KnotMissPriceless Why so much hype?
Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film
Griff Lees Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.
Leofwine_draca Renny Harlin is a director whose talent seems to have diminished with every film he's made in the last twenty years. He first came to my attention with DIE HARD 2, one of my favourite movies all time, and then delivered a couple more entertaining movies during the 1990s (namely, the ones without Geena Davis: CLIFFHANGER and DEEP BLUE SEA). Since then, his once solid talent seems to be floundering: he made what might be Stallone's worst ever movie, DRIVEN, and then one of the worst films I've seen in a good while: 2006's THE COVENANT. CLEANER is his next film after that, and the good news is that it's better than its predecessor, but still a disappointing outing.The problem is that, despite a fine cast, this film looks and feels like a TV movie. The scripting is the worst thing about it, a sub-standard effort heavily derived from the likes of CSI. Although it's meant to be a thriller, this is a film utterly devoid of thrills; only the strength of the acting kept me watching. There's one good twist at the outset and then everything plays out in a conventional, seen-it-all-before way. The worst thing is the villain reveal, which is so completely expected it's actually wince-inducing, along with the whole reason for that person being the villain as well.Samuel L Jackson is a fine actor who seems to be mired in sub-standard material lately (SNAKES ON A PLANE anyone?). He gives a typically fine performance here, but his considerable talents are wasted. The same goes for Ed Harris, saddled with a nothing role. I was delighted to see Luis Guzman pop up in a larger role than he's usually given, and he's great too, although again wasted. Robert Forster delivers a cameo but the female lead is given to the horrendous Eva Mendes who never convinces for a second. This cold actress never ignites the screen and she's very poor here – although not quite as bad as she is in GHOST RIDER.Aside from the grisly death clean-up scenes (some of which left me feeling distinctly sickened) there's absolutely nothing to about this film – it's just another run-of-the-mill outing and nothing to get excited about.
SnoopyStyle Tom Cutler (Samuel L. Jackson) is a former cop who now works cleaning up bloody crime scenes. He's a widower taking care of his teen daughter Rose (Keke Palmer). Cherie (Maggie Lawson) is his assistant. His latest job is a bloody scene at a mansion. The next day, he returns to find the homeowner Ann Norcut (Eva Mendes) completely unaware of what happened. Her husband is reported missing later. Eddie Lorenzo (Ed Harris) is Tom's friend still on the force. Det. Jim Vargas (Luis Guzmán) is investigating the missing man. It turns out that the man is about to testify against police corruption.Director Renny Harlin is competent but his style feels too limited. This has the look of an indie crime thriller with a lot of A-list talents. The Polaroid really threw me off and bug the heck out of me. This is definitely not a period piece. So why the Polaroid and where does he get the film? The tension is kept on a low boil. The problem is that the movie keeps secrets which seems very obvious. It makes the movie feel predictable. It's better off to lay out all the cards much earlier. It would allow the movie to build tension instead of wasting time trying to piece together Tom's history. If the audience is allowed to be on the same level as Tom, they would be allowed into the investigation. It also needs more action to heighten the tension.
alesclavon At first I thought this movie was going to be a bomb. But after watching this movie further I was hooked to see how it ended. The story may not have been that strong but the cast made up for that in my opinion. I can name names but that would do an injustice to the rest of the cast. This is a movie for the movie fan that likes a a good crime thriller with a ......I don't give spoilers.You just have to watch yourself and see. I gave it 8 out 10. Would have been more if the plot was more solid. I gave it 8out of 10 stars but you have to be the judge of that for your self. If you are a Samuel Jackson fan you will love this one cause he is at his best.
elshikh4 After watching (Die Hard 2 – 1990), (Cutthroat Island – 1995) and (The Long Kiss Goodnight – 1996) you've got to love director (Renny Harlin) as I did. Yet, the man that I loved got disappeared later. No glowing movies such as (Driven – 2001) and (Mindhunters – 2004) are proofs of that regrettably. So, after 20 years of Horror and Action, firstly super then trashy, (Harlin) thought why not changing the whole mood and trying something else with Crime / Mystery / Thriller ?! It's glossy, a bit edgy, centering on a rarely dealt with profession. But it is not as good as any of the important movies that (Harlin) did before, or any solid thriller you can remind either !It's in the script. At the start I noticed how a scene like the one in the bar was crowded of coincidences. (Ed Harris)'s character was awfully obvious. His no role assured that he's here for nothing but being the one who everybody searches for. Then I don't know who messed up the third act like this ? After thrilling 2 acts, the movie turns into another lower one. The problems are many. For instance : the hasty, or forced, matter of (Harris) as an ex-lover of (Eva Mendes) ??! Till the very end we didn't know does the lead have a connection to the murder of his wife's killer in jail, or not ? The easy unethical choice of the lead at the end, with not doing the right thing by telling the police about that dirty cops' book, disappoints a try to give the movie both the ideal hero and the public case.(Sam) can be anything with his charisma and human stock. (Eva) looked pretty, with less cold acting this round. (Ed) was a victim of injustice, or I just see him bigger of these I'm-so-evil kind of roles, which we all know that he makes it for the money, and anyone else him can do it instead of him. (Harlin) led the matters in low-toned no flashy way, using so tight close-ups mostly, achieving intense image and capable suspense. However coincidences, being predictable, fabricated third act.. these are problems that damage any movie, so how about a thriller ?! Hence it couldn't even work as a first-rate TV material, which – in best cases – it was about to be.This is a pilot of good cop-drama series, yet with partly flawed script. In the past, I have always blamed the writers for that. But now, I became so contented that the script is the responsibility of the writer along with the director who ever approved to film it.Dear (Renny), you used to make the brainless action in so brainy way. Come back to that. At least, there, not only the heat was hotter, but no blotches of that kind were allowed to be in the first place ! According to (Cleaner), changing the genre didn't work, and (Renny Harlin) is still disappeared.
