Contraband

By Shelby Powell ~ Recently released on DVD, Contraband stars Mark Wahlberg as a hardscrabble, former smuggler who is forced to go on one last run to ensure the safety of his family. Contraband also stars Kate Beckinsale, Giovanni Ribisi, and Ben Foster.

The film is nowhere near as awful as one might expect. Wahlberg doesn’t have a reputation for starring in critically acclaimed films but Contraband delivers a classic genre flick. It’s a semi-heist movie, featuring a bad-boy-struggling-to-go-good, with a little bit of a love triangle to go with it. Beckinsale is sincerely believable as the long-suffering wife. Ribisi, as the murderous villain, is predictably delightful. He treats every new role as a chance to top his previous work and this is no different. Ben Foster, playing the stereotypical best friend, can be absolutely chilling.

Mark Wahlberg is the film’s weak link. He isn’t breaking any new ground, seeming to play the same character he played in The Italian Job, Four Brothers, or Shooter. He’s enjoyable but he isn’t doing anything new. Another, almost overwhelming, problem is the language. For reasons outside this reviewer’s comprehension, the profane exclamations came at every other word. It didn’t make sense and only served to jar the audience out of the film.

Overall, Contraband is a decent film. Just don’t bring the kids!