The iconic 1988 action classic,Die Hard, provided a perfect template for the action genre upon its release. The simple premise of pitting a lone hero with a particular set of skills against an army of terrorists within one massive location was so effective that it resulted in many action films borrowing fromDie Hard’s pitch-perfect structure, implementing many of the same concepts and plot devices in many action films that followed. Some of these have been very solid in their own right, from1992’sUnder SiegestarringSteven Seagalto the underrated 1995Jean-Claude Van Dammefilm,Sudden Death; while others have been less successful, such as 2018’sSkyscraper, which sawDwayne Johnsontrying to capture theDie Hardmagic for a new generation, to no avail.
Skyscraperis just one example of the manyDie Hardclones the action genre has seen in recent years, as theBruce Willis-starring masterpiecestill sees its fair share of copycats to this day, some good, some not so much. In comes the latest action thriller to useDie Hardas its inspiration,Martin Campbell’sCleaner. Released in February of this very year,CleanerseesStar Warssequel trilogystarDaisy Ridleytake on her first leading role in a straight-up action flick.Ridley portrays protagonist Joey Locke, a down-on-her-luck ex-soldier struggling to make ends meet as a window cleaner for a lucrative energy company. But when the company’s annual gala is hijacked by a group of eco-terrorists, it’s up to Joey to save the day, all the while keeping her neurodivergent younger brother, Michael (Matthew Tuck), from harm. From that description, it can be surmised thatCleaneris no more than a frivolousDie Hardclone with little to offer, but the film proves to be a bit more than that.
‘Cleaner’ Is a Very Flawed Yet Entertaining ‘Die Hard’ Clone
Cleanerhas a lot more going for it than manyDie Hardclones of the past. Firstly, its director, the aforementioned Martin Campbell, has a lot of experience within the action genre, having helmed twoJames Bondfilms in the past— thePierce Brosnan-starringGoldenEye, as well asDaniel Craig’s first Bond outing,Casino Royale. But even outside theJames Bondfranchise, Campbell has proven to be a terrific action filmmaker with films such as 1998’sThe Mask of Zorroand 2017’sThe Foreigner, so it should come as no surprise to hear thatCleanercontains some rather entertaining standoffs between Ridley and the various baddies she encounters throughout the film.
Daisy Ridley Takes Action To New Heights in ‘Cleaner’ Poster [Exclusive]
Clive Owen and Taz Skylar also star in the latest film to come from action director Martin Campbell.
However,Cleaner’s biggest issue is, ironically, its lack of action. Most of the film’s exciting moments come from the third act, where Ridley’s Joey Locke finally gets in on the action. Until that point, much of the film’s runtime is focused on Locke communicating with the authorities, as well as the film’s ensemble of villains elaborating on their plans. Not that these aspects of the film aren’t engaging; the terrorists this time around do have an interesting motive, with which Ridley’s Locke does sympathize while also condemning their methods, making for a more compelling dynamic than what we typically see in these types ofDie Hardrip-offs. However, even at an appropriate 97-minute runtime, the film does feel padded, often dragging its feet in the second act in particular, as well as making some unfortunate choices and underutilizing some of the film’s most interesting characters.
Daisy Ridley and Clive Owen Elevate ‘Cleaner’ Above Its Many Flaws
On that note, it’s time to discuss one of the two actors who makeCleaneran overall worthwhile viewing experience:Clive Owenas Marcus, the leader of the film’s band of eco-terrorists. Marcus is easily the most compelling of the film’s antagonists, having a clear and sympathetic motive for what he’s doing and why. And while Owen does a marvelous job, he doesn’t have nearly as much screentime as the marketing would have you believe. There’s never a scene where Joey and Marcus have a one-on-one confrontation, and it’s a missed opportunity, as the film’s secondary antagonist (while also pretty entertaining to watch) is pretty one-dimensional and mustache-twirling in comparison.
But while Clive Owen is terrific while he’s on-screen, it’s Daisy Ridley who holds the film together. Joey Locke doesn’t just feel like a Jane McClane— she’s a well-rounded, badass character in her own right, constantly wearing her heart on her sleeve and sticking to her morals despite facing her many personal and financial struggles. She’s vulnerable, but completely capable, and Ridley makes for a stunning action heroine. If you are to take anything from this film, let it be that Ridley is a terrific action star, and one who deserves even better material to work with.Cleanermay not be a home run, but it’s worth a watch for Ridley’s lead performance. For those interested,Cleaneris now available to stream on Max.
