Cleaner

A film starring the formidable trio of Samuel L. Jackson, Ed Harris and Eva Mendes going straight to DVD? That’s the case with this offbeat crime thriller helmed by Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger). Jackson is Tom Carver, an ex-cop who now makes his living working independently, cleaning up gruesome crime scenes. His latest case involves mopping up the bloody remains of the husband of a woman (Mendes) who doesn’t realize her spouse is dead, and Carver is fingered for the murder. Harris and Luis Guzman are on hand as members of the police force. Harlin brings hyperactivity to the proceedings, which is at odds with the film’s moody, noirish trappings. But the cast and the subject—perfect for CSI fans—should be enough to draw interest.

Shelf Talk: Harlin and Jackson, who worked together on The Long Kiss Goodnight and Deep Blue Sea, have seen some of their recent efforts make quick exits from theaters—for Harlin, The Covenant and Mindhunters, and for Jackson, Home of the Brave and Resurrecting the Champ. Still, the three former films have done respectably in the home market and the just-released Resurrecting is likely to do the same. National publicity on fanboy sites such as UGO and Maxim also should bolster Cleaner.