Contraband (2012)
Country: US/GB/FR
Technical: col/2.35:1 109m
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, Giovanni Ribisi, Lukas Haas, J.K. Simmons, Diego Luna
Synopsis:
A former smuggler turned legit is coerced into making one last run when his wife's ne'er-do-well younger brother tosses his consignment and becomes indebted to the Mob. Leaving his wife and son under the protection of an old mate, and embarking as crew member for Panama, our hero discovers he is being played for more than he realized, and still has to contend with a suspicious Captain, his unreliable brother-in-law, and a psychotic Panamanian hood.
Review:
Bringing his nordic social-realist credentials to this exposé-like portrayal of maritime skullduggery, Kormákur instead opts for an action movie rhetoric that out-Scotts Tony Scott. Thus, the scenario, that deliberately queers the pitch for our poor victimized family man, admits more flukes and coincidences than an Ocean or Mission Impossible thriller before he can come out on top. The results, however watchable and well mounted, come over as a cross between 2 Guns and Anything for Her.
Country: US/GB/FR
Technical: col/2.35:1 109m
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, Giovanni Ribisi, Lukas Haas, J.K. Simmons, Diego Luna
Synopsis:
A former smuggler turned legit is coerced into making one last run when his wife's ne'er-do-well younger brother tosses his consignment and becomes indebted to the Mob. Leaving his wife and son under the protection of an old mate, and embarking as crew member for Panama, our hero discovers he is being played for more than he realized, and still has to contend with a suspicious Captain, his unreliable brother-in-law, and a psychotic Panamanian hood.
Review:
Bringing his nordic social-realist credentials to this exposé-like portrayal of maritime skullduggery, Kormákur instead opts for an action movie rhetoric that out-Scotts Tony Scott. Thus, the scenario, that deliberately queers the pitch for our poor victimized family man, admits more flukes and coincidences than an Ocean or Mission Impossible thriller before he can come out on top. The results, however watchable and well mounted, come over as a cross between 2 Guns and Anything for Her.
Country: US/GB/FR
Technical: col/2.35:1 109m
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, Giovanni Ribisi, Lukas Haas, J.K. Simmons, Diego Luna
Synopsis:
A former smuggler turned legit is coerced into making one last run when his wife's ne'er-do-well younger brother tosses his consignment and becomes indebted to the Mob. Leaving his wife and son under the protection of an old mate, and embarking as crew member for Panama, our hero discovers he is being played for more than he realized, and still has to contend with a suspicious Captain, his unreliable brother-in-law, and a psychotic Panamanian hood.
Review:
Bringing his nordic social-realist credentials to this exposé-like portrayal of maritime skullduggery, Kormákur instead opts for an action movie rhetoric that out-Scotts Tony Scott. Thus, the scenario, that deliberately queers the pitch for our poor victimized family man, admits more flukes and coincidences than an Ocean or Mission Impossible thriller before he can come out on top. The results, however watchable and well mounted, come over as a cross between 2 Guns and Anything for Her.