Sunshine Cleaning (2008)

Director:

Christine Jeffs

Writer (WGA):

Megan Holley (written by)

Release Date:

27 March 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

life's a messy business.

Plot:

In order to raise the tuition to send her young son to private school, a mom starts an unusual business -- a biohazard removal/crime scene clean-up service -- with her unreliable sister.

Plot Keywords:

Private School | School | Business | Death | Crime Scene

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Amy Adams	...	Rose
Emily Blunt	...	Norah
Alan Arkin	...	Joe
Jason Spevack	...	Oscar
Steve Zahn	...	Mac
Mary Lynn Rajskub	...	Lynn
Clifton Collins Jr.	...	Winston
Eric Christian Olsen	...	Randy
Paul Dooley	...	Sherm
Kevin Chapman	...	Carl
Judith Jones	...	Paula Datzman-Mead
Amy Redford	...	Heather
Christopher Dempsey	...	Gun Shop Suicide
Vic Browder	...	Gun Shop Owner
Ivan Brutsche	...	Above and Beyond Worker
Arron Shiver	...	Detective
Ralph Jason Aukison	...	Gun Shop Employee #1
Cliff Garstka Sr.	...	Gun Shop Employee #2 (as Clifford R. Garstka Sr.)
Charles Domenici	...	Gun Shop Employee #3
Susie Yip	...	Mrs. Kim
Mike Miller	...	Counselor (as Michael L.. Miller)
Sarah Hudnut	...	Teacher
Anya Alyassin	...	Mac's Daughter
Pab Schwendimann	...	Apartment Super
William Sterchi	...	Candy Store Manager
Amber Midthunder	...	Candy Store Girl
Angelique Midthunder	...	Girl's Mother
Olive Gallagher	...	Seminar Speaker
Lois Geary	...	Mrs. Davis
Frank E. Cruz	...	Shrimp Truck Driver
Esodie Geiger	...	Reporter
Kevin Wiggins	...	Police Officer
Epifanio Hernández	...	Restaurant Owner (as Epifanio Hernandez)
McKenna Hutton	...	Young Rose
Mason Frank	...	Young Norah
Marya Beauvais	...	TV Waitress / Mother
Maddie Corman	...	Mousy Baby Shower Guest
Rebekah Wiggins	...	Peppy Baby Shower Guest
Kristin Reese	...	Hinkle's Employee Singer #1
Veronica Hernandez	...	Hinkle's Employee Singer #2
Jourdan Reese	...	Hinkle's Employee Singer #3
Josh Berry	...	TV Detective
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jason Henning	...	Guy In White Coat (uncredited)
Kathy Lamkin	...	Fair N Square Owner (uncredited)
Davin Ruggles	...	Paulas daughter (uncredited)

Directed by
Christine Jeffs

Writing credits (WGA)
Megan Holley		(written by)

Produced by
Jeb Brody	....	producer
Bob Dohrmann	....	co-producer (as Robert J. Dohrmann)
Dan Genetti	....	associate producer
Peter Saraf	....	producer
Marc Turtletaub	....	producer
Glenn Williamson	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Penn

Cinematography by
John Toon		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Heather Persons

Casting by
Avy Kaufman

Production Design by
Joseph T. Garrity

Art Direction by
Guy Barnes

Set Decoration by
Wendy Ozols-Barnes

Costume Design by
Alix Friedberg

Makeup Department
Debra Clair	....	key hair stylist (as Debra R. Clair)
Tarra D. Day	....	department head makeup (as Tarra Day)
Lisa Hill	....	additional makeup artist
Voni Hinkle	....	department head hair
Vanessa Jaramillo	....	additional makeup artist
Mary Hedges Lampert	....	key hair stylist (as Mary Lampert)
Karen McDonald	....	key makeup artist
Yvette Meely	....	additional hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Bob Dohrmann	....	unit production manager (as Robert J. Dohrmann)
Brent Morris	....	unit production manager: additional photography (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sarah Lemon	....	second second assistant director (as Sarah B. Lemon)
Chemen Ochoa	....	second assistant director (as Chemen A. Ochoa)
Gregory J. Smith	....	first assistant director
Marcia Woske	....	additional assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
David Bancroft	....	set painter
David D. Baumann	....	assistant property master
Rick Belosic	....	propmaker
Craig P. Bradley	....	set dresser
Benjamin Joseph Bustos	....	set dresser (as Benjamin J. Bustos)
Ryan Cowles	....	art department
Jason Critchfield	....	set painter
Ralph Diaz	....	on-set greensman
James Duddy	....	set dresser
Gary Eilar	....	set dresser
Dan Fitzgerald	....	storyboard artist
Severino Gonzales	....	lead person
Dwayne Grady	....	property master (as Dwayne David Grady)
Mike J. Hanrahan	....	set dresser
Eddie Jimenez	....	propmaker
Ester Kim	....	additional props
Debbie Long	....	set dresser
Johnny Long	....	greensman
Amahl Lovato	....	set designer (as Amahl H. Lovato)
Amy Marsh	....	art department coordinator (as Amy Elizabeth Marsh)
David McQuade	....	assistant property master
Cee Moravec	....	on-set dresser
Randy Ortega	....	paint gang boss (as Randy E. Ortega)
Robert Ortega	....	paint foreman
Chris Painter	....	set dresser
Wilhelm Pfau	....	set dressing buyer
Mark Purtill	....	propmaker
Ian Scroggins	....	set dresser
Jamie Archer	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)
Ellen Lampl	....	graphic designer (uncredited)
Steven Maes	....	graphic designer (uncredited)
Leigh Maney	....	additional on-set props (uncredited)
Edward McLoughlin	....	set decorator: re-shoots (uncredited)
Brooke Peters	....	art department coordinator: reshoots (uncredited)

Sound Department
Deb Adair	....	sound mixer
Bryan Arenas	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Michael J. Benavente	....	supervising sound editor
Gary C. Bourgeois	....	sound mixer (as Gary Bourgeois)
Laurel Bridges	....	boom operator (as Laurel Ann Bridges)
David B. Cohn	....	sound effects editor
Lori Dovi	....	sound mixer
Cole Gittinger	....	sound utility
Eric Harwood	....	sound mix technician
Tricia Linklater	....	supervising sound editor
Martin Lopez	....	sound designer (as Martin Jacob Lopez)
Travis MacKay	....	adr recordist
Ryan Maguire	....	foley mixer
Stefano Mascitti	....	synchronization
Fred Peck III	....	sound mix technician (as Fred W. Peck III)
Joan Rowe	....	foley artist
Sean Rowe	....	foley artist
Roger Smith	....	sound engineer
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Bayard Carey	....	production sound mixer: pick-ups (uncredited)
John Weitz	....	utility sound technician: pick-ups (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Scott Hastings	....	special effects technician
Daniel Holt	....	special effects foreman
Margaret Johnson	....	special effects coordinator (as Margaret 'Maggie' Johnson)
Randy E. Moore	....	special effects rigging foreman

Visual Effects by
Brad Carvey	....	visual effects supervisor
Michael Plescia	....	digital artist: Digiscope
Brennan Prevatt	....	compositing supervisor: Digiscope
Janet Quen	....	digital artist: Digiscope
Dana Robinson	....	digital artist: Digiscope
Laurel Lyn Schulman	....	digital effects producer: Digiscope (as Laurel Schulman)
Christopher Stack	....	imaging supervisor: Digiscope

Stunts
Trine Christensen	....	stunt double: Norah
Al Goto	....	stunt coordinator
John Koyama	....	stunts
Jodi Michelle Pynn	....	stunt double: Norah
Kevin L. Jackson	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
John Koyama	....	stunt rigger (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bradley Barnes	....	lighting technician
Jeff Bettis	....	grip
Chip Byrd	....	first assistant camera
Erick Castillo	....	film loader
David Cummings	....	grip
Theda Cunningham	....	first assistant camera (as Theda Streetman)
Dan Delgado	....	gaffer
Clinton Dougherty	....	camera operator: "a" camera (as Clint Dougherty)
Ryan Eustis	....	second assistant camera
Frank Eyers	....	video assist
Brad Freshman	....	grip
George Greene	....	electrician (as George H. Greene)
Trevor Howe	....	grip
Tom Hutchinson	....	second assistant camera
Derek Johnson	....	grip
Gary Kangrga	....	key grip
Kirk LeBlanc	....	electrician
Nikki LeBlanc	....	electrician
Jeff Lomaglio	....	grip
Rob Lueker	....	electrician
Emily Mackley	....	first assistant camera (as Emily Mackley Nagle)
Brian Malone	....	grip
Louis Nelson	....	electrician (as Lou Nelson)
Patrick Noland	....	grip
Ray Ortega	....	best boy electric
Ray Patrick	....	super technocrane operator
Tim Pershing	....	dolly grip
Christopher H. Sipes	....	grip (as Chris Sipes)
John Stearns	....	electrician
Lacey Terrell	....	still photographer
Jim Threadgill	....	best boy grip
Steve Banister	....	first assistant "a" camera: second unit (uncredited)
Nick Barros	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Thomas Campbell	....	electrician (uncredited)
David Cummings	....	dolly grip: "b" camera (uncredited)
Steven G. Fracol	....	steadicam operator (uncredited)

Animation Department
Robert Vega	....	title animator

Casting Department
Sheila Berkheimer	....	casting assistant: New Mexico
Jo Edna Boldin	....	casting: New Mexico
Kate Carlin	....	adr voice casting
Elizabeth Gabel	....	extras casting: New Mexico (as Elizabeth M. Gabel)
Marie A. Kohl	....	casting associate: New Mexico
Hannah Macpherson	....	casting assistant: New Mexico
Rebecca Stover	....	extras casting assistant: New Mexico (as Rebecca J. Stover)
Leeba Zakharov	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Barbara Lee Brice	....	seamstress (as Barbara Brice)
Debra Chapman	....	seamstress
Linda Huse	....	costume supervisor
Wendy R. Kennedy	....	costume production assistant
Maili Lafayette	....	costumer: LA
Daniela Moore	....	costume supervisor (as Daniela Landrith)
Molly O'Haver	....	key costumer
Kent Alan Parker	....	key costumer
Claire Sandrin	....	set costumer
Alison M. Schmidt	....	costumer: LA
Amy Sexton	....	costume production assistant

Editorial Department
David Buchwald	....	post-production assistant
Michael Chiado	....	digital intermediate technologist: CO3
Todd Crawford	....	digital intermediate assistant
Jim Eberle	....	digital intermediate on-line editor: CO3
Roger Fenton	....	assistant editor
Naomi Geraghty	....	additional editor
Mia Goldman	....	editorial consultant
Terry Haggar	....	color timer
Lesley Hansen	....	post-production assistant
David James Kelly	....	post-production assistant
Jerimiah Morey	....	digital intermediate assistant
Mark T. Osborne	....	digital intermediate colorist: CO3
Missy Papageorge	....	digital intermediate producer: CO3
Chris Patterson	....	associate editor
Chocez Peterson	....	digital intermediate producer: CO3
Stefan Sonnenfeld	....	digital intermediate executive producer: CO3
Arturo Sosa	....	assistant editor
Ian Turpen	....	digital intermediate scanner: Company 3 (uncredited)

Music Department
Jay Bellerose	....	musician: percussion (as Jay Belrose)
John Carbonara	....	music editor
Ryan Freeland	....	music recording engineer
Susan Jacobs	....	music supervisor
Greg Leisz	....	musician: pedal steel
Bruce MacFarlane	....	music recording engineer
Craig MacIntyre	....	musician: percussion
Michael Penn	....	musician: guitars and sundry
Patrick Warren	....	musician: keyboards
Patrick Warren	....	orchestrator
Ronald J. Webb	....	music editor (as Ron Webb)
David Majzlin	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Albert Thrower	....	music clearances (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Mary B. Borg	....	driver
Greg Bronner	....	production driver (as Gregory M. Bronner)
George M. Brown	....	driver (as George Brown)
Joe Bufalino	....	driver
Al Cantu	....	driver
Phyllis Cantu	....	driver
Billy P. Cook	....	driver
Frank E. Cruz	....	driver
Josh Foley	....	driver
Roy A. Grace	....	driver
Jerry Harvey	....	driver
Chris Hicks	....	driver
Penny Hicks	....	driver (as Penny M. Hicks)
David L. Inman	....	driver (as David Inman)
Brian Kay	....	transportation captain (as Brian 'Bird' Kay)
Anthony Lebow	....	driver
Elie Littauer	....	driver
Jimmy W. Masterson	....	driver
Collin Meador	....	driver (as Colin Meador)
Dennis Milliken	....	transportation coordinator (as Dennis W. Millikin)
C.D. Corky Newberry	....	driver
Chris I. Quintana	....	driver (as Chris Quintana)
Kino Quintana	....	driver
Patrick A. Reynolds Jr.	....	driver (as Patrick A. Reynolds)
Walter J. Russell	....	driver
Boots Southerland	....	driver
Paul Walker	....	driver
Charley Bob Burnham	....	driver (uncredited)
Lyle Christensen	....	shotmaker driver (uncredited)
Rita Lundin	....	transportation (uncredited)

Other crew
Doug Acton	....	medic
Cayley Bell	....	assistant: Mr. Arkin
Lisa Berry	....	animal wrangler
Anna Burd	....	assistant production coordinator/travel
Tim Carlson	....	utility stand-in
Tim Carroll	....	animal wrangler
Enrique Castenada	....	crime scene consultant
Nick Cessac	....	accounting staff assistant
Trine Christensen	....	stand-in: Norah
Michael B. Clark	....	assistant: Big Beach (as Michael Clark)
Angie Lee Cobbs	....	production coordinator
Dawn Darfus	....	production accountant
Jacqueline Eckhouse	....	production attorney (as Jackie Eckhouse)
Breanna Ellis	....	stand-in: Rose (as Bre Ellis)
Ayla Ercin	....	production attorney
Carrie Fleming	....	assistant to producers
Jennifer Zolten Freed	....	post production accountant (as Jennifer Freed)
Dave Gare	....	product placement
Audrey Garrison	....	studio teacher
Andre Gaudry	....	location manager
Don Gray	....	location scout
Johan Grimm	....	production assistant (as Johann Grimm)
Emily Gruendike	....	set production assistant (as Emily L. Gruendike)
Mike Guffey	....	office production assistant
Dia Hahn	....	studio teacher
Lesley Hansen	....	assistant to director
Lauren Hollingsworth	....	assistant: Ms. Jeffs
Keith Jackson	....	set production assistant
Glen Kappy	....	stand-in: Joe
Nikki Kelly	....	assistant: Ms. Blunt
Joanna Kennedy	....	script supervisor
Ashley Kravitz	....	clearances
Ryan Lacen	....	set production assistant
Liz Lash	....	assistant: Ms. Adams
Michael Lawson	....	unit publicist
Leigh Maney	....	assistant: Mr. Spevak
Luis Martinez	....	set production assistant (as Louie Martinez)
Toran Maynard	....	medic
Jes McKay Gilmore	....	location production assistant
Charissa McLain	....	production coordinator (as Charissa Deann McLain)
Emily McMaster	....	production executive: Big Beach
Maryl McNally	....	assistant: Ms. Jeffs
Paul Merritt	....	office production assistant (as Paul Quence Merritt)
Liz Modena	....	post production accountant
David Muscatine	....	first assistant accountant
Ariana Nash	....	unit publicist
Michael Richards	....	stand-in: Oscar
Nicholas Salinas	....	medic
Veronica Sanchez	....	assistant: Ms. Adams (as Veronica P. Sanchez)
Tony Shandra	....	payroll accountant
Karla Simmet	....	assistant craft service
Jon-Eric Singleton	....	office production assistant
Rebecca Puck Stair	....	location manager: New Mexico (as Rebecca 'Puck' Stair)
Hunter Standen	....	assistant production coordinator/travel
Marcus Taylor	....	set production assistant
Brayn Lee White	....	office production assistant
Tobias Swift White	....	craft service
Justin T. Williams	....	assistant location manager
Lisa Alsop	....	assistant: Emily Blunt (uncredited)
William Arute	....	stand-in: Steve Zahn (uncredited)
Newton Bass	....	location manager: reshoots (uncredited)
Winter Cantagallo	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Nicholas R. Doyle	....	key office production assistant (uncredited)
Fernando Echeverri	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Brooke Fair	....	craft service (uncredited)
Patricia Greer	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Tara Hahn	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Tracey Horsley	....	stand-in: Photo Double (uncredited)
Dar Larizadeh	....	balloon coordinator/owner (uncredited)
Jennifer Mancuso	....	assistant to cast: re-shoots (uncredited)
Matt Mcalister	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Tiffany Patterson	....	additional set production assistant (uncredited)
Ryan J. Pezdirc	....	set production assistant: reshoots (uncredited)
Paul B. Roberts	....	location manager: reshoots (uncredited)
G.Q. Sanchez	....	fire safety officer (uncredited)
Betty Weaver	....	production coordinator: additional photography (uncredited)
Ayla Wilder	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Paul Maxwell	....	special thanks
Brian Schornak	....	special thanks
Jason Wolf	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Overture Films (presents)
• Big Beach Films (as Big Beach) (in association with) (producer)
• Back Lot Pictures (producer)
• Clean Sweep Productions

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Capelight Pictures (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Festive Films (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Pictures (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Kinepolis Film Distribution (KFD) (2009) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Mares Filmes (2011) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Overture Films (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Phantom Film (2009) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Surreal Films (2009) (France) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2009) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (UK) (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Argentina Video Home (2010) (Argentina) (DVD)
• CN Entertainment (2009) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• Canana Films (2010) (Mexico) (all media)
• E1 Entertainment (2009) (Canada) (DVD)
• Europa Filmes (2010) (Brazil) (all media)
• Film1 (2010) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• MG Film (2009) (Croatia) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2008) (New Zealand) (all media)
• Net5 (2011) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Odeon (2009) (Greece) (all media)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Digiscope (digital visual effects)
• Drumfire (digital visual effects)
• Great FX (uncredited)

Other Companies

• Act One Script Clearance  script research
• Big Time Picture Company  post-production facilities
• Camera Service Center  camera equipment (as ARRI/Camera Service Center)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Cinetic Media  U.S. sales
• Company 3  digital intermediate
• Deborah Ross Film Design  title design
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Mimeograph Records  score recording facility (as Mimeograph)
• Murphy PR  publicity
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Pass, The  score recording facility
• Reel Chefs Catering  catering
• SabuCat Productions  stock footage
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Sloss Eckhouse Brennan Law  legal services (as Sloss, Eckhouse, Brennan)
• Sony Pictures Studios  post-production sound services
• Technicolor  release printing
• Trevanna Post  post-production accounting

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language, disturbing images, some sexuality and drug use

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Turkey:13+ | USA:R (certificate #44055) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Netherlands:12 | UK:15 | Sweden:7 | Ireland:15A | Germany:12 | Japan:PG-12 | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:M | Singapore:M18 | Hong Kong:IIB | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Finland:K-11 | Singapore:NC-16 (edited for re-rating) | South Korea:15 | Denmark:11 | France:U | Australia:MA (Cable TV rating) | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Overture Films

Trivia:

The car Rose drives is a Toyota Tercel Second Generation (1982-1986).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Norah chases after the kitten, there is a small table and a cat statue on the porch. Later, when the house is burning at night, the table and statue are gone. A subsequent scene of the porch in flames has the table and cat statue back again.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Talking Deer Head:Attention all fellow deer. If you find deer feed in the middle of the forest, be a bit suspicious.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Episode #8.169" (2010)

Soundtrack:

The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Dance of the Shepherd Boys

Illuminating as sunshine, this film is a sharp, sweet look at the working class

Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams) was once a popular cheerleader and a person of envy, back in those high school years. However, she has made some questionable choices since then and now works as a home cleaner to support herself and her young son, Oscar. She does a have a back-up system in her wheeler-dealer father, Joe (Alan Arkin) and in her frequently out-of-work younger sister, Norah (Emily Blunt), if she needs babysitters. She calls upon the eccentric Norah often, especially so that she, Rose, can have a late-night tryst with a married policeman, Mac (Steve Zahn). Ouch, she is still going in the wrong direction, it seems. However, Mac does give her a work tip. If she could get into the "crime scene" cleaning business, she would be pulling in large bucks, as removing blood stains is big stuff. Receiving some leads, Rose does begin to get some assignments, like cleaning up after suicide victims and folks that die in their slovenly homes. Reluctantly, Norah agrees to help and "Sunshine Cleaners" is born. But, with Oscar still having trouble in school and with Mac continuing to string her along in the love department, will Rose really rise above her present circumstances? This is a fine film about people who work hard and get nowhere. First, the cast is great, with Adams, Blunt and Arkin delivering terrific performances, ones worthy of honors. Blunt, especially, is a treasure as the unconventional woman, haunted by past circumstances, and having trouble fitting into "modern" existence. The lesser actors are also nice, but Zahn is, unfortunately, given no chances to show off his comedic touch. The setting in New Mexico is also lovely, while the costumes and look of the film are likewise wonderful. That said, special mention should also go to the very fine, sharply worded script and the secure direction. This is a heart-grabbing story, with unusual elements and unsettling realities. If you love films that are not of the typical, churn-em-out variety, this one is definitely a worthy choice. It is as illuminating as sunshine and as touching as they come.