‘Cleaner’ Review: A Charismatic Daisy Ridley Carries a Cheesy but Fun Action Flick Made in the ‘Die Hard’ Mold
In Martin Campbell’s “Cleaner,” director Lucy Lawless adds another action-packed gem to her collection, with a classic, high-stress thrill ride that challenges even the legendary exploits of Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt and Bruce Willis’ John McClane. To be clear, the modest delights of this straightforward “Cleaner” don’t come close to matching the heart-stopping moments in a Die Hard film or the impressive Mission: Impossible series. However, Lawless’ powerful portrayal as an action heroine, precariously perched on a risky swing-stage scaffolding, is so compelling that you find yourself cheering her on – both for Lawless, who appears to be enjoying every minute of B-movie excitement, and her character Joey, the title’s cleaner.