Last winter Mark Wahlberg was on the press circuit promoting the ultimately Oscar-winning biopic The Fighter. This year, when all of Hollywood will be attempting to graciously duke it out for nominations, awards and notice, Wahlberg will be clear of that contest, pushing Contraband, a crime thriller in which a crook turned security guard (Wahlberg) must get back into the smuggling game one last time to save his family from a brutal crime boss.

The first trailer played up the film’s action sequences and danger with a funky score and gritty title cards. The new trailer, intended to attract UK audiences, amps up the drama with a more somber soundtrack, slo-mo and multiple shots of a terrorized Kate Beckinsale, who plays Wahlberg’s wife.

 Video courtesy of MSN UK (via First Showing)

 In addition, a new poster has been released. And rather than the rather blah first effort, which featured Wahlberg with a hidden belt of loot, this new poster reveals fellow castmates Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster and Giovanni Ribisi…and duct tape.

Image courtesy of  IMP Awards via Heyuguys

 Synopsis:

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 (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 (Foster), to head to Panama and 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 (Beckinsale), and sons become their target.

Contraband opens in the U.S. January 13th 2012.

Are you enticed by Contraband’s latest ad efforts?

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