Contraband (2012)

To protect his brother-in-law from a drug lord, a former smuggler heads to Panama to score millions of dollars in counterfeit bills.

Director:

Baltasar Kormákur

Writers:

Aaron Guzikowski (screenplay), Arnaldur Indriðason (film "Reykjavik-Rotterdam"),

Stars:

Mark Wahlberg, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Beckinsale

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mark Wahlberg	...	Chris Farraday
Kate Beckinsale	...	Kate Farraday
Ben Foster	...	Sebastian Abney
Giovanni Ribisi	...	Tim Briggs
Lukas Haas	...	Danny Raymer
Caleb Landry Jones	...	Andy
Diego Luna	...	Gonzalo
J.K. Simmons	...	Captain Camp
David O'Hara	...	Jim Church
William Lucking	...	Bud Farraday
Ólafur Darri Ólafsson	...	Olaf
Robert Wahlberg	...	John Bryce
Jason Mitchell	...	Walter
Paul LeBlanc	...	CBP Official
Amber Gaiennie	...	Danny's Bride

Storyline

Chris Faraday once smuggled illegal items or contraband into the country on freighters. He left that life behind, got married has a family and went legit. But when his brother-in-law got involved with Briggs, a drug dealer and when he blew a deal, Briggs demands restitution which he can't deliver. So Chris offers to find a way to pay him but the he threatens Chris' family if he doesn't deliver. So he gets on a freighter destined for Panama and he sets out to bring back some counterfeit currency. Briggs "goes to see" Chris' family. When Chris learns of this he asks his friend Sebastian to take care of them which he does. He tells Chris that it would be better to bring drugs instead of the cash.

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Plot Keywords:

drug lord | smuggling | contraband | prison | cocaine | 

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Taglines:

What would you hide to protect your family?

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

14A

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA UK France

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

13 January 2012 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Contrabando

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$24,349,815 (USA) (13 January 2012)

Gross:

$66,489,425 (USA) (9 March 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, Working Title Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The painting stolen appears to be "One: Number 31" by Jackson Pollock. The actual painting is in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. It has an undisclosed insurance value, though it is estimated to be in excess of $200 million.

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Goofs

Ships of these dimensions have a fixed propeller and not a Controllable Pitch Propeller.

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Quotes

Sebastian Abney: [one of Chris sons hit him with a paper ball] Good aim.

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Connections

Remake of Reykjavík Rotterdam (2008)

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Soundtracks

Only Time
Written by Matthew Nawada, Jason Anthony Leach
Performed by Jay Fresko
Courtesy of InDigi Music and South Coast Records

User Reviews

Contraband- 5 category review

Directing 6/10- Some unique and intriguing shots, but nothing too rememberable Acting 8.5/10- The acting is the category that without a doubt, stole the show. Solid efforts from the entire cast but the film really benefited from tremendous performances from Ribisi and Landry Jones. Screenplay 4/10- The screenplay is fun no doubt and benefits from decent pacing and a few intense action sequences but the film lacks originality, stealing concepts and at times, lines. Visual effects 5/10- The visual effects were average. I can't completely fault a film for not using unnecessary visuals. Sound effects/Music 5/10- The sound effects were fine, nothing misplaced there. The music was again just OK, sometimes the music was great and mixed well with the action going on but in some the haunting/emotional scenes the music didn't make the scene 'better', which is what it should do. Overall, the film is just another forgettable action film. The film has decent enough story (though cliché), with great acting and some fun action sequences that make the film at least worth a viewing.