pc95 Directed by Renny Harlin, "Cleaner" is slow moving but only 84 min or so runtime crime-drama. It doesn't brake any ground story or plot-wise, but is fairly interestingly narrated and played by protagonist Samuael L Jackson. There seemed to be too much reliance on showing blood and crime scenes as a grotesque sort of mood or setting tool. That kind wears thin being overused in the movie. However there is a decent amount of character development for Harris, Jackson, and Keke Palmer (satisfactorily playing Jackson's on-screen daughter). The main problem though I had towards the end was supposedly Mendez somehow romantically involved with a Harris character almost twice her age - didn't make sense or hold water. Still the movie manages to set a foreboding mood, and makes good of the locations. Music is serviceable as well. Give it a 6/10

patrick powell I've always liked both Samuel L Jackson and Ed Harris and when I saw this trailed on another DVD, I decided to get it. And I did get my money's worth. There is, however, one caveat and it has nothing to do with Jackson, Harris or any other aspect of the film as film. It is this: when we finally get to the twist, the plot is rather thin gruel, and that is especially irking given the intriguing build-up to the denouement. It could well have been the plot of made-for-TV movie, although Cleaner, of course, has higher production values.Another - slight - gripe is that in odd ways the direction promises more than it delivers. So, for example, we are given definite hints - as when the camera focuses on Jackson's character locking up once he is home - that the chap is overly paranoid about security. Yet in the event he isn't and such shots have no bearing on the film.In a way Cleaner demonstrates the dilemma faced by feature film given the recent substantial rise in quality of TV (think the daddy of them all, The Sopranos, then there's The Wire, Deadwood, Boardwalk Empire and several others). Making a substantial TV series of at least 12 episodes and, if the series if successful, several series now allows directors, writers and producers greater freedom and more time to develop plot and character and gives more room for subtlety (if that's what you like - many don't and merely want as many explosions, car chases and cheesy one-liners as 120 minutes will allow) and it is for them more satisfying. Why shoehorn everything into 90 minutes when you might well be allowed 12 full hours and can give a far more nuanced rendition of your material?So a film such as Cleaner - very well-made, well-acted, imaginatively directed and generally well-crafted - oddly loses out. It comes over, rather unfairly, as a one-trick pony. Having said all that, you won't regret spending your time watching Cleaner, but prepare yourself for a - slight - letdown at the end.

ms-rldevlin Movies are still great even though they are 6 years old. If you have ever tried watching some movies from the early 90's or 80's you would wonder why in the heck did I watch that now. But I don't think this one would ever get old or out-dated. Could had a better twist of a motive though. Other than that, its great. It starts out in a narrative from Samuel Jackson's character and then ends with his daughter in the movie. Ties up the whole movie and reason why he changed careers and the why his career change turned out for the best for him. It does change your perception of the type of cleaners there are out in our society and what sort of services cleaning provides for families.

iroquoisjoe I think everybody in this was great. Very convincing acting all around. Especially the girl playing Samuel L. Jackson's daughter. She was almost scarily convincing when she finally breaks down over her mother's death and her fears...all understandable, plot-wise.Anyhow, I don't like the rational of the killing at the end, but at least it was the end and did not spoil the rest of this thriller. This was a surprisingly good watch.I did not see it when it came out, but it is a good option for a thriller/mystery.Watch it for the acting and the genre.