CLEANER

US, 2007, 88 minutes, Colour.
Samuel L. Jackson, Ed Harris, Eva Mendes, Luis Guzman, Keke Palmer, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Robert Forster.
Directed by Renny Harlin.

Cleaner is a thriller with a mystery, focusing on a former policeman who had difficulties in the force, especially after his wife died and his seeming collaboration in the killing of her murderer in prison. He also took money from the corrupt head of the police. However, he has set up his own cleaning company, going into crime scenes and restoring order. At the opening of the film, Samuel L. Jackson makes a speech about his work and some gruesome scenes are visualised. It is the kind of work that audiences don't think of, focusing on the crime scene but forgetting the necessary clean-up.

When he is asked to do a job that seems to be covered up, he becomes involved in an investigation, the background of police corruption – although there is a twist in the screenplay and the police corruption is partly a red herring as to what really happened.

Samuel L. Jackson is effective in the central role, a tormented man. Ed Harris plays his long-time partner and friend. Eva Mendes brings some glamour to her role as the wife of the murder victim. Luis Guzman is the investigating policeman – and the screenplay directs audiences to think of him as part of the cover-up, but it is being misled. Keke Palmer (Akeelah in Akeelah and the Bee) is very good as Jackson’s daughter. Robert Forster has a cameo role as a director at the morgue.

The direction is by Finnish director Renny Harlin who made a number of action films in the United States including Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Exorcist: The Beginning.

1. An interesting thriller, with a mystery?

2. The variation on police corruption themes, the twists and the audience being misled for their attention as to what had gone on?

3. The Louisiana setting, the city, homes, ordinary, wealthy, the streets, the police precincts?

4. The title, the introduction to Tom Cutler, the visualising of the details of the clean-up work? His speech at the social? The reactions, handing out cards? The story of the woman coming home, finding her mother’s body, the physical details? Behind the scenes in the cleaning up of crime scenes?

5. Tom Cutler as a character, his past, police work, his wife and her death, the death of the prisoner in prison, his collaboration? His payments from the corrupt police chief? The importance of the ledger with all the information? Getting money, setting up his own company, his assistant and her tough-minded work, Miguel out of prison and his being given a job? Tom at home, with Rosie, their life, her project, her needs, the bond between the two? The tensions because of the memory of her mother? Seeing him at work, his gear, chemicals, meticulous work, his neatness? His past friendship with Eddie, his partner?

6. The case, his going to the house, the key, cleaning the blood, his return to the house, the encounter with Ann Norcut and her not knowing what had gone on? The meeting with Eddie at the bar, Eddie drinking, talking with him the next day, Vargas at the bar, Eddie’s antagonism? The information about the case, the media, the papers?

7. Ann, her character, her reaction to Tom’s visit, her work with the children, charities? The status of her husband? Tom watching her at work? The discussion in the church? At home, revealing the ledger and its detail? Her marriage, her background in the poor area, her hope for a child? The pregnancy, the death of the child? The revelation of her affair with Eddie? Going to the morgue, the meeting with the morgue attendant, identifying her husband? Her fears, Tom taking her to stay with Miguel and his family, the pleasant touch with the wife and the children? The issue of the vasectomy, the truth about what had happened?

8. Eddie, his life, the long friendship, his helping Tom, the truth, his affair, the pregnancy and the termination, his wanting Tom’s friendship and help? At the sport, with Rosie? The policeman bashing Tom? Going to the house, with Rosie, the meal, the confrontation, the police outside, the threats to Tom, Rosie shooting him?

9. The character of Vargas, at the bar, his reputation, the link with Tom, the audience being misled as to thinking he was corrupt, his investigation of the case, at the morgue, at the rendezvous with Tom, at the end?

10. Rosie, her life, her mother’s death, her needs, the project and trying to find out about her mother, her sports skills, with Eddie, the meal, her shooting Eddie to defend her father?

11. The corruption themes, the audience being misled, the blend of exposé, the more private and personal story, motivations? Truth? Police integrity?