WFG RATING: B

Quiver Distribution presents an Anton/Qwerty Films production. Directed by Martin Campbell. Produced by Michael Kuhn, Gavin Glendinning, Sebastien Reybaud, Callum Christopher Grant, Thomas Fanning, Chris Arthur, and Cindy Cowan. Written by Simon Uttley, Paul Anthony Williams, and Michael Orton. Cinematography by Eigil Hensen. Edited by Jim Page and Cheryl Potter.

Stars Daisy Ridley, Matthew Tuck, Ruth Gemmell, Flavia Watson, Clive Owen, and Taz Skylar.

Daisy Ridley continues her status as a good action star type in this thriller from the director of Goldeneye and The Foreigner.

Joanna “Joey” Locke, as a child, learned how to climb windows as a kid to avoid her abusive father. She would later become a soldier only to quit after a confrontation with a fellow soldier. Now, she works as a window cleaner and is constantly looking out for her autistic younger brother Michael. On this particular night, a party to celebrate the Agnian Energy Corportation is in the building. However, this is also going to be a night that will not be forgotten.

While working outside the building high up, an environmental protection organization known as Earth Revolution has infiltrated and taken the place hostage. They don’t want to harm anyone but make its presence known that Agnian is not who they claim to be. The plan is to expose them. However, when things go southwards, tensions within the group itself lead to a series of events that trigger the police to get involved. However, they soon realize they may have found help in the form of none other than Joey, who is trying to find her brother when he disappears in the building. Will Joey be the hero needed to stop them?

Martin Campbell is a filmmaker who has had hits and also a few misses in his arsenal. While he made excellent films like Goldeneye, The Mask of Zorro, Casino Royale, and The Foreigner (considered to be one of Jackie Chan’s best films in his post-millennial era), his take on DC superhero Green Lantern still remains one of his worst films. Where does this film lie? It’s actually not as bad as people may think. It feels at times like a gender reversal Die Hard but adds more tension works quite well.

After a successful run as the re-christened “Rey Skywalker” in the last Star Wars trilogy, Daisy Ridley returns to action star status as the titular “Cleaner”. What’s very interesting with her character is that in most cases like this, an ex-military soldier turned everyman has completed their service. However, we learn Locke had quit due to knocking out a fellow soldier who was misogynistic. We also learn her life is very complicated since childhood and she became both the big sister and mother figure to her brother Michael, played really well by Matthew Tuck.

Clive Owen once again charms his way as Blake, the leader of Earth Revolution as his mission doesn’t involve fatalities but the exposure of corruption. However, it is One Piece’s Sanji, Taz Skylar, who goes full 180 from playing the lovable high kicking chef to playing the most psychotic member of Earth Revolution. He is first seen as an acquaintance of Joey’s who tries to keep her calm due to the fact they both have a total tool for a boss in their supervisor. It is later in the film when his true colors are revealed and goes the fun over-the-top route.

The action is pretty good as well with Ridley using gunfire and hand-to-hand combat quite well. Despite being doubled for certain complicated movements, Ridley and even Skylar have quite nice little fisticuffs against each other. It is the end result from loads of tension and some intricate twists in the storyline.

Cleaner is actually a pretty good Martin Campbell vehicle. Meshing a bit of a Die Hard-esque with a great lead performance by Daisy Ridley, this one may not have the level of a Goldeneye but it is much better than Green Lantern.