Sunshine Cleaning (2008)

Between an odd behaving son, self-serving sister, and a father one step from being in a home, one woman overcomes the odds and really proves that "life's a messy business."

Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby) is the struggling mother of a son is always in trouble for "weird" behavior. Most of which seems to be instigated by her seemingly good for nothing sister Norah (Emily Blunt, Dan in Real Life, The Devil Wears Prada) who still lives at home with their quirky father and can't hold down a job. Working as a maid, Rose just can't seem to get ahead in life, and after seeing how successful all her old high school friends are, her sweetheart married off with a family, and her son misunderstood at his current school, she's had enough. Rose enlists the help of her sister and decides to dial the cleaning business up a notch by starting a fledgling crime scene clean-up company. Who knew there were so many rules and regulations for this kind of thing? A talented supporting cast lead by Steve Zahn, Alan Arkin and Clifton Collins Jr. round it all off in this Christine Jeffs directed, heartfelt drama.

If you haven't seen this, go rent it now, or at least put it in your Netflix queue. Really an absolute joy to watch this film. Back when it first came out I had no intention on seeing it because, I guess I never really knew what it was about. But once I read a small summary, I couldn't wait to see it. Maybe the overlying plot wasn't completely original, but the story sure was, and it was refreshing to watch something that seemed so... never done. The acting was superb, much better than I had hoped for from some of those involved. It was cool to see Clifton Collins in the film... he's like the new Steve Buscemi. Just an odd looking guy, great actor, lots of small roles. he's gonna be the guy you start to see in everything. The sisters were completely believable and you could really feel the emotion and pain in their lives. Need to smile today? Watch this.

7.5/10

Rated: R
91 mins

A Perfect Getaway (2009)

Honeymooning in a Hawaiian paradise, what could be better? A slick, twisted view through the eyes of a murderous couple... in a Hawaiian paradise, that's what!

From the guy who made Vin Deisel a household name, David Twohy (Below, Pitch Black) comes this seemingly predictable film of "newlyweds Cliff (Steve Zahn, Sahara, Saving Silverman) and Cydney (Milla Jovovich, The 5th Element, Resident Evil) head to the tropical islands of Hawaii. While journeying through the paradisaical countryside the couple encounters Kale and Cleo, two disgruntled hitchhikers and Nick (Timothy Olyphant, Hitman, Live Free or Die Hard) and Gina, two wild but well-meaning spirits who help guide them through the lush jungles. The picturesque waterfalls and scenic mountainsides quickly give way to terror when Cliff and Cydney learn of a grisly murder that occurred nearby and realize that they're being followed by chance acquaintances that suspiciously fit the description of the killers." Summary by: The Massie Twins

100% enjoyable to watch. Acting is great, which you would expect with the cast, cinematography is polished, and the story half-way believable. Because of all that, it's slightly terrifying to think of something like this actually happening. The twist just past the half-way mark was unexpected, as it completely flips the movie and has you on the edge of your seat while you start rooting for the other side. Milla, as always was just a sexy, sand bagging bad-ass... and I loved every minute of it. I also think that Zahn's really pulled of the transformation his character went through extremely well, it was good to see him slightly outside his typical, awkwardly comedic roles I've come accustomed to.

7.4/10

Rated R
98 mins | 108 mins (Unrated Director's Cut)