THE GREY is a film that sort of sucker-punched us about a month ago, coming out of left field with a tremendously entertaining trailer. While THE A-TEAM and SMOKIN’ ACES had their moments, they never came close to the greatness of Carnahan’s debut film NARC. I’m praying THE GREY will be a return to form for the talented filmmaker. As for its poster, you could do a lot worse than Liam Neeson’s giant weathered face (though the lack of broken bottle knuckles is kind of a fail).
Meanwhile, if I were going strictly off this new poster for CONTRABAND, I’d think it was pure DTV trash. I don’t know if it’s Mark Wahlberg’s “Why yes I am wearing a belt made of money… you’re point being?” expression or what, but shit is it an awkward and ugly poster that just sells the film as something so generic.
CONTRABAND opens January 13th while THE GREY hits theaters on January 27th.
Contraband
Mark Wahlberg leads the cast of Contraband, a fast-paced thriller about a man trying to stay out of a world he worked so hard to leave behind and the family he’ll do anything to protect. Set in New Orleans, the film explores the cutthroat underground world of international smuggling–full of desperate criminals and corrupt officials, high-stakes and big payoffs–where loyalty rarely exists and death is one wrong turn away. Chris Farraday (Wahlberg) long ago abandoned his life of crime, but after his brother-in-law, Andy (Caleb Landry Jones), botches a drug deal for his ruthless boss, Tim Briggs (Giovanni Ribisi), Chris is forced back into doing what he does best– running contraband–to settle Andy’s debt. Chris is a legendary smuggler and quickly assembles a crew with the help of his best friend, Sebastian (Ben Foster), for one final run to Panama and back, hoping to return with millions in counterfeit bills. Things quickly fall apart and with only hours to reach the cash, Chris must use his rusty skills to successfully navigate a treacherous criminal network of brutal drug lords, cops and hit men before his wife, Kate (Kate Beckinsale), and sons become their target.