What would a former soldier-turned-window cleaner, trapped on a skyscraper cradle, do when witnessing murderous terrorists holding hundreds of people hostage inside the building?
That's the simple premise of "Cleaner," led by Daisy Ridley ("Murder on the Orient Express") and Clive Owen ("The American"). Ridley carries the picture "Die Hard" style, while Owen is obtusely wasted in his role.
A band of environmental extremists is doing a hostile takeover of an energy company gala celebrating its success, while camouflaging its dark dealings and darker life-changing consequences. The eco-terrorists are forcing out crime confessions of the frightened key players and broadcasting them out to the world. There's infighting among who's in charge of the operations, and it's a ruthless numbers game when it comes to who's left alive or end up dead and how and the total body counts.
Not only is Joey's life hanging in the balance - literally in the air - she has to find a way to alert the authorities with no means of communication, convince the authorities she's not one of the bad guys, get inside the building from the sides of the skyscraper, fight off said bad guys and survive, and save the explosive-strapped hostages.
It's a straightforward story, although not without a kink or two and suspension of disbelief. A confrontation between Joey and the terrorist group's rancorous leader would have more of an impact with a buildup story. Soap, fire, gun and grenade are deployed, along with hide-and-seek, hand-to-hand combat.
I received a screener link over a week ago and watched the movie through my small laptop screen with a relatively weak sound (even with the volume turned all the way up). It would be a stronger viewing experience seeing it at the theater or even with a large television screen and strong sound.
"Cleaner" is a generic action thriller executed well with edge-of-your seat and do or die moments.
