Review of Contraband (2012) by Joe J — 07 Sep 2012

Chris Farraday (Mark Wahlberg) is a retired smuggler who has a loving wife Kate (Kate Beckinsale) and two young sons. Life for him is good, until is young, foolish brother-in-law Andy (Caleb Landry Jones) decides to try the business, and lands in a heap of trouble with a powerful man named Tim Briggs (Giovanni Ribisi).

To save the life of his brother-in-law - and protect his family - Chris is sucked back into the life he left long ago, sent to Panama to smuggle in some very prosperous cargo to pay for Andy's debt. But all isn't as it seems, as he soon realizes he can't trust anyone, and everyone is out for themselves.

Sure, the film was predictable and seemed to be something any moviegoer has seen before, but the final half of the film makes up for the extremely slow start. This is right down Wahlberg's ally, and he flawlessly performs throughout in a manner you would expect him to. Plus the action was cool.