Taken To The Cleaners

A week ago I was fortunate enough to go to an advance screening of Sunshine Cleaning. This was a film I was really looking forward to. I don't want to say I was disappointed with it, but I was just a little frazzled by it. There is far too much going on here. The film could have done away with a few of the side stories and still have been satisfying; or it could have added another twenty minutes or so and actually explored all of the side stories a little further. I think the latter is what I would have preferred. These characters are immensely likable and I would have delighted in the opportunity to spend more time with them. The best part of the film is the sister relationship between Amy Adams and Emily Blunt. Watching these two ladies together was hilarious and so much fun. I gotta tip my hat to Blunt especially. She was terrific.

I finally decided to see what all of the hoopla surrounding Taken was about. This film was released overseas over a year ago. Stuff like that makes me a little skeptical, but after its surprising haul at the box office my curiosity finally got the better of me. Taken isn't that deep of a story, but it's a pretty good thriller. If this had been another one of those Jason Statham shoot 'em ups I would have just rolled my eyes. Liam Neeson definitely raises the stakes and makes the film better than it should be.