Review by Edgardo
Jan 27, 2012
Contraband is a good movie. Well done, it keeps your interest. Very nice in many respects. For me it was a learning experience as well. I believe they had some assistance in filming from Homeland Security. There was a lot of military equipment. I’m not sure if it was intentional or not to showcase their stuff and intimidate the folks, but I believe in this case it was. The security forces in the United States, love showing off, adore showcasing their new military style hardware, and never avoid a chance to grandstand. When one nerdy little inspector would do, why not send heavily armed swat teams, with five or six helicopters and a half dozen DHS gunboats? Well you got ‘em use ‘em. If you never use them, how do you justify having them. Well, it does make for good movie excitement; it also makes for trillion dollar deficits; and calls for higher taxes. When you see the movie you’ll see what I mean.
There’s plenty of plot twists and cliffhangers too , and “Just in the nick of time” action. In fact there might have been too much. A little too formulaic, but that’s like complaining there’s too much icing on your piece of cake. For many, there can never be too much. Mark Walhberg plays Chris Faraday, a smuggler, now retired and going straight with his own business with a wife and two kids. Kate Beckinsale does an excellent job in her role as the wife caught up as a pawn and hostage in a game that family ties pulled her into. I didn’t even recognize her until later as the chick from those “underworld” movies The most noteworthy ,and possibly worth the price of the ticket on his performance alone, was Giovanni Ribisi; he plays the villainous, murderous, smuggler who is out to get his money back in coin or in flesh. He is the epitome of all the stereotypes (or truths) about a Big Easy small time crime boss. I don’t want to say more but there is a twist here.}
When Kate’s younger Brother is forced to toss a load of “candy”, to save her brothers life, Kate turns to the former infamous smuggler, now her husband. And the fun begins.
This movie gives a glimpse into the world of what we call on the border the “contrabandista” or smuggler. Truth be known, the contraband guy outsmarts the authorities most of the time; however the “Man” only has to win some of the time. The smuggler is bound to lose. We also look into the brotherhood of the Merchant Marine, a world int which we don’t often see. Also Panama was a delight; gritty and real, with native Panamanians playing some of the bit parts. The plot takes a few twists here that do stretch credulity, but so many of modern movies don’t even deal with credulity at all. The modernity and wealth of Panama City are captured here along with the poverty and the madness and chaos. Diego Luna makes good. Both in his role and in the movie as well. He does become the ultimate macho, even after Mark Wahlberg called him euphemistically a female cat. (Not to his face, of course|
{Though formulaic, and at times contrived, this is worth your time and the cost of a ticket. (The movie has quite a few cliches, just like the review.) Well, worth seeing, especially if you live anywhere along the Rio Grande or points west. After all “Contraband” is the biggest business here, by far.
Movie trailer:
