Contraband Reviews

I already saw this movie but, for some reason, I thought I might as well check it out again. I think it was because I missed the first 2 minutes the first time around. Anyway, I have to admit that I ended up enjoying it slightly more. Maybe it's because I watched way too many lame action flicks recently but this one, at least, had a nice cast involved (Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Giovanni Ribisi, Diego Luna, J.K. Simmons, Ben Foster, Caleb Landry Jones, Lukas Haas) and it was rather well made. Eventually, what bother me above all the first time was the writing but, fortunately, it actually worked better during this rewatch. I mean, it was still a pedestrian intro about an ace criminal guy who is retired with a wife and kids but has to come back for one last job but the gimmick did work, even it would probably be more fun if they gave us a guy who loves the adrenaline kick andwho is totally reckless. The only thing that still didn't work though was the timeline which was just way too tight. I mean, if you try to write down the schedule of all the events taking place in Panama, I’m pretty sure it won’t make sense and certainly it won’t add up considering the short amount of time they had. Still, it was fairly watchable and the whole concept of a master smuggler was just brilliant but there is no doubt that the damned was not really amazing though. Another thing that did bother me at first but not anymore was the numerous bad guys involved. Indeed, there were at least 4 of them which might seem a bit excessive but I didn't care much about it anymore. Anyway, to conclude, in spite of its flaws, it wasn’t bad, it is actually a decent action flick and I think it is worth a look, at least, if you like the genre.

Looking back, this past January has been very interesting as we had a mix of films. We've had great films like Haywire and The Grey. We've had your typical pieces of shits like The Devil Inside and One For The Money. Your typical January junk like Underworld. Mediocre films like Red tails and Joyful noise. So where does Contraband fit in all of this? Well it belongs in the better than your typical January junk but not as good as it should be category. This is better then the Crap that we're subjected to every January but that doesn't excuse it's problems.

For starters, nothing in this movie is original. Usually filmmakers will take something that's been done before and put their own fresh twists to it, that's not the case here. You've seen this all before and done better. Next is the plot, it's not that there's too little of it, there's too much of it and for what? If your going to make a movie that's been done a bunch of times before at least stick to the formula. Don't try to make it complex, it's not going to change the fact that this is unoriginal. Lastly, this film has an unappealing gritty look which was a bit of a turn off for me. It's not that I don't like it, it works well with other movies but it was unnecessary.

Despite some glaring problems, there's some fun to be had. The action scenes are fun, and there are moments of humor sprinkled throughout. Usually most of the humorous moments are a result of a character doing the most moronic thing possible. The pacing is a little off but it shouldn't bother people that much. The acting ranges from okay to pretty good. While Mark Wahlberg's performance isn't bad but, he just kind of goes through the motions. He has shown he can act but here he is kind of Idle. Kate Beckinsale is sadly underused, she's good but she doesn't have that important of a part. Giovanni Ribisi on the other hand is pretty good. He has fun chewing at his lines and just being a complete badass. He's probably the best thing about this movie.

Contraband is slightly better than your typical January junk that we're subjected to every year. However, it still can't come over the the fact that it's not original, the plot is unnecessarily complex, the pacing is a tad off, and that the overall look is unappealing. despite the action being fun and intense, it being funny, and pretty decent performances.

"You think you're the only guy with a fucking gun?"

Critics and audiences alike have slammed Contraband for its unoriginality and the so-called 'convoluted plot'. I personally loved the film. Directed by Baltasar Kormákur, Contraband is based on the Icelandic film, Reykjavík-Rotterdam, which Kormákur starred in. This is a visceral thriller jam-packed with nail biting set pieces. It is understandable to call this just another generic Mark Wahlberg movie, but this is well-above the standard offerings from Marky-Mark. Maybe I'm being a bit generous with my praise. This isn't a perfect film by any means, but there's nothing obnoxious about the way it's been made. Contraband was marketed as a gritty and suspenseful thriller, and on this part, it certainly delivers.



Chris Farraday (Mark Wahlberg), a former world-class smuggler, has retired to the suburbs to go straight for the sake of his wife Kate (Kate Beckinsale) and kids. When Kate's younger brother Andy (Caleb Landry Jones) dumps a load of cocaine overboard during a customs raid, drug boss Briggs (Giovanni Ribisi) is not a happy man. He wants compensation, nearly a million dollars worth and the only way to get that sort of money is one last smuggling effort from Chris. Things, however, don't go to plan when the job comes to action.



Having never seen the original film, I can't really compare it to anything. Like all films of this kind of style, Contraband is basically about a job gone wrong. From Inception to The Town - this style of storytelling is thrilling to witness. As Chris and his team put their plan into action, things just go wrong at every turn. Screenwriter Aaron Guzikowski can't be targeted for being 'unoriginal' as this is the classic set up for heist thrillers. Also, the plot is well structured - I have no idea why people keep saying it's convoluted. The film is filled with twists and turns, with the risks and urgency of the job constantly raised, keeping the audience engaged. The dialogue captures the context of the film perfectly, and the film also breaks its gritty tone with some humour - and it actually works! I laughed out loud a couple of times through the film.

Flaws are few but I'll have to name them since this is a review. First off is the character of Kate, who doesn't have a great deal to do. For most of the film, she is often characterised as a damsel in distress. She's extremely vulnerable without the aid of Chris, and it's really up to him to fix her brother's issue. Still, although vulnerable, her character has a feisty and strong-willed attitude that at least keeps her interesting. She's a realistic and it's easy to relate with her, and thus you end up caring for the woman. Also, the relationship between Chris and his father, which is established before the heist begins, never really resonates effectively.



Mark Wahlberg is no stranger to tough guy roles like this, and while he seems to be making an entry into the comedy genre just recently with Ted, there's no denying he plays these kinds of characters well. He's a competent as Chris, and carries much of the movie terrifically. Kate Beckinsale looks gorgeous as always, and delivers a convincing performance as Chris' wife. Ben Foster is undeniably subtle and cool as Chris' best friend Sebastian, but one who lacks that kind of subtlety is Giovanni Ribisi. He is absolutely over-the-top in the role of Tim Briggs, and while many would say that's a negative, I quite liked the tone he decided to take. He's not subtle in any way, but it's so much fun to watch him perform like he's on drugs. Some of his line delivery is also mildly amusing.

What shocked me most is that Contraband only had a budget of $25 Million. I've seen films with double that for a budget, and they always end up being shockingly bad. Contraband is amazingly well put together. The editing of all the spectacular shots is masterful, and this combination comes into play terrifically in the nail-biting heist sequences, all expertly staged by Kormákur. A highlight of the film is a spectacular shootout in the streets of Panema. Cinematographer Barry Ackroyd is no stranger to handheld camerawork, and although I've dreaded it films like The Hurt Locker, it comes to effect brilliantly in Contraband. The gritty and dangerous feel of the locations are captured well through the shaky-cam, and Clinton Shorter's score adds to this.



Overall, Contraband is a brilliantly thrilling film. It's easy to criticise the plot, but there's nothing too mindless about it. There are plenty of unexpected plot developments, and every single action sequence is thoroughly entertaining. In a year full of mindless action movies that just have eye candy to offer, it's refreshing to watch a film that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Yes, I loved Contraband. Don't hate me for it.

The script was quite weak on this one. I still believe this is overrated at 6.6 on IMDB, will eventually go below the 6 I guess. Never expected it to be this cheesy as a plot and the acting was quite bad at times.

"I've got to try and fix this. Trust me, I know what I'm doing."

American remakes of foreign films are almost always something to be dreaded, but Contraband is a surprising exception to the rule. Perhaps this is because the movie was directed and produced by Baltasar Kormákur, who starred in and produced the Icelandic flick Reykjavik-Rotterdam on which Contraband is based. More cynical filmgoers may be unimpressed by this gritty little crime-thriller since it's not exactly original or groundbreaking, yet Contraband is satisfying entertainment if you can suspend your pretensions. Its production values are surprisingly solid for such a low-budget film and the storytelling is both involving and gripping, though the script could've used a few more revisions before reaching the production stage.

Formerly a professional career smuggler, Chris Farraday (Wahlberg) chose to abandon the life of a criminal in order to raise his two children with loving wife Kate (Beckinsale) and make an honest living. Chris' serene life is threatened, though, when Kate's idiotic little brother Andy (Jones) botches an expensive cocaine smuggling operation for ruthless drug lord Tim Briggs (Ribisi), who now wants blood. Realising that his family will not be safe until the debt is paid, Chris is forced back into his former line of work, cooking up a money counterfeiting scheme which requires boat passage to Panama. Chris reunites with his former associates to pull off the heist, but nothing goes according to plan.

You cannot accuse writer Aaron Guzikowski of not paying enough attention to the plot here. Standard-issue heist action-thrillers are usually flimsy in terms of story, yet Contraband positively excels - it offers up plenty of unexpected plot twists and turns. The heist should be so simple, yet things keep going wrong and the stakes are continually upped, which is why this film is so engaging. Contraband's key pratfall, however, is that Kate is too much of a clichéd, vulnerable damsel in distress. It would have been more interesting if Kate was Chris' equal; if she encouraged Chris to do the job to save Andy rather than just issuing typical warnings and maintaining that there must be "another way" without offering suggestions. Hell, it would've been even better if Kate played a role in the heist herself. Furthermore, Tim's crime racket is not especially intimidating - Tim's residence (where his daughter lives) appears to be known by everyone, and there don't appear to be many enforcers (none of which guard Tim's house). Chris' friends could have obliterated Tim's syndicate without breaking a sweat, or even just assassinated Tim.

Contraband looks astonishingly assured for a $25 million production, and it's probably thanks to the low budget that the film feels so authentic since it had the freedom to be dark and edgy. Lacking the sugar-coated gloss of an expensive PG-13 blockbuster, the world of crime depicted here is grimy and raw - there's blood, the characters are given realistic leeway to swear, and you truly get the feeling that nobody is safe. Kormákur was right at home with this material - a shootout between criminals and law enforcers in Panama is nail-bitingly tense, and it's impossible to take your eyes away from the screen as the film barrels towards its edge-of-your-seat conclusion. Admittedly, cinematographer Barry Ackroyd (Green Zone, The Hurt Locker) adopted a dreaded shaky-cam routine here, yet it actually works to the film's benefit; the gritty handheld style suits the material. Topping this off, there are a few nice song choices from time to time, and Clinton Shorter's score is top-drawer.

Mark Wahlberg can play roles like this in his sleep. To his credit, though, he didn't actually phone this one in or sleepwalk through the film for the paycheque - he seems fully immersed in the material, and the intensity he brings to the role of Chris is spot-on. Alongside him, Ben Foster and Kate Beckinsale also bring their A game to the roles of Sebastian and Kate (respectively), but it's Giovanni Ribisi who absolutely steals the show as Tim. Ribisi is delightfully hammy and over-the-top, and he clearly had an utter blast playing such a callous kingpin. Sure, Ribisi's performance borders on cartoonish, but he's a pleasure to watch.

To be sure, Contraband has room for improvement, but it delivers proverbial thrills in a satisfying fashion. This is a fun, exciting little thriller with several exhilarating action sequences, and it kept this reviewer rapt for its two-hour duration. Nevertheless, Contraband has little staying power - it's pretty shallow, and it will probably be long forgotten by the end of 2012.

7.1/10