Contraband
Film Review Friday
Contraband falls under the genre of ‘heist thriller’ which is not exactly the type of movie I’m usually drawn to but it had Mark Wahlberg in it so I figured, what the heck? He’s always believable as the blue-collar, underdog, good guy. Could it be because in real life he is THAT guy? Well, I say good for you Marky Mark. You’re smarter than a lot of other average actors who insist on putting themselves in films that they have no business in. They want to play roles that challenge them as actors and they just end up looking idiotic. The movie Rain man comes to mind. Were we really suppose to believe Dustin Hoffmann was Tom Cruise’s brother? There’s like a 40 year age difference. I’d say, compared to the gullible audience, Rainman WAS a genius.
Really? Brothers? On what planet?
There’s an intensity about Mark Wahlberg that I find very attractive. Technically he’s not handsome nor does he appear to be leading man material and yet he manages to win me over every time. And the south Boston accent, well, he had me at “pak the kah”.
Giving him a run for his money is Giovanni Ribisi who I always confuse with Ed Norton. Don’t ask me why. Maybe because they both lose themselves in the role they’re playing, so completely, that they become interchangeable? Anyway, Giovanni Ribisi is great, per usual. (I love him in “The Other Sister”)
Giovanni Ribisi as the mentally challenged Daniel
Then there’s Kate Beckinsale who is trying really hard to look down and dirty with grown out high-lights, a tattoo, and oily skin. Yes, she’s technically pretty but she’s really lacking in the charisma department. She’s the opposite of Mark Wahlberg, in this regard. Remember her in Serendipity? Sorry, but her little flights of fancy really got on my nerves. I wanted her dead.
I’m not exactly an expert on contraband and the criminal activity that takes place in shipping yards, but apparently Chris Farraday (Mark Wahlberg) is. He knows EVERYTHING about everything. Not only that, but he expertly knows his way around the underbelly of Panama City like the palm of his dirty hand. Actually, Panama City is ONLY underbelly from what I could tell.
I give my boy high marks for making this implausible script work.
What did I learn about myself from attending this film? I will never be paying a visit to Panama City, and by that I mean, I will never go south of the resorts in Cancun.
Let me be (officially) the first to say it–well done on joining the Blogging world!! And, the site looks ab.so.lutely. adorable!!
Firstly–Marky Mark. I am content to look at his abs. If he can act, too, well, even better. As for Kate–I’ve never really liked her, either, except in the vampire movie series. Of course, the new Underworld (which I always type as underwear) is in 3D. I don’t like 3D. It always startles me, which can cause me to tip over my buttered popcorn and/or drink.
As for ‘Rainman’–the best thing in Rainman was the car. Enough said.
I look forward to further posts, Missus!!
Glad you enjoyed it! I’m gonna try and keep ’em short and to the point. I don’t have total faith in my abilities to write something worthwhile, yet. I’m just gonna take it a day at a time. Thanks for the encouragement! : )
PS Love, love, love the photo!! I can see Lily in Canada in that face, along with a great deal of kindness, humor and a bit of pain.
That’s VERY kind of you. Yes, Lily and I look very similar.
Oh, and the pained look was probably just from having my picture taken! haha!
Now you have me wanting to see Rainman…I’ve never seen it before! And you know how I like my retard films. I’m so politically correct. There’s something about Giovanni Ribisi that I really love. His face is so relatable, not cute, not fugs. And hes a good actor!
Haha to “pak the kah.” That reminds me, I also need to go to Boston.
Hey! thanks for dropping by, and by “dropping by”, I mean, creating my whole blog! Haha! Glad you like my movie review. I defs think you should see Rain Man, if only for the crazy casting.
I like Giovanni Ribisi, too. Very talented.
So there are now two Labutes on WordPress? Fantastic stuff. Unless that’s Lily’s married surname.
Giovanni has a tendency to look like he is going to cry or have a tantrum. I would be scared to meet him in real life.
I love Kate Beckinsale. It’s a shame that the Underworld films are a load of guff.
Clearly, I don’t know what I’m doing since your reply just moved down the page!
Congrats, Lisa! I guess many people will enjoy your blog :).
Thanks!! NBI! I’m still getting the hang of this. I’m definitely not a computer person, just lucky I can open my emails! I just noticed that my reply to Michael got bumped below yours… I think I’m a simpleton ; ) haha.
glad you enjoyed my movie review.
So glad you read my first post! Yes, two LaButes. (I won’t recognize Lily’s married name until she’s had it longer than LaBute- so another 24 years.)
I saw one of the underworld films and I would have to agree, guff. If that’s the pinnacle of her career she’s pretty much done.
Ribisi is just odd but you have to admire his chameleon acting abilities.
I was honoured to read your first post.
For some reason your name isn’t linked with your blog any more. Go Dashboard > Users > Personal Settings and scroll right down to the ‘Website’ box. Enter the full name of your blog into it and save the changes.
Done!
Woo first blog post starting off with a bang. I was talking to my friend just the other day about Marky Mark. We decided he is the greatest bad actor of all time. He’s not really good or believable at much. As long as he doesn’t get too excited then he’s perfect. He also has a third nipple which I assume you already know.
If you gave birth to an idiot savant that looked like Dustin Hoffman, wouldn’t you wait another 40 years to get over it and have another kid?
I look forward to more of your posts.
Eww! No, I didn’t know about Marky Mark’s third nipple. That’s very disturbing. Already my post is paying off with valuable information!
Good point. Not only would I wait, I’d probably kill myself.
Thanks!
I couldn’t believe Kate Beckinsale’s dad was Richard Beckinsale, quite a big British tv actor in the 70s. If only she had one iota of his charisma.
Mark Wahlberg has always been one of my favourites, he can play serious and comedic just like that *clicks fingers*. Never actually seen Contraband though, I’ll definitely check it out.
Ribisi is believable as a mentally handicapped person, he has the face for it hah.
Welcome to WordPress too, your blog looks ace. 🙂
Thanks, Pete!
Glad we’re in agreement about Kate Beckinsale. I think you’ll like Mark Wahlberg in this new movie, even though the script is a bit of a stretch from reality.
Ribisi! haha! so true! His face has a bit of the stupid in it, right?
Glad you’ve come by!
I always imagine him as Phoebe’s brother from Friends, since then I can never take Ribisi seriously.
Glad you’ve created another place for me to browse on my off-time (which at the moment, is all the time)
Perfect! Phoebe’s brother. I can definitely see that. You may have a hidden talent as a casting director in you 😉
I’m starting to realize what a time killer, er, I mean filler blogging is! Seems like we all have some time on our hands.
Haha not really as he actually played Phoebe’s brother 😀
He gets with a woman twice his age and has Phoebe give birth to his children.
No wonder I thought he’d be perfect! What has happened to my memory? I guess Friends hasn’t been on the air here for many, many years, so that will have to be my excuse.
After reading your blog, now, I have to see the movie. I have a fascination with anything south of the border of the good ‘ol US of A. Maybe it’s because watching anything that comes from countries rooting in the art of the contraband, aka DRUG Trafficking is like watching a train wreck. Think, “Maria Full of Grace.” Did you see that movie? Maybe it’s all because I am a hair away from a Master’s Degree in Latin American Literature. What am I learning about myself by responding to this blog? I guess I like to see others suffer while I sit knoshing on some popcorn and a Diet Coke. That’s, Marya, is not good character.
Interestingly, it took place in New Orleans and yet no one had an accent?
This was a good excuse to get some buttered popcorn, let’s be honest. And I’m with you, I like to hide in the dark, eat forbidden food and watch people suffer. Good times!
Buttered popcorn should be it’s own food group. I’m not sure what annoys me more–having incorrect/bad accents OR having some of the actors using one and others not. There was some movie with Sean Connery who played a Russian submarine captain, and, he and a few of the other ‘Russian’ sailors used a Russian accent, and others didn’t. I’d almost prefer, if there are a group of actors who are from different countries to use their own home dialect.
its not it’s
Sean Connery used a Russian accent? He never seems to think he needs to change his thick Scottish brogue. I usually just make my own back story if there are too many conflicting accents. Haha!