Cleaner Director on the Action Movie’s Twists and Talented Cast

Martin Campbell, known for directing blockbuster action films and working with A-list Hollywood stars like two James Bonds (Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig), is now partnering with another action star, Daisy Ridley, in his upcoming movie, Cleaner. Although Ridley has demonstrated her skill in managing grand stunts in previous projects, the role in Cleaner necessitated a shift in approach for handling the action sequences. Unlike Star Wars films, Cleaner doesn’t heavily rely on CGI effects, but this didn’t pose a challenge for Ridley.

“Well, first of all, she’s a terrific actress. I’ve seen her, obviously, [in] Star Wars, but, I’ve also seen The Young Woman and the Sea … she was terrific,” Campbell said in an interview with ComicBook when asked why Ridley was the perfect fit for the starring role in Cleaner. He continued, “When I spoke to her, I said to her, ‘How do you feel about the action?’ she was all for it. I think the idea of doing an action film … obviously, in Star Wars there’s a lot of action, but a lot of that action is reliant on visual effects and so forth. But this, there’s a down-and-dirty quality about it … It’s a kind of realistic scenario. She’s outside the building like a goldfish bowl. She’s looking inside. And there’s the eco-terrorist, right? She sees them, and she can’t get back in, and, she believes [her brother] is in great danger.”

The character named Cleaner, played by Ridley, is a former soldier who works as a window cleaner in modern-day London. A band of activists has stormed an energy company’s yearly gala, capturing 300 people to bring attention to their cause. However, one among them is an extremist, planning to kill everyone inside the building to broadcast his anarchic message globally. With her younger brother among the hostages, it’s up to this window cleaner suspended high above the city to rescue those trapped within.

Of course, any good action movie needs memorable villains, and Cleaner has that covered with the group of eco-terrorists who take over the building. Marcus (Clive Owen) is the leader of the group, but there’s dissent among their ranks. Campbell also talked about how Cleaner provides a twist on an established formula.

Campbell noted that the plot twist in the film featured an unexpected coup among the antagonists, which was unusual. He found it intriguing and appreciated the direction they took with the character portrayed by Clive Owen. Campbell supported his actions as he is working to uncover a corrupt company. Clive’s character is not violent but instead uses exposure to reveal the truth. On the other hand, there’s Taz (Skylar), who becomes increasingly extreme and desires the extinction of all humans to save the planet.

Campbell paused for a brief moment before commending Owen’s act, commenting, “Clive, there’s an infectious wit about him, and instead of overwhelming his audience, he prefers to win them over.

Cleaner opens in theaters on February 21st.

2025-02-20 23:15

Read More