MovieChat Forums > Contraband (2012) Discussion > 'C-word'

'C-word'

posted 11 years ago by mz2377
12 replies | jump to latest

What the hell is with the constant use of the dreaded "c-word" in this movie? I heard it at least three times during a recent viewing. Wahlberg says it at least once (in a poor attempt at insulting the captain and the captain's wife) and Foster calls Wahlberg's wife it when they're arguing just before he knocks her out. I can't remember when the third instance is, but there is another one, and possibly more.

Just curious ... I mean, to hear it once in a movie or show (like when it's used on Curb Your Enthusiasm) is a little shocking, and now it's being used multiple times in mainstream movies. Yikes.

[–] chivers677 11 years ago

I hear you. As a British person the word is thrown around like nobodies business. I actually find the word annoying and a pathetic attempt at forced fed shock value. The word doesn't bother me, I just think it's too try-hard.

Seems American movies are using it more now, e.g. Bridesmaids, The Hangover: Part II, Mental, Super and many others. It's also used in pretty much almost every HBO series in existence too. Perhaps the US version of Contraband differs form the UK version? Since the word was only used once here. Not that I'm sitting there counting each expletive. That would be sad

"Stop looking at the walls, look out the window." ~ Karl Pilkington On Art

[–] mz2377 11 years ago

Yeah, it is all about shock value now. Sad. As it was in Contraband, it was thrown in to a) make the smugglers sound genuine, since apparently people who do what they do use more filthy language than non-smugglers and b) shock and surprise the audience, since the movie, itself, wasn't providing much of that. The movie isn't God-awful, but I didn't find it to be as exciting as it could've been. I'm sure I'm not alone on that one.

I haven't seen Bridesmaids and I couldn't make it through even half an hour of The Hanogver II (it was really, really bad and I had to turn it off), but the word definitely is being used more than it was in the past and, in my opinion, doesn't really have a place in mainstream "action" or intense movies. For example, it wasn't (to my knowledge) used in any of the Die Hard or Lethal Weapon movies, but it now is being used multiple times in movies featuring major stars (i.e. Wahlberg in Contraband).

The most ridiculous time it's used in Contraband is when Wahlberg's character is arguing with the captain after getting back on board with the money, and the captain is suspecting him of smuggling. Wahlberg says something along the lines of the following:

"Your wife asked me to pick up some Panamanian dog sh*t to eat and rub in her (c-word) ..."

I mean, what the hell is that? That line must've been improvised. If it was in the script, that'd be very bizarre. It seems like Wahlberg just came up with it as an improvisation in an attempt to get a true angry reaction out of the other actor, but I still don't even know what he's trying to say.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] geoweo 11 years ago

I don't take the word's "overuse" in film these days as an attempt at shock value, but rather desensitization. I also don't really care if it's used in a movie such as this or vulgar comedies like Bridesmaids or The Hangover.

I agree that Wahlberg's line with it in this film was rather ridiculous, though.

[–] ZabyPS3 11 years ago

I totally agree. The word is over-used and unneccessary most of the time. It's like the worst kind of buzzword - it's only inserted into a film like this because they couldn't up with something wity or funny.

I have no problem with the word, when it's used in context. For example, the movie Broson springs to mind, because I can imagine the real life person saying it a LOT! Or in the Departed, because they were low life mobsters and burnt-out cops who would actually talk like that. Or Bridesmaids because the inappropriateness of the word at that particular moment was hilarious. Or in Kicka$$ because a 12 year old really shouldn't say it - but it's part of the graphic novel.

But here it's just a truely bizarre use of the word, inserted into a terrible insult, to try and make it sound good.

It's the only part of the this movie that actually sticks in my mind, for the wrong reason.

'then, you must cut down the mightiest tree in the forrest, wiiiiiiiiiiiiith.........a HERRING!'

[–] chilone 10 years ago

Who cares, really?

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] wrlord2001 10 years ago

Oh don't be such a little p ussy.

[–] Steppy412 10 years ago

I hadn't really noticed it.

[–] Prismark10 9 years ago

Was it overused?

I only heard it used once.

Its that man again!!

[–] harrison_1 7 years ago

In one part I wasn't sure whether Wahlberg referred to a character as a "F'ing or a c'nt" or an "F'ing punk". It wasn't quite clear.

[–] liberius 7 years ago

The whole movie was gratuitous, even the use of f*uck seemed out of place many times.

The violence done to the wife, and the exposure of the children to violence, was pointless, ridiculous, but most of all it was disturbing since it seemed so gratuitous.

There's no doubt c*unt is the new f*uck. Its use is strongly cultural, and not always pejorative. In the Antipodes we often pay someone the compliment of being "a good c*unt" Also f*uck and c*unt are often heard on regular broadcast channels here.

The overuse of c*unt is not lamentable for the word itself, but because it seems too obvious, forced, gratuitous. It draws attention to a lack of creativity by the writer and director.