Latest Maritime Movie, "Contraband"

Man, I should never go to movies like this. It IS funny, but in way that weren’t meant to be and that those outside of the industry would, no doubt, never figure out. It paints just about every mechant seaman and officer as a smuggler or potential smuggler. I did like the scene where he got his TWIC card, however his “friends” managed somehowe to expedite the process. There was even a scene where he had his interview to get the card. I am guessing that some of the crew, who obvioulsy had to go through the process to gain access to the filming location thought that it would add some authenticity. What I didn’t know was that at TWIC is all you need to get a job on a merchant ship, and that it is apparently a universal gate pass since all they had to do was flash them at the gate in Panama to get back to the ship.

It was interesting to see one of the old SL-7s used for interiors, including the engine room. My guess was that the ship was available for filming there in New Orleans. The captain wearing his blues the entire time was interesting. Adding the quirk as an anal retentive to the captain’s character was pretty good since we all know that captains have quirks; and it worked as a plot device, too. Geographically it makes no sense either. My guess is that, No. 1: They felt that filming in Colón would be too dangerous (and I would probably agree). No. 2: If one is in Panama, one must film a ship making a canal passage.

Apparenly the ship had both a CP propeller AND was using the EOT. Not too many hands on deck since the “Cabin Boy” saved the day dropping the anchor in time to save the ship. “It won’t happen again” is good enough to keep the Panamanian port authorities from pressing a claim for dock damage, I guess. Customs boards vessels via helicopter as the ship is making a Mississippi River transit, and then calls the entire crew to be questioned as the ship magically docks itself. . . . . .

Apparently the chief engineer is one of the crew (and not an officer). He seemed to be sharing a cabin with at least three other crew members.

It WAS mindless entertainment and it did entertain me. Probably more than intended. I know I was the only one laughing during many of the scenes.

Thanks for the input. The commercials for it look pretty good. Think I’ll watch it (when it’s on HBO.)

Hollywood is what it is, mindless entertainment.

[QUOTE=bc9930;61024]Thanks for the input. The commercials for it look pretty good. Think I’ll watch it (when it’s on HBO.)[/QUOTE]

The commercials and theatrical trailer were better written and directed than the movie. . . . . (the questioning scene in the trailer was his TWIC interview. . . )

Just wait to the Maersk Alabama movie. Just wait…

I want to be in that movie. Even if it is a raging crock of shit, I want to be in it.

I sent the producers of “Captain Phillips” (yes, that’s the current working name) a bunch of footage and pictures from around the ship a few months ago. As a result, I’m very interested in how they portray the ship. Unfortunately, I heard they had a ship in New Orleans to film on, which probably means that Maersk Alabama will look much like an SL-7.

[QUOTE=RichMadden;61097]I sent the producers of “Captain Phillips” (yes, that’s the current working name) a bunch of footage and pictures from around the ship a few months ago. As a result, I’m very interested in how they portray the ship. Unfortunately, I heard they had a ship in New Orleans to film on, which probably means that Maersk Alabama will look much like an SL-7.[/QUOTE]

Hey, a ship is a ship is a ship is a ship is a ship is . . . . . . . .

And make sure that there are real merchant marines. My question is, with all the merchant marines onboard the ship, how do pirates stand a chance?