Daisy Ridley Takes Action in ‘Cleaner’: Is It the New ‘Die Hard’?

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Daisy Ridley channels Die Hard’s John McClane in Cleaner, an uneven action-thriller that has the Star Wars heroine hanging off a London skyscraper while battling ruthless eco-terrorists. She trades in her lightsaber for savage beatdowns in a bone-crushing medley of fists, guns, and pretty much any sharp weapon in the immediate vicinity. The film’s straightforward premise has its share of unexpected twists but fails the logic test by a country mile. Head-scratching developments critical to the plot challenges willing suspension of disbelief. One in particular is so pervasive, it almost derails Cleaner’s positive action elements.

As a cinephile, I find myself introduced to Joey Ridley, portrayed by Poppy Townsend White, perched precariously on the ledge of her towering apartment, evading the harsh reality of her father’s cruelty towards her brother Michael (Matthew Tuck). Fast forward to the present, adult Joey is juggling the remnants of her troubled past while running late for work. Unfortunately, her autistic sibling Michael has been ejected from yet another care facility. The circumstances leave me no choice but to bring him along to my high-tech, multi-purpose office building where I clean windows.

Daisy Ridley Hangs by a Thread

Joey is scolded by her boss repeatedly due to frequent lateness. In response, she angrily delegates a confrontational colleague named Michael to a helpless security guard. Simultaneously, she rushes off to clean bird droppings from a window. At the same time, a prominent energy corporation, the primary tenant of the building, is preparing for a grand gala for their affluent shareholders. The unsavory CEOs, Gerald (Lee Boardman) and Geoffrey (Rufus Jones) Milton, emphasize their dedication to preservation and environmental policies while promoting themselves.

Outside the windows, an alarmed Joey watches in horror as the situation escalates within the party, unbeknownst to the panicking guests.

Joey, standing helplessly outside the windows, bears witness to the chaos unfolding inside the party, oblivious to the distress of those trapped within.

‘Die Hard’ Redux

Joey, much like the legendary John McClane, is an aggressive protagonist who finds himself in the thick of things at just the right moments. Flavia Watson, our tech-savvy character, oversees the building’s control system with a simple click of a button.

The Die Hard comparisons prove to be detrimental because Cleaner’s script isn’t nearly as clever, and has significant plot holes. Joey is stuck outside when the poo hits the fan. She inexplicably can’t call for help and resorts to other methods to get attention. A solid chunk of the first act has her dealing with this dilemma while her brother hides. I can buy that Michael is afraid and impaired by his autism, but Cleaner has him as functional and a computer savant. They’re both sidelined when multiple things could have been down to alert law enforcement or at least stymie the terrorists.

Shaky Subplots Abound

Joey peers through windows like a Peeping Tom. There’s scene after scene of her observing the terrorists unnoticed. It’s unrealistic that they don’t see her, but even more unbelievable that she can hear every word they’re saying outside the windows. Industrial grade glass used in office construction is soundproof. It would be impossible for Joey to listen, have conversations, or audibly discern anything happening inside the building while hanging 30 stories in the air. The film hinges on this ability and it doesn’t make sense.

Cleaner has a few surprises that could have elevated the script if handled differently. These subplots abound but aren’t fleshed out to their full potential. Ridley and Tuck have chemistry as siblings, but Michael vanishes for large swaths. He only pops up to be rescued or when computer skills are needed. The terrorists also aren’t on the same page as Owen and Skylar differ in their extremist methods. Their tussle for control feels truncated in the film’s brief 90-minute runtime. An opportunity was lost to dig deeper and explore their group dynamics.

In this revised version, Ridley excels in her action performances by dishing out harsh retribution and using strong language. The fight sequences are intentionally close-up and devoid of extravagant special effects. Unlike many action heroes, Joey doesn’t indiscriminately eliminate opponents. Instead, she takes them down one by one, employing whatever method is necessary. Director Martin Campbell, known for films like GoldenEye, Casino Royale, and Green Lantern, demonstrates his mastery of action sequences despite the movie’s apparent flaws. Some viewers might consider Cleaner a less-than-stellar imitation of Die Hard.

The movie titled “Cleaner” is a creation of Anton and Qwerty Films. It’s set to hit theaters on February 21st, distributed by Quiver Distribution.

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2025-02-17 20:03