstable yet genuinely empathetic young woman who has trouble keeping work and appears to be partying her life away.
Of course,it turns out that she(and certainly not her sister,who she employs out of self-duty,among other things)is not as cut out for the work of cleaning up grisly scenes that are fraught with shattered human lives,that a number of which seem to have some echo on the histories of both women.Sometimes TOO relaxed direction by nearly brand-new filmmaker Christine Jeffs,off a script by Megan Holley,this story REALLY runs on the charm and unforced character strength of the actors in their parts,from Adams and Blunt,on down through Arkin,the son(whose name immediately escapes me),Zahn and Clifton Collins as the pleasant,laid-back one-armed supply store manager who develops and friendship(and maybe more)with Rose.
It's a journey that will bring the Lorkowski family closer together and they learn a little bit more about each other in the process.In recession and tough economic times you have a struggling and single mother Rose(played by the talented Amy Adams who shows she can take her depths to any role)who's just trying to make ends meet for her and her son Oscar by working odd jobs as she cleans rooms to make ends meet.
A single mother (Amy Adams) raising her son (Jason Spevack) in Albuquerque turns to cleaning up crime scenes with her screw-up of a sister (Emily Blunt).