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, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster

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:

contraband | drug lord | wet cement | cigarette smoking | body in a trunk | 

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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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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, pervasive language and brief drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 January 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Contrabando

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (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

This is Baltasar Kormákur's first Hollywood movie.

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Goofs

Captain Camp would not have been at the helm while his ship was passing through the Panama Canal. Panama Canal pilots take over the ship during passage.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Referenced in Chelsea Lately: Episode #6.12 (2012)

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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

One of Mark's Best

From the very beginning to the dramatic end, the movie is thrilling. There is not a scene in the movie which drags the story and every bit is to a point. His acting is simple, on point and brilliant as usual and this is one of the best smuggling films i would add to, after Italian job and various others make to a good list. The fact that it brings family, friendship, love, hate, betrayal and the usual bad guy in the film may make it sound all ordinary as most of the films have almost the same characters these days, but the reason i would ask you guys to watch this film is because the touch it has unlike most of them out these days.

I don't think timing is any bit of a problem in this movie and the way in which the scenes unfold is what i think keep you at the edge of your seat through the movie. Anywhoo, A must watch! I loved it personally.