5/5 Understated, Quiet Indie Drama
  by Rustin Parr (Toronto, Canada)
"Sunshine Cleaning" is the type of a film that ranks alongside Nicole Holofcener's works on feminine drama; works that feature strong but flawed female characters that are still relatable by all audiences. With "Sunshine Cleaning", there is less humour though, the supposed comedy that the trailers have tacitly promised us prior to its release. Instead, we are presented the inner problems of the two women without painting them with a single neat stroke of characterization; they are complex characters leading very messy lives. Rose (Amy Adams) and Norah (Amy Adams), both of whom have been traumatized in many ways by their mother's suicide, explore their options in bettering their lives by virtue of working as crime scene cleaners. Their chosen career path is an ironic statement: for the first time, they want to be able to finally come into terms with the great loss of losing their mother, and even perhaps the huge empty void created by the mother herself through her suicide. Indeed, it is a grim world for both of these women. They are restless, lost and severely damaged. Their situations are emphasized by the directors simple approach: the film implores the world by its humdrum nature: unglamorous, even snail-crawlingly boring, with people working as maids, where kids are left uneducated, where suicide could seem to be the only option..."Sunshine Cleaning" is realistic, and even downright terrifying in its minimal approach in viewing life through its grey lenses. Both Amy Adams and Emily Blunt churn out great performances. This is understated, quiet drama that is delicate with sprinkles of unabrasive humour. "Sunshine Cleaning": moving, at times emotionally painful, and most of the time, radiantly beautiful.

3/5 Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin shine in "Sunshine"
  by James C. Ward (Tuscaloosa area AL, USA)
this is what I would call a "character piece" movie...normally a movie like this will focus on one main character, but here with get three characters, two sisters and their father, and their interactions. The plot is interesting, but I found the acting and the interactions among the characters even more fun.

essentially, it shows you the struggles of a family- an unwed single mom who is trying to work and care for her child at the same time. Her younger sister, who's a bit of a slacker and doesn't have any goals in life. And their father, who is always trying to scheme to make a quick buck.

at times funny, other times sad, other times melancholy...it is a realistic movie about a financially struggling family trying to stay together in difficult times.

4/5 comedic take on a darker theme
  by J. Espinoza (Chicago, IL)
I was pleasantly surprised by the film, expecting it to be much more comedic. However, the film makes good use of the actors and the movie ended up coming together in the end. Not a film for the weak hearted, as it is very serious and the humor is very dark, but I enjoyed it greatly.

4/5 Sunshine Cleaning.... Im Washing on Sunshine
  by Julian Kennedy (St Pete Florida)
Sunshine Cleaning: 7 out of 10: Sunshine cleaning is by the producers of Little Miss Sunshine. In addition, although Alan Arkin plays a similar role in both (What could easily be considered the Alan Arkin role by now), the film is very different in tone.

It consists of two sisters who are behind in life due to their own choices. There are no victims here. These women (played very well by Amy Adams and Emily Blunt) have made some bad decisions in life and as a result are playing catch-up.

The movie (unlike Little Miss Sunshine) simply does not have a false note. All the people places and situations are remarkably believable. You will learn more about the dos and donts of crime scene clean-up than you thought possible.

The movie is also wonderfully free of cynicism and snarkiness. While both those elements certainly have a place in film, it is refreshing to see a warm comedy about real people in transitional circumstances.

Overall, Sunshine Cleaning is light fair with warm feelings and a happy ending. Kudos to the film in not making the protagonists perfect or victims of circumstance and kudos for casting two wonderful actresses that actual look and act like they could be real sisters.

4/5 Wonderfully Quirky, Rich Comedy/Drama...
  by Benjamin J Burgraff (Las Vegas)
Director Christine Jeffs' "Sunshine Cleaning" is a terrific example of what independent films do best; offer rewarding character studies of believable people, without all the gloss and overkill of major studio features. While the subject matter may seem distasteful (cleaning up crime scenes), this is really a film about family, growing up, and discovering life paths, played by an exceptional cast.

Amy Adams surprises me more, with each film, and she is simply perfect, here, as the older of two sisters, whose prestige and promise in high school was derailed after graduation by having a son out of wedlock. While her classmates went on to bigger things, she focused on raising her son, accepting work as a maid, while struggling to earn a real estate license. Adams captures both the beauty and optimism that continues to enthrall her now-married high school boyfriend (Steve Zahn), as well as the growing desperation of a mother trying to provide for her child (Jason Spevack). As her younger, non-conformist sister, British actress Emily Blunt is equally good, trying to establish a life of her own, yet sensitive to the pain of others. The always terrific Alan Arkin (everybody's favorite father/grandfather figure) rounds out the family, as their loving, dreamer dad.

When the opportunity to make quick cash doing a crime scene clean-up appears, Adams and Blunt grab it, doing nearly everything wrong, but seeing a bigger check than being a maid or waitress could provide. They start a business, steered in the right direction by a one-armed, likably laconic supplier (Clifton Collins Jr., in another stand-out performance), and with the newly-coined 'Sunshine Cleaning', the entire family will experience joy, pain, frustration, and ultimately, renewal. The journey is an emotionally rewarding one for viewers, and makes the film quite wonderful!

A very interesting 'Making Of" featurette is included, with the observations of two women who actually provide crime scene clean-up, and it is a fascinating look at an unusual job.

"Sunshine Cleaning" has some flaws, but is certainly one of the better films I've watched this year!