Icelandic director Baltasar Kormakur puts a fresh coat of paint on the action thriller with Contraband. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale and Giovanni Ribisi, the movie careens between New Orleans and Panama, a route for counterfeit money and cocaine smugglers.
Chris Farraday (Wahlberg) has left "the life," but when his brother-in-law botches a drug deal and kingpin Tim Briggs (Ribisi) seeks revenge, Farraday dives back in with gusto. He arranges to transport a ton of fake cash on a freighter, leaving his lovely wife Kate (Beckinsale), kids and best friend Sebastian (Ben Foster) behind. Big mistake.
While Chris is away, Briggs menaces Kate, but it's Sebastian who has eyes for the blonded beauty. In Panama, they score the loot and some coke to boot. However, Chris doesn't want the blow (clearly Briggs, who snorts lines, does) and threatens to toss it overboard. Watch the trailer below
He manages to stay one step step ahead of the DEA, who board the boat in search of contraband. Somehow they're able to elude the Feds, though the coke never does quite make it ashore.
While Wahlberg holds his own as the conflicted criminal, Ribisi - his Briggs is a sadistic bastard with a heavy Creole accent - eats up the scenery and practically steals the flick. The winsome Beckinsale takes some blows, but manages to survive a dumpster filled with cement. Just another week in the smuggling business.
