Mark Wahlberg stars as legendary smuggler Chris Farraday, who has left his criminal past behind to be with his wife (Kate Beckinsale) and sons. When a ruthless drug kingpin (Giovanni Ribisi) threatens his family, Farraday must summon his old skills and contacts for one last run. Contraband takes you to the cutthroat underground world of international smuggling, and on a thrilling adventure that critics are calling "dynamic, intense and gritty!" - Mark S Allen, CBS/CW-TV (Sacramento).
This job should be a piece of cake: former smuggler Chris Farraday (Mark Wahlberg) gets dragged back into the game in order to make things right with a nasty New Orleans gangster (Giovanni Ribisi) over a debt owed by Chris's brother-in-law. So, Chris needs to smuggle in some goods on a cargo ship from Panama, pay the guy off, and return to a suburban life on the straight and narrow. No problem, right? What's fun about Contraband is that despite its hero's meticulous planning, all hell breaks loose in Panama City, where nothing goes as planned and where the cargo ship is, after all, due to disembark at a certain time, with or without him. Based on the Icelandic film ReykjavÃk-Rotterdam, this movie is full of stock characters and rancid dialogue, but the plot is so kicky and wild, it almost doesn't matter, at least for as long as the movie is on screen. Director Baltasar Kormákur (he produced the original film and directed the entertaining 101 ReykjavÃk) pumps up the action nicely, although the actors are on their own: Wahlberg contributes his customary solid center, which a movie like this needs, but Kate Beckinsale has nothing to do as his wife, and Ribisi and Ben Foster emote with reckless abandon. No one will mistake it for a classic, but Contraband has enough zip, and a few genuine surprises, to qualify it as a fun diversion.
Customer Review
"Contraband" is a 2011 action film starring Mark Wahlberg as a former smuggler reluctantly drawn back into the game for one last score, this time to help his brother-in-law (Caleb Landry Jones) who got in too deep with the bad guys (Giovanni Ribisi).
For the past few years Wahlberg has been cranking out the action films at a pace that truly amazes. He's been nominated twice for an Oscar ("The Fighter" in 2010 and "The Departed" in 2006) and recognized for "Three Kings" (1999), and "Four Brothers" (2005), although my favorite Wahlberg role (and guilty pleasure) "Shooter" (2007) has been ignored on the awards circuit.
If his awards were not sufficient praise, Wahlberg has delivered at the box office. Seven of his films have neared or topped the elusive $100 Million mark, and most of his films have been among the top 10.
And if awards and box office clout aren't enough, Wahlberg has a second career as a producer, a role he served on this film and on Oscar nominated "The Fighter" (2010) as well as several TV series ("Broadwalk Empire", "Entourage").
Unfortunately, Wahlberg is about the best thing in this film, apart from some good action scenes with lots of explosions and a coy performance from J. K. Simmons who apparently got time off from his role as the Police Chief in "The Closer".
Perhaps the problem is with the writers (Aaron Guzikowski, Arnaldur Indrioason, Oskar Jonasson) and director (Baltasar Kormakur), none of whom have much experience with American style action films. But they worked on an Icelandic thriller "Reykjavik-Rotterdam" (2008) and that film was the basis of this one. Or, more likely, the problem is that the villain, Giovanni Ribisi, simply carries no menace. Ribisi is a very talented actor ("Boiler Room", "Saving Private Ryan", "The Rum Diary"), but he's out of his depth in this genre.
Reviews were unanimously poor. Roger Ebert referred to the film as "crap" and said he was getting tired of violent retreads". Peter Travers (Rolling Stone) gave it 2 stars and complained that Wahlberg sleepwalks through the film. The NY Times called the story absurd and referred to the film as "thrill free".
Despite the poor reviews, "Contraband" earned more than $20 Million in its opening weekend and is on schedule to hit the $100 Million mark.
Bottom line - if you're a Mark Wahlberg fan you'll enjoy this one, but it is clearly one of his lesser accomplishments.
Contraband (Two-Disc Combo Pack: Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet) (2012)
Mark Wahlberg (Actor), Giovanni Ribisi (Actor), Baltasar Kormákur (Director) | Rated: R | Format: Blu-ray
$24.96
eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.
DetailsYou Save: $10.02 (29%) In Stock.Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Product Details Actors: Mark Wahlberg, Giovanni Ribisi Directors: Baltasar Kormákur Format: Color, Subtitled, Widescreen Language: English, French, Spanish Subtitles: English, French, Spanish Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.) Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Number of discs: 2 Rated: R (Restricted) Studio: Universal DVD Release Date: April 24, 2012 Run Time: 109 minutes
