Contraband (2012)

Genre: Action Drama

A smuggler, Chris Farraday, who reforms after getting married and having 2 kids, is forced to do one more 'job' following a fuck-up by his brother-in-law Andy. Andy gets mixed up with a baby faced badass guy Tim Briggs

Chris plans to use counterfeit money to pay off Briggs. That's the only innovative part of this movie. For this he goes to Panama in a shipping vessel. Chris also comes to know of the true colors of his trusted aide Sebastian during this mission.

Mark Wahlberg plays a role that he is used to, the tough guy with a swagger and lots of aggression. Kate Beckinsale is the cute wife. Giovanni Ribisi is the bad guy who is chicken compared to our hero.

The movie is interesting at few instances. The last scene is one such upbeat sequence which has shades of the last scene in 'Lock Stock'

VERDICT: Regular Hollywood action fare which can be given a miss. 

The Fighter (2010)

This is a true story of Micky Ward and Dicky Eklund, 2 step brothers. They live in Lowell. Their's is a big family comprising many sisters, their mother Alice and Micky's father George. Dicky is Micky's boxing coach and dear brother. Dicky's ticket to fame and popularity in Lowell, is his fight with Sugar Ray Leonard around 14 yrs earlier. Alice manages Micky's career. The family as a whole, is very possessive about their 2 sons.

Dicky is a drug junkie and his is a case of wasted talent. HBO makes a movie on him to show the effects of drug addiction (crack). Micky's career is also jeopardized by Dicky's eccentric and crazy ways. Finally Micky meets his soul mate Charlene and better sense prevails. Slowly, Micky gets the right connections, leaves the distractions and emerges as a boxing champion. Reformed brother Dicky is also by Micky's side during his crowning moment of glory - the welterweight championship

Hits

• Christian Bale's makeover is a big surprise. He looks so lean, his teeth are dirty, his hair is crazy and his entire mannerisms border on the eccentric and crazy. The way he jumps from the building's window to escape his mom is hilarious. The way he gets his act together after he realizes that he was used by HBO as a case study, is a major turning point of the movie. Class act. 
• The huge possessive family comprising so many sisters is something new to Hollywood. Melissa Leo must rank among the most glamorous moms. She looks sexier than most of her daughters. 
• Mark Wahlberg's aggression is suited to this boxer role. He looks solid and his boxing fights are quite authentic. Amy Adams looks smoking hot as Charlene. Jack McGee as George and Mickey O'Keefe are 2 more middle aged men who are a vital part of the movie 

VERDICT

An uplifting, true sports story that has equal importance on family ties. Christian Bale leads the way

Shooter (2007)

The Plot
Bob Lee Swagger is a retired gunner in the US Army. He leaves the force after a mission in which he loses his close friend and spotter Donnie. He lives in a hilly area with his dog Sam.

One day, he is approached by Colonel Johnson and his men asking for a favor. They want him to plan an assassination of the US President because they feel there is a threat to the life of the President as he is to tour Washington, Delaware and Philadelphia.

Bob plans it, gives them valuable recon and details as to how this assassination can be carried out. But, in a shocking twist, Bob is shot by his own men and he is blamed for the assassination. The actual plan was to shoot the Archbishop of Ethiopia and not the US President.

He is badly hurt but he recovers taking the help of Sarah, Donnie's widow. Another FBI guy Nick Memphis also wants to know more about this obvious conspiracy and he joins hands with Bob to find the truth.

The bad guys are expectedly Johnson and the US Senator. The reason why they want to shoot the Archbishop is because they had wiped out an entire African village for the sake of oil. The Archbishop was about to tell this truth at the Philadelphia meeting and hence he was killed.

Bob finds the truth but he isn't able to prove that Johnson and co. are guilty. So, he shoots them out in the climax in his own inimitable style and precision.

Hits

• Mark Wahlberg is made for such rough and touch action movies and he is perfect with his stubble and aggressive swagger
• The screenplay of the movie is very engaging and fast. Like the Bourne series. 
• The cinematography is top class particularly in the starting war sequence and the pre-climax sequence on top of the snow clad peaks. 
• Kate Mara as the damsel in distress Sarah is super hot. We can empathize with her character as the war widow.
• Michael Pana as the FBI officer Nick who is eager to make a difference to the case and save his dignity, is the second most important character in the film.  

Misses

• The villains in the movie are like caricatures. They aren't imposing. 

VERDICT

Another super fact action entertainer on the lines of the Bourne series. Worth watching.                                                                       

Classic Revisited - The Departed (2006)

Whats it about:
Frank Costello is a big hotshot gangster and sergeant Sullivan is his informant in the SIU (Special Investigations Unit) ... Trooper William Costigan is assigned to work undercover by officers Queenan and Dignam. Costigan joins Costello's gang. The whole operation is all wound up in secrecy.
     Soon doubts start cropping up. Costigan informs his superiors in the undercover unit that there is a rat in the SIU while Sullivan also informs Costello that there is a police rat in Costello's gang. It all ends in a bloody classy fashion. Check it out ...                                                                  

Hits

• Leo's dashing screen presence. His intense, frustrated portrayal is pure class. 
• Matt Damon is sort of overshadowed by Leo's dashing style. But still a great portrayal as the corrupt complicated cop.
• Jack Nicholson, as always, is majestic as the RocknRolla gangster with a taste for adult jokes.
• Mark Wahlberg is a riot as the foul mouthing no nonsense cop. Such fluency of dialog delivery, particularly in Leo's interview scene :). The actor who plays Queenan is earnest. 
• Vera Farmiga as the psychiatrist is dignified and an understanding partner to both Sullivan and Costigan. That love making scene between her and Leo on a rainy night oozes with heat and passion
• The making style is awesome. Scorsese Sir, take a bow.
• The title BGM track is kick ass. It comes later too at an appropriate time
• All the scenes on top 344 Washington are terrific. Gripping and violent cinema 
• The scenes where Matt and Leo try to expose each other are extremely thrilling.

VERDICT

One of the most stylish cop dramas with the best star cast in recent years.