YMMV / Sunshine Cleaning

• Alternate Character Interpretation:
  • How much of Norah's interactions with Lynn were down to a desire for friendship or just feeling sorry for her? If one looks at Norah's life, although she goes to parties, she doesn't seem to have any friends. She actually seems to enjoy taking Lynn out to various places and talking about her life. Then again Norah does look uncomfortable when Lynn makes passes at her. The original script does make Norah more obviously attracted to Lynn, including a kiss that was filmed but deleted from the film. Then again, other details about Norah are different from the original script, so it's unknown if the bisexuality is still canon.
  • Another possibility is that Norah has trouble relating to people because of her mother's suicide. Perhaps she sought Lynn out as someone she could bond with over both having dead mothers?
• Best Known for the Fanservice: There are rather a lot of videos on YouTube about Amy Adams appearing in two Lingerie Scenes in her motel meetings with Mac, despite them being very brief.
• Crosses the Line Twice:
  • Rose and Norah's first job is cleaning up after a Domestic Abuse case, where the wife shot her husband. Upon seeing the blood stains in the shower, Norah remarks "do you think they loved each other?"
  • And of course there's the memorable mattress scene. Norah falling face-first onto it is disgusting - not to mention worrying about what may have been stored in there. But it's hilarious, and Rose finds it Actually Pretty Funny.
  "It'll wash out..."
• Ensemble Dark Horse: Amy Adams views Steve Zahn as the darkhorse of the film, saying that he softened Mac greatly and made it instantly believable why Rose would want to be with him.
• Heartwarming Moments:
  • The scene that provides the page quote. Rose is clearly anxious about seeing her old school friends again. But throughout the talk, she realises that she likes what she's doing. She realises that she does at least help make a difference.
  • Norah and Rose's conversation in the bathroom at Oscar's birthday party - where they both forgive each other for their angst.
  • Norah's little presents for Oscar throughout the film. It's obvious that, while she may have some issues, Norah is a very doting aunt and loves Oscar dearly.
• Paranoia Fuel: For the first couple of jobs, Rose and Norah don't wear any kind of protection that they later find out is required for such work. Not to mention they dump most of the stuff in the dumpster instead of incinerating it. For anyone who's especially germaphobic, that is very squicky.
• Signature Scene: The two sisters carrying the mattress - that someone had died on and Norah threw up on - and Norah falling face-first onto it.
• Tear Jerker:
  • A subtle scene is when Rose finally calls it off with Mac. She's finally realised that she can't have what she really wants with him, possibly also feeling guilt for wanting to break up his family, and it really kills her to end things.
  • Norah's flashbacks to her mother's suicide. Especially when it's revealed that she and Rose were playing outside when they discovered it. Even then Rose instinctively tries to shield Norah from seeing it.
  • Rose's Dead Person Conversation in the van where she imagines that she's talking to her mother. She doesn't hate her for killing herself and instead says it's a shame she died so soon.
  "I don't know if you're in heaven. But I know you're not here. And that is too bad for you. Because you missed out. You missed out on some really great stuff."
  • Norah and Rose finally getting to see the scene their mother was a featured extra in. They get to see their mother and hear her talk again if only for a moment.
• The Woobie:
  • Norah might be a bit sarcastic, but she is clearly hurting deep down. Still living with her father and with no visible friends besides her own sister, she doesn't seem to have any prospects in life at all.
  • Rose too. She wants to improve her life and she seems to be holding onto the possibility that Mac will one day leave his wife for her. It's a very sobering moment when he doesn't show up to their motel room and she's brought down to reality.