Max Payne - Thoughts

I remember playing Max Payne in 2001 – 2002. As a game it was outstanding; the story line was intensely gripping, and far superior to most game narratives. Bullet Time was something that Max Payne introduced to gaming. For the unaware, Bullet Time was the ability to slow down time, and play in a sorta slow motion; similar to the special effect from Matrix, where Keanu Reaves would avoid bullets flying at him. From having seen several movies based on games, some good and some average, it was questionable as to how satisfying Max Payne would end up.


The initial titles had an interesting game n’ guns kinda feel to it; at first I thought it a tad cheesy, but it grew on to me. Along with the positional sound mix, it was actually quite cool. A few scenes into the movie it was easy to tell that the movie was staying true to the game. The cold winter in New York was accurately recreated; watching the snow and the dimly lit city that was almost dormant, so reminded me of the game. It was almost like walking around the chilly winter streets as Max Payne in the game. Similarly further into the movie, the locations, including the warehouses, the club (Ragnarock), the docks, and the Aesir building with its helipad on the top, were brilliantly recreated. The trippy hallucinatory sequences were also done impressively, with the effects of the mystery drug translating well onto the big screen. Needless to say, if you’re someone who’s played the game you’ll undoubtedly enjoy the movie. I found myself relating the various scenes and elements to the game.

Mark Whalberg as Max Payne did a decent job, though I believe someone a little older and more serious would have done a better job; perhaps a Ted Danson. Mila Kunis has come a long way since her piece in that 70’s show. Again, I believe an older lighter skinned actress would have fit the bill of Mona Sax better. It was surprising that Chris O'Donnell would take on a small insignificant role as Jason Colvin; perhaps the recession has hit him hard. While I can think of better fits, the characters and their portrayal was pretty decent; no issues per se. The story was modified a little, with the cult twist being taken out all together, but id believe that it was necessary to keep it real enough for a feature film. There was a slight cliffhanger ending, I guess making room for a sequel. Considering the movie did okay financially, grossing 5 million over and above its production budget domestically in the US, id think the possibility of a sequel may not be a stretch.

I saw this movie just last night in the theatre; yes for some strange reason this movie’s release in Chennai was delayed. The theatrical presentation was pretty good; my only complaint being the obvious editing/cutting of portions of scenes. The movie was a tad violent, but I don’t think that was the reason for the cuts. Perhaps I should rent the Unrated DVD and check it out when time permits. The snow was a constant, and most of the movie transpired at night; the video and colors were good and just sufficient. Ambient sounds and the atmosphere again were just right. The only possible way for intensifying the feeling of snow and cold would have been to turn up the air-conditioning in the theatre! The sound and effects were key in the creation of the hallucination sequences; the intensity was gripping.

My Recommendation: Watch It (Especially if you’ve played the game and enjoy the Max Payne franchise)