Cleanskin Review

18th Jun 2012

A strong cast is let down by a hammy script and a dreary plotline. It feels dated, done and politically weak. More an episode of Spooks than a stand-alone film, this just doesn’t come together and fizzles out before it ever gets that exciting.

Abhin Galeya plays Ash, a young man who becomes radicalised at his University. Sean Bean plays Ewan an ex-military officer who’s tasked with finding out where Ash is and killing him. He brutally chases up leads and gets as close as he can, but alls not what it seems.

Even a twist in the plot is not enough to save this run-of-the-mill Islamic terrorist film. The action scenes are all strong, there is a real brutality and energy to them. But in between all that are some really saggy, dreary lines. I’m also not convinced that an Unforgiven-quoting extremist really would be able to radicalise kids, but maybe Clint Eastwood is an obvious trigger.

At no point do we ever really get to know Ash’s motivations – I got the feeling it was because it was because his girlfriend dumped him and I’d like to think that there’s more to becoming a suicide bomber. I love Sean Bean in everything he does, but even his considerable talents can’t make this film work. This is especially so when his lines are so heavy handed.

I’m giving it one extra star for Sean, because he deserves it. Otherwise, utterly missable.