Sunshine Cleaning - A Movie Review

We’ll figure out our plan in life. Maybe not now, but you will.

Arriving in theaters in 2008, Sunshine Cleaning is about a woman fed up with her slow-moving job as a maid. Discovering a biohazard removal/crime scene clean-up job, Rose and her sister form their own business. Cleaning homes of recently deceased, the women learn more than they expected to from it.

I did not think that I was going to enjoy Sunshine Cleaning as much as I did. It made me think. Sunshine Cleaning has such a simple premise, but it holds an essential message about discovering joy in a career.

I am astounded by Amy Adams’ strong presence in every film that she’s in. Unhappy with her life, Rose establishes a new business. One that many would never think about. Her growth is a substantial part of the film. Adams conquers a remarkable monologue that solidifies the range she can do.

Speaking of range, Emily Blunt is a talented actress. Rose and Norah have contrasting storylines and yet they’re fighting for similar outcomes. Adams and Blunt did an amazing job in their interactions. I especially enjoyed it when they first started cleaning houses together. A little sibling sarcasm is the best recipe.

Alan Arkin joins the cast adding his trademark humor to the story. Despite coming off as snarky, Joe is always there for his daughters. Especially Oscar, his grandson. Even they had their own storyline about creating a business. Their relationship is a reminder of how important is for children to form a relationship with their grandparents.

Joe could have been involved in an important family dynamic more. Clearly, this incident affects all of them. An aspect of that felt missing.

I was excited when I saw Steve Zahn’s name appear in the opening credits. I have become a fan of Zahn’s work in the last year. This is a role I have never seen Zahn in. Stepping away from his humorous personality, Zahn is given a chance to experiment with another side of himself. Zahn and Adams worked well together. Always think about relationships.

Clifton Collins Jr. became an unexpected character. You never know what faces you’ll meet in the business world. Credits also go to Mary Lynn Rajskub, Eric Christian Olsen, Paul Dooley, Amy Redford, and many more.

What does cleaning mean? We all have different opinions about cleaning. When we clean are we erasing the past in some way? Filmmakers designed the messiest of homes that nobody wants to be in. The messes were so disgusting that I could almost smell the foul trash.

No matter what happens in life, we will always figure something out. Christine Jeffs distributed a film about finding your career. I also like how she drew focus to characters’ inner emotions. Moments of dark comedy were impressive selling the tone of the film.

Jeffs drew focus to a career that nobody would ever think about it. When you think about it, every job in the world is important. You can make a business about anything. Just be sure that you know all the steps before going into the process.

Sunshine Cleaning is an important film for all audiences to watch, especially those who are just graduating from college. No matter the age, we are always searching to find new options for our careers.

Discretion is advised for bloody scenes. Many people may find the subject of the film disturbing, especially how post-mortem cleaning businesses work. Though some viewers may find it morbidly interesting.

I recommend that you find Sunshine Cleaning. I had a fun time watching it.