Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Beckinsale

Synopsis: To protect his brother-in-law from a drug lord, a former smuggler heads to Panama to score millions of dollars in counterfeit bills.

Release Date: January 13, 2012

Max Payne (2008)

Being a fan of the games, I was excited to see Wahlberg play Max Payne. Unfortunately, it just didn’t quite hit the…mark. In fact, given the talent involved, I will go as far as to say it was a bad movie. I’ll keep the logline simple: When Max Payne’s family dies from a massive conspiracy, he joins a hot assassin to find answers. If that doesn’t entice you to watch, you’re not alone. John Moore, who directed the fun-but-throwaway Behind Enemy Lines, managed to get the look of the games down, and Mila Kunis was fun to watch, but other than that, Max Payne is a laughable piece of action schlock that will be forgotten, and for good reason. On another note, Max Payne 3 comes out soon, and that will be an awesome game.

Shooter (2007)

If Shooter came out in 1987, it’d be remembered as a great action movie. Instead, it came out 20 years later, after we’ve seen this story five-billion times.  Wahlberg plays a sniper who becomes wrongfully accused for trying to snipe the president. Naturally, there’s a conspiracy he unravels with the help of an FBI Agent (Michael Pena), blah blah blah blah. I’m not going to say Shooter is a bad movie, but it’s certainly not a good one. It moves well and has some decent action, and Danny Glover‘s mustache twirling villainy warrants a few smirks, but unless you’ve got NOTHING to do, I’d skip it.

The trailer also features a short montage of Kate Beckinsale getting dressed. I don’t want to tell you trailer editors how to do your job, but you might want to consider playing that footage backward. And slowly. Oh yeah, that’s more like it.

Contraband also stars Ben Foster, Kate Beckinsale, and Giovani Ribisi. The film follows a security guard and former smuggler (Wahlberg) who, facing financial troubles, is roped back into his old life. It’s looking less likely that a kangaroo captain will be crucial to the plot. The film doesn’t open until March 16, 2012, so I’ll keep my legs crossed until then. Or is it fingers?

They’re more than likely discussing an “Entourage” role for Haas. I’m sure the writers would be willing to write an especially spindly character into the plot. He could be the anti-Turtle. (JustJared)

Ben Foster and Giovanni Ribisi are close to smuggling their way into the cast of Contraband, Variety is reporting. If the deal goes through, the pair will join Mark Wahlberg and Kate Beckinsale, who have already been cast in the thriller.

The film, a remake of a 2009 Icelandic film about a security guard who is dragged back in to his former life of crime, is being directed by Baltasar Kormakur, who also co-wrote, produced and starred in the original. Without question, it is the finest Icelandic film I’ve ever come across. No, really. It wins, hands down.

Mark Wahlberg‘s Reykjavik-Rotterdam remake now has a lovely lady amongst its ranks. Kate Beckinsale has joined the cast of Contraband. The film centers on a former smuggler turned security guard who is pulled back in when he can’t resist the opportunity to traffic stolen goods. 2009 Black List scribe Aaron Guzikowski is on script duties, with the star of the original, Baltasar Kormakur, handling the direction.

There’s no word on what role Beckinsale will play in the film, but I’m more interested in what she’s smuggling, if you know what I’m saying.

Boobs. (Latino Review)