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Contraband
2012 109 min Iceland, United States of America R 18+
★6.2
Thriller, Action, Drama, Crime
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
🎭 Based on
«Reykjavík-Rotterdam»
Trailers
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Teaser
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Description
When his brother-in-law runs afoul of a drug lord, family man Chris Farraday turns to a skill he abandoned long ago—smuggling—to repay the debt. But the job goes wrong, and Farraday finds himself wanted by cops, crooks and killers alike.
Budget:
$25M
US Gross:
$66.53M
Worldwide:
$96.26M
Starring
Mark Wahlberg
Actor
Giovanni Ribisi
Actor
Kate Beckinsale
Actor
Awards
1 win total
Key opinion
Contraband is widely viewed as a competent, middle-of-the-road crime thriller that functions effectively within its niche despite its reliance on familiar genre tropes. While some viewers appreciate its solid pacing and professional execution, others find the screenplay predictable and lacking the soul of the original source material.
| Acting | Mark Wahlberg provides a grounded, realistic performance as a blue-collar protagonist that anchors the film's modest scale. | |
| Acting | The supporting cast—specifically Giovanni Ribisi and Kate Beckinsale—is frequently praised for adding necessary weight and energy to their respective roles. | |
| Production | Production design effectively utilizes modest budgets to create an authentic, gritty atmosphere within port and shipping environments. | |
| Screenplay | The film's screenplay is sharply divided between those who find the twists engaging and unpredictable, and those who perceive the plot as a formulaic, uninspired recycling of familiar action movie clichés. | |
| Direction | Opinions on director Baltasar Kormákur's approach are polarized; some applaud his firm, dynamic style, while others criticize him for stripping the story of the original's deeper character resonance in favor of generic American hype. | |
| Pacing | The film's pacing satisfies viewers looking for a quick-moving, tight thriller, though some critics argue it relies too heavily on predictable 'last-second' resolutions to generate excitement. |