Review: ‘Cleaner’ on DVD

Renny Harlin directed this new crime-thriller, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Ed Harris, Eva Mendes and Luis Guzman. Renny Harlin is an interesting director, with a resume that ranges from A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 to Exorcist: The Beginning, but he’s probably best known for Long Kiss Goodnight.

Tom Carver (Jackson) is a retired cop who’s now in the business of biological cleanup. In other words, when someone dies and the paramedics come and take the body, he’s the person you hire to come clean up the blood and what-not that’s left behind. Carver’s very good at what he does, working closely with the PD, which is why he doesn’t give much thought to a cleanup at a large fancy house that was witness to a murder. But, things begin to get fishy when Carver realizes he forgot to return the extra key to the house. When he arrives to return the key, he finds Ann Norcut (Mendes) is living in the house and has no idea what has occurred over the past 48 hours. Over the next few days, this sense of something not being right eats at Carver and he seeks the help of Lorenzo (Harris), his former partner. Carver now has to decide whether to keep what he knows a secret and protect his family or go to the authorities to do what’s right.

Cleaner becomes an attempt at a smart, edgy James Patterson type of thriller, but suffers somewhat from a script that is light on depth. The acting is great, which is to be expected from Jackson and Harris. The movie is enjoyable to watch, with good cinematography and Harlin’s subtle but distinct style is present. Cleaner doesn’t disappoint so much as under-achieve. The ending is solid, in so much as typical mainstream thriller endings are concerned. If you like the puzzle-like thrillers that revolve around a crime laden with conspiracy, you may want to check this out, but I doubt its going to rank very highly on your favorites list.

[rating:3/5]

DVD Features:

• Audio Commentary with Director Renny Harlin
• Deleted Scenes