Contraband (2012)

Mark Wahlberg, the Houdini of smuggling via cargo ship, takes on one last job, because his brother-in-law screwed up the last one. Wahlberg outwits Giovanni Ribisi, beats the shit out of Ben Foster and saves wife Kate Beckinsale in a satisfying payoff.

d: Baltasar Kormakur | imdb.com | trailer | Trust me.
Back from the dead | AA meeting | Customs | What’s up, Houdini?

The Fighter (2010)

Mark Wahlberg plays real-life welterweight Micky Ward in “Rocky” meets desperate Lowell, Mass., and he is supported by three super performances — gaunt, funny, crack-addicted Christian Bale, unsunny Amy Adams and overbearing mother Melissa Leo.

d: David O. Russell | imdb.com | trailer | Charlie Rose
What’s the problem? | You can’t be me. | I’m the one fighting.

The Other Guys (2010)

Much better than “Cop Out” but no match for “Hot Fuzz,” director Adam McKay and Will Ferrell goof on the buddy cop genre. Ferrell keeps his shtick in check and Mark Wahlberg plays it straight, while Samuel L. Jackson and the Rock send up their images.

d: Adam McKay | imdb.com | trailer | Lion and tuna | Who is that?

Date Night (2010)

Excellent on television, Steve Carrell and Tina Fey are smarter than this action-comedy, which is, not ironically, standard date night material. The outtakes are the best part, a hint of what might have been had the pair been allowed to improvise the whole film.

d: Shawn Levy | imdb.com | trailer