Contraband

Smuggling - Counterfeit Money - Drugs – and – Surprise Abstract?
Contraband, R, ***, Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Giovanni Ribisi, Ben Foster. Universal film. Director Baltasar Kormakur. Length 110 minutes.

Former smuggler expert Chris Farraday (Mark Wahlberg) has given up his old trade for a security business. As a former guy who broke the law more than most and knows the tricks of the trade who could possible do this job better? Since his occupation is now preventing breaking, entering, and illegal activity at homes and businesses he has to be one of the best.
Farraday is happily married to the beautiful Kate (Kate Beckinsale), and they have two children. The movie is based on “Reykjavvik-Rotterdam” a film from Iceland. “Contraband” is set in New Orleans with a shoot-em-up thrilling visit to Panama along with some nervous moments in New Orleans.
Unfortunately Kate’s brother Andy (Claeb Landry Jones) does not have a lot of common sense. He bungles a smuggling job, and Tim Briggs (Giovanni Ribisi) does not have mercy on anyone who cuts into the illegal profits of his crime organization.
Yes, the reader has guessed it. Farraday must put on his smuggling britches and save his brother-in-laws life along with his wife and children. Of course this does not set well with Farraday, but he has to do it. A smuggler has to do what a smuggler has to do.
As he gets back in his element of illegal activity, it is obvious he has not lost his edge. He decides to smuggle counterfeit money in order to repay the illegal debt for good ole Andy. He pulls his old team back together, and they are off to Panama to visit some old friends and return to those days of yesteryear when smuggling was his first occupation.
Farraday leaves his old friend Sebastian (Ben Foster) to watch after Kate and the children while he is out bringing in the sheaves. Of course, everything does not go as planned, so he gets involved with some tough characters from his days of stepping outside the law.
The action is tense and the shoot outs are strong.
A seasoned movie individual will figure out some of the movie as it progresses. Watch for body language and the look of guilt. However, it leaves enough small surprises to make it interesting.
They have to take a ship to Panama, and lots of interesting groundwork has to be planned while traveling to Panama. Some very tough characters in Panama believe it is one way – Their way or the highway or I should say the cemetery. The smuggling deals are strongly intense.
As trouble starts in Panama, it seems that some more issues are arising in New Orleans that makes Farraday cross or I should say infuriated. When Farraday returns to New Orleans, some very smart moves take place along with moments of tension.
Watch the movie closely, and remember Abstract painting and one of the influential painters in the last 60 years. This statement is just to keep the audience alert at watching small scenes that happen to become big payoffs before the movie is over.
“Contraband” has its moments. What movie buff could keep from being for someone trying to save his family from the real bad, bad guys – not just the former bad guys?