Watch: New International Trailer For 'Contraband' Shows Off Lots Of New Footage From The Film

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by Ben Shearn
November 16, 2011 9:21 AM
4 Comments

When the first “Contraband” trailer hit in September, its conventional action pacing, strong doses of Mark Wahlberg machismo and virile use of the song "Red Nation" promised two possible outcomes: 1) A passable or even solid genre flick or 2) Yet another inhabitant in the forgettable Mark Wahlberg action-movie ghetto (“Four Brothers,” “Shooter,” “Max Payne”).

The newest International trailer, on the other hand, takes an almost entirely different angle. The first minute sets it up traditionally with a pulsing musical push. Already it features way more of the cast including Giovanni Ribisi (who seems to be channeling his inner Ratso Rizzo) and sustains a gloomier tone than the slam-bang of the American trailer. About midway, a theme of near-Vangelis-like emo-proportions attempts to frame "Contraband" not as straight action but as a gritty, emotional crime saga with the stylistic heft of “The Departed,” or perhaps even “Drive”. But that’s quite a stretch. The basic pounding Mark Wahlberg action/thriller core remains in tact.

Hints, however, at potential depth may not be totally unjustified. The director, Baltasar Kormákur, is a respected Icelandic filmmaker and actually played Wahlberg’s role in the film "Contraband" is based on, “Reykjavik-Rotterdam” – though he didn’t direct. Kormákur (whose films as director include “A Little Trip to Heaven” and “The Sea”) hasn’t exactly set international cinema on fire but he isn’t a complete non-entity either.

With a decent supporting cast in place -- Ribisi, Diego Luna, Ben Foster, Lukas Haas and J.K. Simmons -- we're hoping this can be a bit more than an average car-go-boom Mark Wahlbergh action vehicle.

"Contraband" hits on January 13, 2012.

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4 Comments

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James | November 17, 2011 5:42 AMReply

&timparker, Ben plays Wahlberg's best friend in the movie. He's in the trailer several times actually.
Mike | November 16, 2011 1:42 PMReply

I think you meant to say "Four Brothers" in your list of Wahlberg action movies, Brothers is neither an action movie nor a Mark Wahlberg-starring one.
evilnik | November 16, 2011 11:21 AMReply

TRON MUSIC!!!
TimParker | November 16, 2011 10:04 AMReply

Ben Foster must play a really small role in that because I think he showed up once in the preview. Might've been him yelling at one point, couldn't tell. Either that or he does play a larger role but his star hasn't quite risen the way you'd think, considering he co-starred in that Mechanic remake