Sunshine Cleaning
· Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment
· Theatrical Release Year: 2009
· US DVD Release Date: August 25, 2009
· Rated: R (for language, disturbing images, some sexuality and drug use)
· Running Time: 91 minutes
· Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 anamorphic, 1.33:1 full-screen
· Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 (English), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (Spanish)
· Subtitles: English (SDH), Spanish
Movie: 3 out of 5
Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams) is a single mother with self-esteem issues, trying to make ends meet by cleaning houses. Her younger sister, Norah (Emil Blunt), can’t hold down a job and has yet to find her way in life. When Rose’s high school sweetheart and married boyfriend (Steve Zahn) tells her how lucrative crime scene cleanup can be, the two sisters start Sunshine Cleaning. They quickly realize how little they know about the business, and some of the early humor in the film comes from their unorthodox (and environmentally dangerous) attempts at cleaning up a crime scene. The movie is more a character study of these two young women and how they learn to respect each other and themselves.
Although marketed by Overture Films (and Anchor Bay) as a dark comedy, Sunshine Cleaning is what the television world would call a dramedy. There is humor in the story and situations, but there is also some very well-written drama with solid performances by Adams and Blunt, as well as the supporting cast including Alan Arkin as the widowed father of the two girls, Jason Spevack as Rose’s son Oscar, Clifton Collins, Jr. as the owner of a janitorial supply store, and Mary Lynn Rajskub (Chloe from 24) as the daughter of one of the girls’ first client with whom Norah befriends.
Video: 2.5 out of 5
Anchor Bay has provided both a 2.40:1 anamorphic and a 1.33:1 full screen version on the same disc. The 2.40:1 anamorphic transfer has a soft look to it, some scenes appear overly dark, and colors lean to yellows and blues, all likely attributed to the film’s low budget and use of natural lighting. The print used is free of dirt and debris, and compression artifacts are minimal and not distracting. I did not view the 1.33:1 full screen version at all.
Audio: 2.5 out of 5
Encoded at 448 kbps, the Dolby Digital 5.1 track is a typical low-budget drama mix, very front-heavy with music and atmosphere occasionally bleeding to the surrounds. Dialogue is intelligible, and bass response is adequate, but don’t expect much LFE. One point of distraction was the surround mix of Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit In The Sky” during the end credits, with the delay to the surround speakers a good half-second later than it should.
Special Features: 3 out of 5
Although slim on features, I found the audio commentary with screenwriter Megan Holley and producer Glenn Williamson to be very informative, discussing how the screenplay started as an entry in a screenwriting contest, went on to win and found its way to Williamson and director Christine Jeffs. They also discuss shooting on location in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the casting process, and making the film.
The other feature on the disc is an 11 minute featurette, A Fresh Look at a Dirty Business, a look at the film through the eyes of two real-life crime scene cleaners, Marie FitzGerald and Dana Hooper, founders of A&M Bio-Recovery. The two discuss what is realistic and what mistakes the characters (or filmmakers) made. Presented in anamorphic widescreen.
Also included is the original trailer, as well as trailers for Henry Poole Is Here, Table For Three, The Visitor, and Sleepwalking, all in anamorphic widescreen.
Sunshine Cleaning is packaged in an eco-friendly keepcase surrounded by a paperboard outer sleeve.
Overall: 3 out of 5
Those expecting to see the dark comedy as marketed in the trailer may become disappointed, but Sunshine Cleaning is a wonderful, often quirky, independent dramedy. The commentary and featurette round out a nice DVD package.
