Why Daisy Ridley’s ‘Cleaner’ is a Forgettable ‘Die Hard’ Knockoff

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Martin Campbell’s “Cleaner” begins with promise, especially because it stars Daisy Ridley.

The initial sequences delve into the backstory of Ridley’s character, Joey Locke, revealing how she honed her ability to escape from home during a challenging upbringing.

In present day, Locke is a window washer for a skyscraper.

In the narrative, I found myself drawn not only to the intricate storyline involving my character’s strained bond with her brother, Michael, portrayed by Matthew Tuck, but also to the captivating spectacle of watching Ridley perform his daring feats as he perched precariously outside a colossal structure to clean its windows.

During one of her nighttime assignments, the building is taken over by terrorists. The leader of the operation is played by Clive Owen, the situation is dire, only one person can possibly stop the bad guys, who have taken hostages and- oh no.

It’s a rip-off of “Die Hard” (1988).

Unlike the top movies that imitate the style of “Die Hard,” such as “Under Siege” from 1992, “Cliffhanger” from 1993, and “Executive Decision” from 1996, “Cleaner” was so unpromising it left me wondering why Ridley, Owen, and particularly Campbell chose to produce this film.

Given that Campbell’s past works encompass two significant 007 thrillers, “Goldeneye” (1995) and “Casino Royale” (2006), along with excellent popcorn thrillers like “The Mask of Zorro” (1998) and “Vertical Limit” (2000), it seems surprising that he’d dare to create a mediocre imitation of one of the most famous and enduring action movies ever made.

I recently watched the latest movie of Campbell’s, “The Protégé” from 2021. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to expectations, as it seemed to squander Maggie Q’s talent (alongside Michael Keaton and Samuel L. Jackson) both for her and the audience. Similarly, Campbell’s recent work also falls short – it lacks the rough edges that would suggest a quick production but fails to impress enough to be taken seriously.

The dialogue is full of cliches, like “nobody gets a free pass.”

Originating from the director of two impressive 007 action films, “Cleaner” falls short compared to those works. While it’s been skillfully and vigorously produced, it fails to impress in a substantial way. The film is action-packed but lacks the thrill that one would expect. It seems that three screenwriters worked on the script, possibly swapping duties to replicate scenes from “Die Hard.

Instead of making Ridley Scott’s portrayal of a Bruce Willis role just mindlessly entertaining (like Rey Skywalker saying “I have a good feeling about this”? or “Yippee Ki Yay, Mr. Skywalker”), it seems that this film might be one that he’d rather his fans overlook, particularly after the critically acclaimed “Young Woman in the Sea” (2024) production.

Without a doubt, Ripley delivers a powerful act, despite her questionable Peter Pan hairstyle. However, she has shown superior talent in other roles.

Or:

Indeed, Ripley’s performance is impressive, even under the shadow of an unflattering Peter Pan hairdo; yet, she has excelled more in other projects.

Both sentences convey the same meaning and tone while maintaining a natural and easy-to-read flow.

Owen doesn’t quite fill Alan Rickman’s shoes from “Die Hard.” I can’t recall the last time I saw him in a film, but that was in Ang Lee’s “Gemini Man” (2019). Roles like the one he’s playing in “Cleaner” are below an actor who was a major star during the early 2000s. He was even considered for James Bond, and his work in “Children of Men” (2006) remains one of his most notable performances.

If it’s implied that Ridley is truly hanging from that office building, I didn’t sense any danger. The way those scenes showing her outside the skyscraper were filmed and edited makes the height and gravity seem less intense.

If Ridley is really doing Tom Cruise-like stunts, the movie isn’t selling it.

The painfully generic score by Tom Hodge could be used on any middle-of-the-road TV crime series.

The idea brought to mind an infamous, never-completed Jackie Chan film concept involving a window cleaner from the Twin Towers. Unfortunately, this movie didn’t get made following the events of September 11th.

RELATED: WHY ‘DIE HARD’ STILL MATTERS

From the outset, the portrayal of “Cleaner” falls short – it drags when introducing Ridley’s character into the building, and the slow-motion heist elements that mimic “Die Hard” merely emphasize how John McTiernan’s 1988 thriller remains exceptional even after all these years.

Without a doubt, “The Towering Inferno” (1974) stands out as a superior choice, although the action-packed and amusing movie “Skyscraper” (2018) starring Dwayne Johnson is leagues above the film “Cleaner.

In my humble opinion, despite the captivating villain’s demise and an exceptional end credit track by Griff titled “Vertigo,” I find myself reluctantly awarding this film a solitary star. The plot, unfortunately, left much to be desired.

One Star (out of five)

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2025-03-01 18:03