Samuel L. Jackson as Tom Cutler, a crime scene cleaner who accidentally mops up a murder cover-up. Sounds like a gritty noir, right? Nope!
Cleaner (2007) fumbles the ball, delivering a predictable thriller that’s more “meh” than masterpiece. Jackson’s charisma tries to scrub away the clichés, but even his snarl can’t save a script flatter than a steamrolled rug.
Ed Harris and Eva Mendes are solid as a shady cop and widow, but their spark gets lost in a plot that feels like Law & Order’s reject pile. Renny Harlin’s direction aims for tense but lands on tepid, with action scenes as thrilling as a mop bucket. The pacing drags like a slow drip, and the “twist” is telegraphed from scene one.
At 88 minutes, it’s mercifully short but forgets to leave a mark. For Jackson fans, it’s a passable Sunday stream, but don’t expect Jackie Brown or even Shaft.
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