Max Payne

Max Payne (2008)
20th Century Fox
Directed by John Moore
Starring Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges

There have been many films based on popular video games. However these films, such as Hitman, DOA, or Resident Evil have all been bashed by critics and fans alike. These films drastically change the story or feel of the game. This is why videogame films are always hated and are usually rubbish. It is hard to transfer the entertainment of a videogame onto the screen without actually having a controller. Every once in a while, a videogame film comes out that is not completely horrible. Max Payne is an example of this. Based on the highly popular videogame by Remedy Entertainment, Max Payne is the story of NYPD Cold Case Detective Max Payne (Wahlberg) and his obsession to find and seek revenge on the man who killed his family. During his investigation, he finds that a rogue killer is trying to set up Payne, and lead him away from the truth.

Max Payne is a modern noir film that features very Sin City stylish backdrops and action. The story is not original, but it is a very noir style plot. There are a few strange twists and plotlines, but overall, Max Payne works as a film. It is entertaining, dark, and has some stylish action that comes straight from a graphic novel. Mark Wahlberg plays Max Payne with finesse; Wahlberg is perfect for the part. Unlike Hitman, the casting is great and makes Payne seem more believable. Mila Kunis, from That 70’s Show fame, does not fit into the film as a crimelord. She brings down the acing of the film. Her character does not have a lot of personality or depth, and just seems to help Max at a few key moments in the film. Other than Kunis, the rest of the cast does a decent job, including Chris “Ludacris” Bridges as a detective investigating Payne.

The central theme of Max Payne is revenge. Like other recent revenge films in the wake of 9/11, such as The Brave One, Death Sentence, and The Punisher, this film shows that revenge is the best way to get back at one. However, unlike those films, killing the person does not bring closure, but in Max Payne, he finds closure from the murder. A strange message from an action film: kill those who harm you. The action-revenge genre is filled with these mixed messages, but since 9/11, the messages have become even more twisted. These types of films can be seen as propaganda to seek revenge on anyone involved. However, May Payne was released seven years after the disaster, so it is probably just capitalizing on the movement.

Max Payne is a decent action noir with some nice action sequences, and a strange fantasy twist which is not in the game. The addition of the valkyries within the drug sequences in both twisted and haunting, and makes Max Payne’s adventure head into the supernatural plane. The film cannot decide whether to be a realistic action flick or a fantasy noir. The identity crisis hurts the film. Mark Wahlberg gives the film everything he has as an actor, which isn’t much, but he carries the film just fine. I want to see more Max Payne. If you can get past the fantasy element and the fact that the story is somewhat changed from the game, then Max Payne is a mindless joyride that could have much depth and emotion. It is stylish and dark, but not as much as Sin City or The Spirit. Max Payne is a decent action film that has a good background story and works as a traditional noir film, something that has been lost in Hollywood as of late.

Rating: C+


June 18, 2010


Max Payne: Unrated Director’s Cut (2009)

The director’s cut of Max Payne features no new scenes what so ever. The only different from the theatrical edition is that there are a few more scenes of blood during the action sequences. Both versions have the same running time. The director’s cut is not worth watching, unless seeing more blood is your thing.

Rating: C+


June 18, 2010