Movie Review: Sunshine Cleaning and Angels & Demons

So this weekend I did something I haven't done in years: a double feature movie marathon! I used to do this all the time in the hot Phoenix summers as a way to stay cool, but since moving to the Pac NW, I haven't really needed to stay cool! :)

Up first was Sunshine Cleaning. It was a wonderful and touching film. The story revolves around a family who is barely making ends meet in their daily jobs and accidentally stumble into the crime scene clean up business. Amy Adams stars as Rose, the more stable one in the family. She is a single mom and works for a house cleaning service. She is also sleeping with her high school boyfriend, played brilliantly by Steve Zahn, who is married with one child and one on the way. He puts the crime scene clean up biz in Rose's mind as a way to make good money. Meanwhile, Rose's sister Norah, played by Emily blunt is having trouble finding her way in life and reluctantly joins Rose in this business. Their father, Joe (Alan Arkin) is a man with a good heart but always a scheme to make quick cash. His schemes never really pan out and, like his daughters, is barely scraping by.

The story unfolds with reference to Rose and Norah's mother's suicide, Rose's decision to drop the boyfriend and get on with her life, Norah's decision to find her way on her own and Joe's decision to help Rose go into business for herself when "Sunshine Cleaning" is closed down due to property damage at one of their client's homes.

It was realistic and well acted. Not as funny as I thought it would be, but I'm glad it wasn't non stop laughter. I really felt for each character and could relate on some level to each of their problems.

I give it an A+ and highly recommend seeing it.

Next up was Angels & Demons. Now, I both read The DaVinci Code and saw the movie and was incredibly disappointed in how it translated to film. The book was wonderful. Non stop action and I couldn't wait for the end. Here's where it gets weird for me though. I thought the end of the book was an incredible let down, but LOVED how it translated to the film. I GOT IT when I watched it on screen. Not so much in the book.

I did not read Angels & Demons, but am sure it was a good book. I will say I enjoyed the movie, but didn't quite feel the sense of urgency that the movie seemed to try and convey.

It was well acted and I truly didn't realize who the bad guy was until the end of the movie. It worked well and think it was light years better than The DaVinci Code.

I recommend it, but think it would be ok to wait for the DVD release.