Review of Max Payne (2008) by Mary C — 13 Apr 2013

Fans of the video game have apparantly been let down by the film, but I'll tell you; it's probably the best film adaptation of a video game that I've seen. Not a great film. It's got a lot of problems with narrative and story, and gets kind of messy near the end. But one thing it doesn't lack is style. This is a phenomenal looking film, and not because of the special effects(which only turn up near the end of the film). This is a great noir/comic book feeling film. The kind of movie where the character points the gun at the camera and the tip of the gun looks bigger than the actor's head.

The story involves Max Payne(Mark Wahlberg), an ex-detective, still unable to let go of the mysterious death of his wife and son. He continues, to this day, to track down the murderer. Does he find out who did it? I think I can safely say yes, and also safely say that it is very predictable. I don't really care, however, as the movie holds enough excitement to entertain it's audience. The characters all talk as if they're from a video game and, although I have not played the game, I wouldn't be surprised if they pulled the dialogue directly from the game.

The main problem with the film is that the story gets so complicated with details that the movie isn't able to fully explain itself by the end. In a mystery, you've either got to explain everything or nothing. This movie picks and chooses which details to reveal and which not to. Certain things are just anti-climactic. Payne's battle with Lupino, I imagine, must've been an extremely satisfying and challenging battle in the game. In the movie, all that can really happen is a short shoot-out. And that's what does happen.

The performances are great. Wahlberg does a particularly good job as does his sidekick, Mila Kunis playing Mona Sax. I think the movie has got some very wonderful action sequences that look great. The camera doesn't shake! Hazaa! I'm so tired of SCS(shaky camera syndrome), I could puke. Luckily, this movie avoids it and goes for a more gracious, stylized interpretation of the action sequences. We have seen similar sequences from films like 'The Matrix' but the scenes are entertaining, nonetheless.

On the whole, I'd say to go ahead and see it and expect a very well edited, visually stunning, entertaining show that could have had quite a few loose bolts tightened. It doesn't stop a smile from forming on my face when Max does a backflip in order to shoot the guy behind him.