Contraband
Dir: Baltasar Kormákur
2012
***
Modern action thrillers aren't what they used to be but I found something quite refreshing about Baltasar Kormákur's Contraband. As over the top as the story was in places there was still an element of realism that made the whole thing believable. The common method of ship smuggling was an eye opener and was educational as well as entertaining. The cast was pretty impressive with each actor bring their own positives to the production, whether it be in a straight role or as a real-life cartoon character. My only complaint here is that I thought the often brilliant Lukas Haas was criminally underused. The use of hand-held cameras was a good move, action movies aren't usually the best films for them but here it works well. Contraband has everything an entertaining action thriller should have, it's never too serious and never too silly and has plenty of thrills and tension.