Review of Contraband (2012) by Panta O — 13 Dec 2013

I know now the work of the director Baltasar Kormákur, and because I usually enjoy Mark Wahlberg I decided to finally watch this movie which I got a year ago. This action crime thriller with Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, Caleb Landry Jones, Giovanni Ribisi, Lukas Haas, Diego Luna and J. K. Simmons is actually a remake of the 2008 Icelandic film Reykjavík-Rotterdam which Baltasar Kormákur starred in.

I cannot say that I find the work of the director or the writer Aaron Guzikowski lacking, but there was not much to be remembered. I completely understand people who didn't like it because for me was on the edge - could easily go to the other side, mainly because even with all the action and all the twists still felt somehow distant, with no connection to the most of the viewers. Lacks character and maybe "soul"!? On the other hand, I kept watching it to the end...

This is probably simple speciality from Hollywood which is supposedly entertaining but at the end you feel tired instead of refreshed from the 'entertainment'. I will still recommend it to the fans of Mark Wahlberg, but, please, do not expect too much!