Contraband (2012)

Am I Missing Something?

A Brilliant Conflict

This is ultimately a movie about the very bad things that can happen when we don't address our unease, when we just try to brush it off, whether that's to fit in or to preserve our self-image.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Contraband is an action thriller starring Mark Wahlberg (Chris Farraday), playing a former drug smuggler who's gone straight, having settled down with his wife (Kate Beckinsale) and kids and opened his own home security company. Though, his domestic bliss is turned around when his brother-in-law (Caleb Landry Jones) botches a job for a local hood (Giovanni Ribisi) and can't make amends. The only thing that will make it right is if Chris helps with a big score (smuggling $40 million) through the Panama Canal.This film is a typical action thriller with a January release. The film works due to the performances by the cast, all of whom play their characters straight despite. Wahlberg playing a character in which he has played often before shines in this role as he has this type of character figured out, as he excels most as these type of likable yet tough action heroes. The overall plot is quite standard with some predictable twists but in the end it's mores so about the journey.

Whalberg is Chris, a retired smuggler forced to take "one last job" to save his stupid brother-in-law who messed up with Chris former gang, lead by Tim (a totally unconvincing Ribisi).A blonde, Barbie-like version of Bekinsale is Chris'wife, Kate. The family is completed by two bratty kids who have nothing to do with the plot, except being mentioned as the reason why Chris retired from his evil life.As if this premise is not cliché enough, Chris is also a king of cool who cannot go wrong. His "last job" involves sailing to Panama as a crew member of a cargo ship with a handful of former associates.In Panama City Chris and gang are mixed up in one of the most absurd heists in movie history. Everybody dies during a massive shooting with the police, except Chris and friend, who do not even get a scratch.Among the many other plot holes: Chris and gang disembark without permission but the captain, despite his dislike for Chris, waits for them to come back; they sabotage the ship without any other crew member noticing anything strange; stupid brother-in -law smuggles cocaine on board, custom control being nonexistent in third world countries; they wear leather jacket in tropical Panama City etc...Back at home, Barbie and kids are threatened by Tim and his gang, but the audience can be sure that Chris will save the day. Besides fake currency and cocaine, the smugglers get home some piece of art to allow them to live happily ever after.Not only the script is awful, illogical and full of plot holes, but the "F" world flies around with such a frequency to make you wonder if in the smugglers world it is possible to speak a sentence without using it - it gets tiring to hear stuff like "Today the weather is f#%+ing good" "So glad to f#%ing know that", etc...

(62%) An entertaining crime B-movie that marks a small improvement over the usual multiplex filler you always seem to find at the first quarter of the year. The cast is quite strong with the always decent Mark Wahlberg leading the way, and with the likes of Ben Foster, Kate Beckinsale, J.K Simmons and show stealer Giovanni Ribisi all forming a respectable package. The pacing is pretty decent; although this is more of a thriller than an all-out action film so don't expect tons of action. The script is very Hollywood at times and there's not a whole lot to get your teeth into, but overall this is a watchable time-passer coupled with a respectable cast and basic cinematic fun.

"Contraband" stars Mark Wahlberg as a retired master smuggler who has to do one last job to save his dim-witted brother in-law after he messed up a job.This movie isn't great. However, it isn't bad either. It is good enough to pass a couple of hours and keeps your attention. It does have its clichés - one last job, obvious betrayals among a few. It also has some cool action scenes. The ending is also very predictable. Despite these issues, the movie is mostly entertaining. There are also some good performances in this movie (favourites being Mark Wahlberg and J.K. Simmons) which always helps.There are better action/heist movies out there, but this is a decent watch when there is nothing else on.