Susan Hated Literature

Nov 19 2008

Max Payne

Published by Fence under Moving Pictures

Dir: John Moore
Writ: Beau Thorne, based on Video Game by Sam Lake

Mark Wahlberg … Max Payne
Mila Kunis … Mona Sax
Beau Bridges … BB Hensley
Amaury Nolasco … Jack Lupino
Ludacris … Jim Bravura
Chris O’Donnell … Jason Colvin
Olga Kurylenko … Natasha

I knew going to see this film that I’d be disappointed. Was a big fan of the game but I’d heard negative things about this film. Often when that happens you go to the cinema with your bucket of popcorn and are pleasantly surprised that the film isn’t as dreadful as you’d feared. Unfortunately that just isn’t the case with Max Payne.

the basic plot invovles detective Max Payne who is trying to find the 3rd man of a gang that killed his wife and child. To that end he has moved to the cold case department, where he sits, pretty much alone and doing the whole brooding thing. Then another murder might provide a clue as to the identity of the killer.

Tags: 2 Stars, Amaury Nolasco, based on game, Beau Bridges, Beau Thorne, Chris O'Donnell, detective, disappointing, John Moore, looks cool, Ludacris, Mark Wahlberg, Max Payne, Mila Kunis, no characters, no plot, noir, Olga Kurylenko, pity, police, R15A, Sam Lake, style over substance

3 responses so far

Jul 28 2006

Renaissance

Published by Fence under Moving Pictures

Dir: Christian Volckman
Writ: Alexandre de La PatelliÃ¨re, Jean-Bernard Pouy, Jean-Bernard Pouy & Patrick Raynal

Daniel Craig - BarthÃ©lÃ©my Karas
Catherine McCormack - Bislane Tasuiev
Romola Garai - Ilona Tasuiev
Ian Holm - Jonas Muller

It is 2054, Paris and a young woman has just been kidnapped. Karas, a police captain specialising in kidnapping is charged to find her, and to find her alive. The company she works for, Avalon, are very insistent that this researcher be found.

But if I’m honest the plot isn’t really all that interesting. Run of the mill sci-fi detective noir, if such a thing exists. You’ll quickly guess that the big “concerned” company isn’t all puppies and squishy kittens. But it doesn’t really matter that the plot is a little boring, because you can just enjoy the visuals.

This is a motion-capture film, then transformed into an animated one, all in black and white. Well, apart from a few colour scenes toward the end, and it looks fantastic. Like a comic book in motion. There have been comparisons with Sin City, but I don’t see it, apart from the comic book/noir aspect. The storyline and characters are all very different.

But there is a slight coldness, or distance in the film. It’s hard to engage with. Whether this is the fault of the plot, or the technical aspects taking away from the performance/art I’m not sure.

Go to enjoy the pretty noir pictures, but don’t expect a masterpiece.

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