Adrien Brody Clean inspired by Peaky Blinders on Prime Video presents an intriguing story: the Oscar-winning actor transformed his experience as Luca Changretta, an Italian-American mafioso in Peaky Blinders, into a new, deeply personal film project. Released in 2022 and now available on Amazon Prime Video (USA), Clean puts Brody at the forefront as actor, co-writer, producer, and composer, blending his creative talents with the moody atmosphere and complex themes he admired in the acclaimed British crime show.
Brody, known for his role in The Pianist, took a creative risk by shaping Clean as his passion project, but the outcome has divided critics and viewers, with the film receiving a 46% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and sparking conversation about creative ambition versus cinematic execution.
Transforming Lessons from Peaky Blinders into a New Film
The origins of Clean can be traced directly to Brody’s involvement in Peaky Blinders. The series left a mark, especially on Brody’s portrayal of morally ambiguous, emotionally burdened men— a key trait of his character in Clean. Brody himself has spoken about how the energy from his time as Luca Changretta carried directly into the writing and production of his film, channeling elements such as stylized violence, grim storytelling, and a world of anti-heroes.
The influence is made even more explicit by Brody’s own words:
[Peaky Blinders] basically led to Clean because I was very inspired and in a zone. It bolstered a degree of confidence that it took for me to be decisive and to engage Paul [Solet], and say, ‘Let’s do this. Let’s go and build this because it’s not just coming.’ So the writing process started right at that time [while shooting Peaky Blinders season four].
—Adrien Brody, Actor, Producer, Co-writer
Drawing from his British crime saga experience, Brody set Clean in upstate New York, following the life of a tormented garbage man struggling to escape a violent past. Like the layered anti-heroes of his previous work, Brody’s new character oscillates between vengeance and justice, echoing the moral complexities of Peaky Blinders but set against an American background. Despite attempts at emotional depth and atmospheric tension, Clean’s narrative remains tightly focused on its bleak protagonist, seldom investing in the surrounding world or secondary characters.
The Struggles of Crafting a Distinctive Noir Thriller
Much of Clean’s blueprint closely mirrors the formula of redemption-driven noir thrillers. Brody’s garbage man, haunted by guilt, attempts a quiet life only to be drawn back into violence when gang threats emerge against a local girl—a well-trodden premise, but injected with Brody’s signature intensity. The film relies on minimal dialogue and deliberate pacing to create moodiness, but critics have often pointed out that Clean falls short of establishing the rich ensemble dynamics and narrative complexity that made Peaky Blinders a standout. The stylized brutality is present, yet the lack of dynamic storytelling or expansion beyond the protagonist leaves the film feeling
“more like a homage than an imitation.”
In interviews and discussions around the movie, the discussion often circles back to how Clean represents an attempt to translate the layered intrigue of British noir crime into an American setting. Unlike Peaky Blinders, with its multiple intersecting storylines and evolving secondary characters, Clean centers its entire weight on one man’s internal struggle, forgoing ensemble dramatics in favor of solitary brooding. The result, while visually compelling at times, has exposed the limitations of the homage approach, especially for viewers craving more emotional variety and offbeat narrative twists.
Mixed Reactions from Critics and Audiences
Upon release, Clean faced a challenging reception from both professional critics and the viewing public. Rotten Tomatoes pinned the film at a 46% rating, while user feedback from Prime Video hovered at 5.6 out of 10. Most negative responses cited the movie’s familiar storyline and pacing issues, with a consensus that it followed the redemption thriller blueprint too closely without offering much in the way of innovation. The core of the story felt weighed down by predictability, and its noir ambitions, according to many, lacked a distinctive edge.
Despite these shortcomings, Adrien Brody’s commitment to the project did earn recognition. His immersion as lead actor, composer, producer, and co-writer was evident on-screen, cementing Clean as a labor of love. Yet, the film struggled with sluggish plotting and underdeveloped relationships. Rather than achieving the narrative highs and layered relationships that defined Peaky Blinders or similar works, Clean was seen as earnest but ultimately adrift in its self-seriousness.
A Second Life on Prime Video and Future Possibilities
While Clean’s theatrical release did not secure widespread acclaim, its arrival on Prime Video marks a new opportunity to find an audience among streaming viewers. As the digital landscape often offers films a chance at rediscovery, Clean could gain appreciation for its atmospheric depth and somber character study, particularly if viewers approach it without direct comparison to its influences. The availability on a major platform like Amazon broadens its reach well beyond its original release, potentially allowing a reassessment among fans of dark crime dramas or those interested in Brody’s evolving artistic pursuits.
Brody’s attempt to recapture and reshape the magnetic darkness of Peaky Blinders for an American tale is a testament to his creative ambition. Whether Clean ultimately becomes a cult favorite or a niche interest, its journey from creative inspiration to on-screen realization is a story of perseverance and risk-taking. The film joins the growing catalog of character-driven, noir-inspired offerings now found on streaming services, where it awaits its own redemption among new viewers.
Clean is currently streaming on Prime Video in the USA, inviting audiences to experience Adrien Brody’s intense exploration of guilt, violence, and redemption—themes that continue to resonate across both the original inspirations and this bold, though polarizing, new chapter.
