Max Payne (2008) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

Canada, USA 2008
Director: John Moore
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Beau Bridges, Mila Kunis, Chris O'Donnell, Nelly Furtado, Olga Kurylenko
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: 17 October 2008 (Canada)
Running Time: 1 hour 43 minutes

The Movie Review

Max Payne film still 1


MAX PAYNE
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Sometimes upon seeing a movie we have a very high expectation that it would be something highly entertaining. Especially if you have already root for the characters or the story portrayed in the movie, usually a movie which based on a comic book, real known events or in this case video game. I could not help having this expectation, Max Payne is a game that I had so much fun playing it, a game that, for all I know, seems to have borrowed the theme from The Punisher. I have many worries that Max Payne movie would be a wimp compared to the game, but at least knowing that Mark Wahlberg will headline it really soothe a bit. But that's a only an assumption, and turns out different with the real result.

Max Payne revolves around a good cop named Max Payne (Mark Wahlberg) who still mourns after the death of his beloved wife and son. Max is still very upset facing the facts that the killer is still at large and no one even knows who is to blame. With no leads or clue whatsoever, Max finally finds a dim of light after almost dating with a hot club girl named Natasha (Olga Kurylenko). But that very same night, that girl is brutally killed with Max's wallet is found near the scattered dead body. Max is no other than the prime suspect for all people care.

Fortunately for Max, his partner, Alex Balder (Donal Logue) finds a similarity between the murder of Natasha and the one with Max's wife. But Max soon has to face the enraged sister of Natasha, Mona Sax (Mila Kunis) who thinks that Max is the one who finishes off Natasha. With difficult position that Max Payne is standing on, he would never have thought that something more dangerous and bigger-scaled is behind all these heartless murders. Could Max ever find who or what is the murderer?

My worries do actually come true, an action movie which the real action takes place after around 55 minutes into the movie. Sigh...such a wrong interpretation of its great game. I waited and waited for some great action or fight to ensue, and nothing thrilling is to be watched. There are several minor action scenes before the real one comes, but those scenes are so ordinary and easily forgettable. Besides how could Max Payne be such a wuss like this, it's like Natasha Malte's character 'Rayne' in BloodRayne II (2007), where the hero constantly need help from their sidekicks. Concerning Max Payne, I am not playing that game anymore, but I vividly remember that Max Payne is a kicka$$ character who stays true to his agenda of vengeance.

But I realized that not all moviegoers out there have played Max Payne game before, so I will try to mention some positive aspects that Max Payne the Movie has. Of course the acting department doesn't meet any big problem, with all the lead and supporting characters act decently. Although Mark Wahlberg was more menacing and could enliven his characters in Four Brothers or Shooter (2007), which both movies also concerning revenge. In Max Payne, Mark seem doesn't fully comprehend his character, he seems kind of "lost". And talking about Olga Kurylenko underused character, after appearing nicely and bravely in Hitman (2007) (another game-based movie) and this year James Bond's Quantum of Solace, in Max Payne, I really don't understand what she is doing. She doesn't have enough script to show her talent as in Quantum of Solace and she doesn't grace the screen as bravely as in Hitman. However, there is one actress that you "don't see everyday", it's the singer Nelly Furtado, even though only a cameo, but it's a nice surprise.

The colour that the filmmakers use is mostly in somber tone of grey, black and blue with occasional red and orange, which is nice recalling the theme of the movie. And there are some stylish actions in the shooting scenes, which are directly derived from the game. But I have to say that it is completely half-baked. The stylish thing that I'm talking about is similar to the ones used in Matrix, slow-motioned bullet time which Max could use to avoid them and to move faster than the opponents, which I remember having a blast to abuse this Max's ability in the game. But in the movie, the bullet time doesn't appear much, and for some moviegoers that never play the game, it would seem like a desperate attempt at making the scenes look cool.

Back then I was trying so hard to get my hands off that game, I was quite occupied by it, that my work was a bit neglected, but when watching the film, my eyes were accidentally looking at ceiling just to ease the boredom. It's a chore to avoid the game but it is a chore to stifle a yawn from watching Max Payne. You don't get the action, you don't get the drama, you definitely don't get woman fleshes, and you definitely don't "get" Max Payne.

I guess the filmmakers didn't fully comprehend the meaning of maximum pain in Max Payne. Or probably the meaning of pain is to watch such oddly-paced 1 hour and a half of a movie and once you root for the character and hate the bad guys, let's just say that the villain dies with a very happy demise. Why should I care for Pain anyway? Sigh...