Contraband

'Just when I thought I was out ... they pull me back in'.

A popular theme in movies is one where a person who until recently led a life of crime is able to escape it but ends up having to return to it due to unforeseen circumstances. In this case we have a smuggler who has left the job but when his family is threatened he must pull off 'one last job'. The first third of this film was so irritating. The way it is set up with Mark Wahlberg's character Chris Farraday having to go back to his old life was so obvious that you knew exactly where the film was going. It would have been nice if they could have come up with a better way to start things up. Despite the bad opening, once the story gets going the film becomes much better. I'd love to know how much of this type of smuggling actually goes on in the world. It seems quite easy and experienced smugglers could get away with it quite often. There are some great twists in the plot that keep you interested and the tricks that Chris comes up with to avoid capture make it intriguing. There is probably not as much action as you might expect but it is still a very thrilling film.

Mark Wahlberg's career is full of films that are very similar to this. He likes to play heroes that get themselves into difficult situations and then he has to not only save himself but loved ones as well. Despite this he is very charming and does a good job here. Poor Kate Beckinsale does not have much to do with her character. She is stuck as the frightened wife at home trying to protect the kids. Not a lot to work with. This would have to be one of Ben Fosters best performances. He is playing a character that's not wild and crazy like he normally does. He plays it straight and is all the better for it. However Giovanni Ribisi brings enough of the crazy for anyone. It is the same type of character he normally play but a little bit more nasty. Lukas Haas is very good as the nerdy member of Mark's gang. J.K. Simmons is excellent as always.

If you can get past the set up then your in for a fun time with this movie. Not as action pact as you might expect but still fun.