Saturday, August 11, 2012

Movie Review: CleanSkin

A British Secret Service Agent is tasked with eliminating a "Clean Skin" suicide bomber Ashraf and his terrorist cell. While the suitcase full of Semtex is used to devastating effect by the terrorists, can Ewan and his partner prevent further tragedy? Will the violence ever stop? And more importantly, who and what is really behind the madness?


On one hand, Ewan plays the ruthless government agent, who has no hesitation slamming unarmed women, or leaving behind heavy collateral damage. On the other hand is Ashraf, a young impressionable Muslim who is brainwashed into being a suicide bomber by a smooth-talking, paradise-invoking preacher, Nabil.

Sean Bean is interesting as the grisly and gutsy Ewan, although Abhin Galeya as Ash is a lot more convincing. Tuppence looks hot at times, at times vulnerable as Ash's love interest, in a relationship doomed in the idealogical battle between Islam and the West. Peter Polycarpou is chilling as the preacher, conveying a strong sense of purpose and single-minded fanaticism that is so effective in shaping the ideologies of the "ill-treated" and "exploited" Muslim youth.

A lot of gory action interspersed with a lot of dialogues, an interesting thriller plot with an attempt at drama... this is a mixed bag. Not too bad at that.




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