MovieChat Forums > Contraband (2012) Discussion > Such a strange movie...

Such a strange movie...

posted 12 years ago by august-eighty
8 replies | jump to latest

It had a fairly cool style, decent casting, decent concept for an action thriller, but it just failed across the board. I just can't imagine them focus testing this film and getting high marks - the editing wall all over the place.

I have a feeling their was actually a good film sitting on the editing room floor. It was just assembled terribly - constant jumping all over the place with location and twists, compressed timelines when there needed to be more exposition, and then too much time spent on things that didn't matter (much of the stuff on the ship).

I think this is an example of a story told very poorly. Haven't seen anything else by this director, but I wonder what happened.

[–] dumbtai 12 years ago

the problem is that the viewer doesn't give a $#!@ if any of the characters lives or dies. They're all insufferable idiots (Kate B, Banshee) or arrogant (Marky Mark).

Compare this drek to something like the Fast/Furious franchise, where the viewer roots for Dominic and crew.

[–] TheBeardedWonder 12 years ago

There was about 80 minutes of good footage here, unfortunately the movie as it stands is almost 110 minutes long (what the hell were they thinking?). Take out the subplot of the wife/kids/Ben Foster, and it could have been a snappy little heist/revenge flick. Instead, Hollywood again tries to pander to EVERY demographic and ends up with a down the middle generic product with an unjustified run-time...

"You didn't like this movie? Go watch [insert completely opposite movie] instead"

[–] nutsberryfarm 12 years ago

yeah, that subplot wasn't needed.

His name...was Julio Iglesias!

[–] ajaglob 10 years ago

Actually the director was the leading character of REYKJAVIK ROTTERDAM, the original movie from where CONTRABAND is the remake of. So direction is european and its style is as jumpy as in its original, but it works I think. Also the subplot there is stronger because the tension between the chris, kate and sebastian-characters is apparent from the beginning cause the latter two used to be lovers. Thus making this triangular relationship the red wire throughout the movie and not leaving you wonder why they wrote the subplot in the first place. And I think Kate Beckinsale, whom I love, was miscast for this movie.

...My work? not too many could afford such quality...

[–] Pussy_Connoisseur 12 years ago

i get what you are saying, you can check out my review on here i just put it up, i think like 2 days ago. ive expressed why i think the plot is weak

[–] Bobryshev_777 12 years ago

I thought it was a very good movie, with a decent plot and acting, but the best part for me was the way the suspense cranked up(for Wahlberg's character & his crew) along with the twists. Certain scenes were a bit OTT for sure, but it didn't stop me from enjoying them. I would happily substitute 'realism' or 'Oscar' material for flat out entertainment any day of the week.

[–] Prismark10 9 years ago

I would not say its a strange film, just a bad one.

Its that man again!!

[–] 9 years ago

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