If you work or live in a high-rise building, you probably haven’t given much thought to the people who clean the windows from the outside. Or if you have, you might have wondered how they have the courage to perch on a small platform hundreds of feet above the ground. But you might want to give them another look. One of them might be the only thing preventing you from falling victim to a gang of terrorists.
At least, that’s the unlikely premise of the new action film directed by James Bond veteran Martin Campbell (GoldenEye, Casino Royale) and starring Daisy Ridley as Joey, a window cleaner who finds herself desperately battling a gang of eco-terrorists who have taken over an energy company building and taken some 300 hostages.
Indeed, much like several unexpected figures in the realm of action cinema, Joey often finds herself caught up in perilous situations that seem almost impossible to overcome. However, unlike John McClane, she doesn’t possess any iconic phrases.
As a devoted fan, I must say that the character is intricately crafted right from the start by screenwriter Simon Uttley. The opening scenes reveal her life through events such as oversleeping, rushing to a care center where her brother Michael is being evicted, needing to bring him to work, and racing against time to avoid getting fired by my boss. Throughout this whirlwind, I exhibit a fierce demeanor and quick temper, which later make sense when we uncover my past as an ex-military personnel who had to leave service after engaging in a physical fight with a fellow soldier.
As Michael entertains himself inside the building, Joey is compelled to act when a group calling themselves “Earth Revolution” – disguised as masked dancers – seize control of the energy company’s gala. Their objective? To uncover the company’s questionable practices and even the death of an investigative journalist. However, it swiftly becomes apparent that the two heads of this group have contrasting objectives. The mature Marcus (Clive Owen) aims to raise public awareness about the company’s misconduct. The more radical Noah (Taz Skylar), on the other hand, seeks violence. When Marcus admonishes Noah for killing one of the company executives by forcing a champagne bottle down his throat, it’s evident their disagreement doesn’t end well for Marcus.
In this scenario, it’s Joey who is left with no choice but to prevent the attackers’ plot, as she finds herself stranded outside the building. She successfully sends out a distress signal to alert the authorities, who initially believe her to be one of the perpetrators. However, she eventually teams up with a female police superintendent named Ruth Gemmel (from Bridgerton) that allows them to exchange friendly banter and reveal more about their personal lives. When you’re in danger, it seems that discussing your personal experiences becomes quite appealing.
The movie “Cleaner,” skillfully directed by Campbell, offers some thrilling, strategically arranged action scenes which make the film moderately engaging for its brief duration. However, despite the obvious influence of iconic action films, it falls short of reaching their grandeur. The repetition of overused genre conventions (couldn’t the main antagonist be less captivating, as many in reality often are?) eventually becomes tiresome. Moreover, devotees of Clive Owen, previously considered a contender for James Bond, may feel frustrated due to his limited screen presence and the humiliating way his character departs from the story.
Despite giving her all and meeting the physical requirements of her character, Ridley fails to convincingly portray a tough, action-oriented protagonist, as she constantly frets over her brother’s wellbeing. Her exceptional performance in ‘Young Woman and the Sea’ leaves one disappointed by her appearance in this B-action film. Granted, it seems they are taking an unusually long time to finalize the next ‘Star Wars’ movie.
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2025-02-17 21:25