Direct to DVD Dissection looks at a movie that sees Sean Bean as a rogue agent going after a terrorist sell in London before they can strike again.
WATCH TRAILER HERE
The Specs
Rated: Unrated
Director: Hadi Hajaig
Running Time: 108 minutes
Studio: Entertainment One
Release Date: September 11th, 2012
The Story
A British secret service agent is faced with the task of pursuing and eliminating a British-born suicide bomber and his terrorist cell.
The Cast
Sean Bean as Ewen. Having appear in several major films across his long career, and infamously dubbed “The Living Spoiler” by some critics, Bean has appeared in films like GOLDENEYE, THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, NATIONAL TREASURE, EQUILIBRIUM, PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTING THIEF, and many more.
Charlotte Rampling as Charlotte. Has been working since the 1960’s, and appeared in films like THE VERDICT, THE DUTCHESS, MELANCHOLIA, and BABYLON A.D.
Abhin Galeya as Ash. Has worked primarily in TV shows like THE BILL and MURDER INVESTIGATION TEAM, as well as the movie romantic comedy WIMBLEDON.
Tom Burke as Mark. Recently moving onto full movies with films like THIRD STAR, THE LIBERTINE, and more, along with I WANT CANDY, a sex comedy.
The Dissection
Sean Bean as Ewen
When seeing the trailer for this movie (as posted above), it elicits a feeling of a action movie with a touch of political intrigue and ripped from the headlines topic. If not, it would seem like another attempt to replicate something the style of TAKEN in a DVD market. Instead, it presents an interesting view of both sides of the conflict, as well as some interesting work to develop both sides of the conflict as characters and pitting them together and seeing who will succeed in the end.
The movie is basically pushed up above the average of a majority of DVD movies thanks to the two main roles of Ewen and Ash, respectively played by Sean Bean and Abhin Galeya. Both deliver some great performances on both sides of the plot, and it helps to give the movie an identity of it’s own. It helps to give the characters the development of faults for the good guys and benefits of the bad guys, making it less black and white, morality wise. The rest of the cast also helps to improve the movie and
Abhin Galeya as Ash
The issue with the movie, though, is it takes a while to really kick into gear. The first act of the film is more on the usual set up, with a failed mission and how Bean’s Ewen got to the point where he is for the movie, as well as the problems that lead to the big moment in the climax. It’s similar to an origin story in a superhero movie, but instead of a spider bite or dead parents, there’s a fat man who has sex with a hooker and then short changes her.
As mentioned before, the trailer gives the movie this air of an action movie with political overtones, but the movie isn’t as action filled as it seems. However, the little action that occurs has some serious moments of suspense, which helps to making the sparse moments of action seem more important and more impactful, which is important when dealing with a subject like this.
It won’t be something to satisfy anyone looking for mindless action, but it does give fans of films that you don’t need to turn your brain off something to watch and get involved in.
The Extras
A movie trailer and a Making of Featurette for both the DVD and Blu Ray releases. Also, the language options are English in 5.1 and 2.0 audio, with subtitles only in English. Another week, another underwhelming DVD release.
The DVD also starts with 3 trailers: IRON SKY, COSMOPOLIS, and AGE OF HEROES, another DVD movie featuring Sean Bean.
The Verdict
I came into this movie expecting some kind of dramatic action movie with political tones. Instead, I got some good storytelling on both sides that helped to flesh out both the protagonist and antagonist role, and give both strengths and weaknesses that put them both on interesting footing until the final confrontation.
Also, a fat guy having sex with a hooker, but mostly the first part.
Recommended 3/5
Rent CLEANSKIN at Redbox
http://www.redbox.com/movies/cleanskin
View CLEANSKIN on Youtube Movies.
http://www.youtube.com/movie?v=JYYTmKse1Lk&feature=mv_sr
Buy CLEARSKIN on Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Cleanskin-Sean-Bean/dp/B008H1Q3KU/ref=tmm_dvd_title_0