Movie Review: Max Payne
A Film Thoughtfully Adapted from Game to Movie
Nov 28, 2008 Victoria Jamieson
Max Payne is a popular, well known video game character who has been switched to the big screen for a well thought out action movie. Whilst the film may not stick to the tried and tested format that action gamers and movie goers are used to, it still hold up as an enjoyable film with a well justified story line.
From Video Game to Movie
Max Payne made his first public appearance in the 2001, this successful game won high praise from critics and gamers and has since spawned a sequel. The spin off film was released in 2008, it picks up the same story line as the original game and thus manages to work as a standalone movie despite its origin. Directed by John Moore and staring Mark Walberg the film is highly stylised, and whilst this may not appeal to all, works well with the overall feel of the story and its gaming background, creating rich imagery and creating high drama.
Storyline
Max Payne is a New York Cop who returns home to his wife and young child one day to find they have both been murdered. Three years on his investigations of the case have cost him dearly and thus far been fruitless. Max has been transferred to the Cold Case Office of the NYPD, he isolates himself at work and spends his time off duty relentlessly searching for a break that will help him find out who killed his family.
When the lead he has been waiting for finally arrives Max gets more than he bargained for. His ex-partner is killed and there are links between his families murder and a new drug, Valkyr. Max finds himself a murder suspect in a world of drugs, violence and big corporation politics, and with the whole of the NYPD against him he can only rely on himself. The plot can be confusing at times and begin to feel as though it is merely a series of tenuously related events which have been included to allow the director and creative team to present certain images. However as the film builds the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place and the plot justifies the creative devices used throughout.
Good Action
Although Max Payne is categorised as an action movie it does not follow the style and format of action that a lot of cinema goers expect. The pace and suppression of the violence may not appeal to some, however there is much to be said for the direction in which Moore takes the film, like his use of bullet time to highlight the few outbursts of fighting early in the film is very effective. The fact that everything that happens is eventually justified by the film makers, unlike other titles in the action genre, is highly refreshing.
There is an undercurrent of aggression and violence throughout the movie which is executed extremely well by Walberg who manages to echo the grittiness of action heroes such as Bond and Bourne whilst still making Payne his own. The true action of chases, gunfights and explosions, does not kick in until the last half hour of the film, when the pace doe pick up though it is well worth the wait.
The director also does not allow the action to escape the confines of the movies sphere of influence. Unlike other films, which take the action to the street and to the anonymous and expendable general public of the movie’s world, Moore contains the action within the settings which build the story. A nice change from the unreality of city wide car chases and gun battles we often see.
Max Payne is an unusual action movie which challenges some of the genres standard formats. It will not appeal to all audiences however it is worth seeing to appreciate the cinematography and to get something a little different for your money.
Beatiful Imagery
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Dark Storyline
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