 Sunshine Cleaning (Cert. 15, out 16 November) Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin, Steve Zahn,Clifton Collins Jr., dir. Christine Jeffs, 2008, cert. 15 What it's about Single mom Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams) works as a maid. In order to send her son to a private school, she gets the idea from married boyfriend Steve Zahn to start a post-mortem / crime scene clean-up business. With the help of sister Norah (Emily Blunt) and scamming Dad (Alan Larkin), Rose gets her hands dirty. She does so with heart and compassion, seeing her unforgiving line of work as a service to surviving relatives. What MovieMonkeys thought Sunshine Cleaning is funny despite its subject matter, and very touching. Yep, Rose and Norah make a living from biohazard, cleaning up after suicides and such likes, and it can be quite amusing. The film manages some really quite funny moments, like when Rose overhears a competitors talking about the newcomer who dumped a blood soaked mattress in the regular bin. You can't help but root for the sisters, and it's nothing a crash course in blood-born pathogens can't cure. The story pours from the heart yet somehow avoids clichés. The result is a warm, moving film about a working-class single mom doing what it takes to keep her slightly dysfunctional family on track. The buzz started at the Sundance Festival last year, and after a short theatrical run it's now out on DVD and Blu-Ray. Sunshine Cleaning is one of our favourite films this year. We hope director Christine Jeffs, whose last film was 2003's Sylvia with Gwyneth Paltrow, has more gems like this up her sleeve and does not wait another 5 years to get behind the camera.
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 Rhod Gilbert And The Award-Winning Mince Pie (Cert. 15, out 16 Novermber) Rhod Gilbert, 2009, cert. 15 Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert brings his own personal brand of holiday cheer out this Christmas with the release of The Award Winning Mince Pie. We won't spoil the fun by telling you what award was indeed won by the festive pastry, but just know this: if you were ever puzzled by TOG ratings, why Egyptians would choose to holiday in Doncaster and the mysteries of motorway services look no further for a kindred spirit! Hailing from made up Welsh valley town of Llanbobl (with as many 'Ls' as you can be bothered to stick on at the end), Rhod has made a name for himself compering at various award ceremonies (which, incidently, is how we discovered him - though we hasten to add this was this year's British Video Association awards, not the Butchers' shindig being sent up here!) A welcome addition to the ever so crowded Christmas stand-up releases - and a breath of fresh air from the Welsh valleys, if there ever was such a thing!
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