Review of Contraband (2012) by Brad G — 13 Aug 2012

Don't go out of your way, but if you should somehow stumble upon this perfectly average seabound heist picture than you could do worse things to kill a couple of hours. Contraband is definitely better than kicking puppies or eating glass.

Mark Wahlberg does his squinty tough face thing and he would be so easy to forget if not for films like Boogie Nights or The Other Guys. Giovanni Ribisi is easily the best thing about this film but I sometimes feel like his nasally snitch acting is just his way of pranking the audience--it's outer space acting and I imagine it's what he's got to do to keep himself entertained.

Ben Foster does what Ben Foster does-screams a lot, looks mad. Kate Beckinsale is an incredible victim in this film, she's battered, tortured, and just brutalized over the runtime and she tries to seem important but she's just another damsel in distress.

There is just nothing that stands out from the ordinary. Still, watch this if yer contemplating kicking a puppy. VF.