Martin Campbell’s “Cleaner” begins with promise, particularly as a result of it stars Daisy Ridley.
The establishing scenes are all about how Ridley’s character, Joey Locke, grew to become expert at sneaking out of her residence throughout a tough childhood.
In current day, Locke is a window washer for a skyscraper.
There’s additionally a subplot about her troubled relationship along with her brother, Michael, performed by Matthew Tuck, however the attraction right here is seeing Ridley suspended excessive above the earth and cleansing the home windows of a large constructing.
Throughout one in every of her nighttime assignments, the constructing is taken over by terrorists. The chief of the operation is performed by Clive Owen, the scenario is dire, just one particular person can presumably cease the unhealthy guys, who’ve taken hostages and- oh no.
It’s a rip-off of “Die Laborious” (1988).
In contrast to the most effective “Die Laborious” rip-offs, equivalent to “Underneath Siege” (1992), “Cliffhanger” (1993), “Govt Resolution” (1996), “Cleaner” is such a non-starter, it made me query why Ridley, Owen and particularly Campbell needed to make this.
Contemplating that Campbell’s prior works consists of two pivotal 007 thrillers, “Goldeneye” (1995) and “On line casino Royale” (2006), in addition to top-notch popcorn thrillers “The Masks of Zorro” (1998) and “Vertical Restrict” (2000), it’s a surprise why he’d try a middling rip-off of one of the crucial iconic and still-wildly fashionable motion motion pictures of all time.
The final movie I caught of Campbell’s was “The Protégé” (2021), the failed Maggie Q car that wasted her time (in addition to Michael Keaton’s and Samuel L. Jackson’s) and ours. Campbell’s newest is the same miss – it’s too polished to be a known as an inexpensive rush job however too underwhelming to take critically.
The dialogue is stuffed with cliches, like “no person will get a free move.”
Coming from the director of two distinctive 007 thrillers, “Cleaner” is minor league. It has been made with competence and vitality, however that’s it. It’s busy however not thrilling. Three writers penned the movie, who presumably took turns reducing and pasting from “Die Laborious’s” screenplay.
The stakes have by no means been larger. Right here’s an EXCLUSIVE have a look at Daisy Ridley in #Cleaner, in theaters TODAY! pic.twitter.com/FM2QE7Jap4
— IMDb (@IMDb) February 21, 2025
I want Ridley’s tackle a Bruce Willis function might at the very least dumb enjoyable (Rey Laborious? Yippe Kai Yay Mr. Skywalker?) however it is a movie entry Ridley will most likely need her followers to overlook, particularly coming after her acclaimed work in “Younger Lady within the Sea” (2024).
Admittedly, Ripley provides a robust efficiency, even whereas sporting a foul Peter Pan haircut, however she’s been a lot better elsewhere.
Owen is a poor substitute for “Die Laborious’s” Alan Rickman. The final time I bear in mind even seeing Owen in a film was Ang Lee’s “Gemini Man” (2019). Roles just like the one Owen is caught taking part in in “Cleaner” are beneath an actor who was one of many largest stars of the early 2000’s, a former 007 candidate who nonetheless has “Kids of Males” (2006) as his calling card.
If the purpose is that Ridley is definitely dangling exterior that workplace constructing, I by no means felt the hazard. The scenes of her exterior the skyscraper are filmed and edited in ways in which downplay the peak and gravity.
If Ridley is de facto doing Tom Cruise-like stunts, the film isn’t promoting it.
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We sat down with DAISY RIDLEY to debate her early appearing days, the nice problem of her new #StarWars film, and hanging off buildings for ‘Cleaner.’ Tune in right here: https://t.co/AxcuPrPgQs pic.twitter.com/Qy7D3Imj8u
— Within the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast (@InTheEnvelope) February 27, 2025
The painfully generic rating by Tom Hodge could possibly be used on any middle-of-the-road TV crime sequence.
The premise jogged my memory of a famously unmade Jackie Chan mission a couple of Twin Towers window washer. That manufacturing was cancelled after 9/11.
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The promise of “Cleaner” is botched from the get-go – it takes too lengthy to get Ridley’s character into the constructing and the gradual “Die Laborious” thievery solely underlines how masterful John McTiernan’s 1988 thriller nonetheless is many years later.
To say the least, “The Towering Inferno” (1974) is preferable, although the idiotic however entertaining 2018 Dwayne Johnson car “Skyscraper” can be so a lot better than “Cleaner.”
Why am I even giving this junk one-star? There’s one genuinely cool villain dying and the top credit score music “Vertigo” by Griff is de facto good.
One Star (out of 5)