Max Payne

Based on the 2001-hit videogame Max Payne the film follows DEA agent Max’s (Mark Wahlberg) desperate attempt to find the killers of his wife and daughter.

Max now working in the ‘Cold Case’ department of the NYPD discovers that the case involving his wife’s killing involves a much deeper conspiracy. The US military had signed a contract with Aesir Pharmaceuticals to develop a serum to boost its men morale in the fight against terrorism. But the drug failed with only one man reacting positively, so the military scrapped the project. However, Max’s father ex-partner B B Hensley (Beau Bridges) tried to profit from it by selling the serum as a drug. That’s when Max’s wife came in the way of B B. Max looking for a lead unintentionally bump into Natasha Sax (Olga Kurylenko, the sexy lady in the latest Bond film Quantum of Solace) in a club. She tries to seduce him but Max throws her out only to find that she would soon become another victim of the ‘gang’. Then Max and Natasha’s sister Mona Sax (Mila Kunis) join hand to have their revenge.

Mark looks comfortable as the hardened man whose only purpose of living was revenge. Mila Kunis is a perfect accomplice but Olga Kurylenko is totally wasted even in her appearance as a seductive drug addict for about 5 minutes.

Die-hard fans of the game must have been eagerly waiting for this film but ‘disappointment’ is a word many have to accept when it comes to the film’s lifeline — the script. The storytelling is painfully slow, considering it is an action movie. There are devils, fires, sparks and bad boys who are not well explained. For instance, the question on Mila’s life, who she really is and what she does, remain a puzzle. Even the numerous flashbacks do help much. On many occasions, the film almost falls apart but the cinematography and some stylish action scenes literally keep it afloat.

Overall, Max Payne is watchable only for its star presence, action cuts, sound effects and to satisfy your curiosity.
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Max Payne
English (A)
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges, Olga Kurylenko
Director: John Moore