the amazing women of 2008

Mark Wahlberg in Max Payne Trailer

July 10th, 2008
Written By: Marina Antunes

Max Payne Movie StillWe all know that generally speaking, films based on video games suck. It’s a very broad and general statement but for the most part, the truth hence, I wasn’t expecting much from the upcoming video game adaptation Max Payne.

Starring Mark Wahlberg in the title role, the film has a pretty sweet lineup including Beau Bridges, Mila Kunis and a guy whose career was nearly killed by another superhero movie, Chris O’Donnell. The project is being directed by John Moore whose name I didn’t recognize but, looking at his filmography, I’ve seen and enjoyed most of his films including last year’s underrated The Omen, the 2004 remake of Flight of the Phoenix which didn’t match the greatness of the original but which was great in its own way, and Behind Enemy Lines. Pretty good track record in my books.

People are saying this is the movie they had expected from Hitman (our review). I can’t really comment on that because I thoroughly enjoyed Hitman but I am impressed by the look of this trailer. Having never played the game, I’m not sure if the noir aspects are part of the original story but I do love the way this looks not to mention, they seem to be taking this down the ultra serious route which could work to the film’s benefit or, on the flip side, could kill it. I like what I see and am willing to find out for myself.

Max Payne is scheduled to open on October 17th.

Trailer is tucked under the seat!

8 response about Mark Wahlberg in Max Payne Trailer »

  1. Looks like it’s taking a step in the right direction. Mark Wahlberg has been on fire with his last few projects. And I definitely with you on ‘Hitman’, Marina. It was a faithful adaptation and a supremely entertaining and, at times, smart movie… adaptation of a video game, of course.

    Comment by Andy — July 10, 2008 @ 11:34 am

  2. Hitman was boring. I beat the first Max Payne game back in my video game days and I think this looks pretty faithful to the style of the game. But I don’t think it looks like a terribly good movie. We shall see I suppose.

    Comment by Andrew James — July 10, 2008 @ 11:41 am

  3. I was thrilled about this way back when it was first announced; I always thought the game had incredible cinematic potential.

    But mediocre directors are kryptonite to cinematic potential.
    This looks decent, but post-The Dark Knight I don’t know if decent will cut it anymore.

    Comment by roman — July 10, 2008 @ 11:44 am

  4. PS - The game is defintely noir-ish. A little bit like playing the game version of the Marv segment of Sin City.

    Comment by Andrew James — July 10, 2008 @ 11:47 am

  5. Thanks for the updates on the look of the film vs. game - I wasn’t sure if that was original or if Moore had added that. And I wouldn’t say that Moore is a mediocre director - he’s been solid and though the “Flight of the Phoenix” remake didn’t blow any brains, it was entertaining and well put together - especially considering it’s a movie about people talking. Very little action in that one.

    I’m looking forward to this and hoping for the best.

    Comment by Marina Antunes — July 10, 2008 @ 11:51 am

  6. Marina–

    FOTP was easily his best work, sure. My point was simply that if we can’t term the director of Behind Enemy Lines and The Omen remake mediocre, hasn’t the word lost all meaning?

    Comment by roman — July 10, 2008 @ 3:55 pm

  7. I don’t think mediocre has lost all meaning and I don’t agree that FOTP is Moore’s best. I really dug “The Omen”.

    Comment by Marina Antunes — July 10, 2008 @ 4:04 pm

  8. The trailer actually surprised me in that I liked it. As long as they keep the noir aspects high, I’m in. Looks like what a Punisher trailer should have been (without the supernatural aspects of course). I wasn’t sold on Mark Wahlberg in this role when I first heard of it, but he looks like he’ll pull it off. Looks like he’s putting those gun handling skills he learned in The Big Hit to good use ;)

    Comment by Eaglewing — July 11, 2008 @ 2:54 am

Leave a comment

Name
Email
Web Site
Subscribe iTunes Movies We Watched DVD Shop Twitter Feed Canada Podcasts Canadian Cultural Podcasts Movie Club Podcast OFC Top 100 L.A.M.B.
  • Cinecast Episode 107 - Curioser and Curioser (59)
    • Goon: I just realized the character in Generation Kill that is annoying the living fuck out of me to the point of near...
    • rot: Also its funny to watch the character actors of the Wire play out in an alternate reality, a lot of the cops are now the...
    • Rusty James: ^^^^^^ cool
    • rot: Rusty reccomended the Corner miniseries which I watched over the holidays and it was awesome. If you want to prolong your...
    • Goon: There’s not really any thread for this so I might as well throw it in here… I’ve been watching...
    • Goon: “Andrew talked about having this feeling of the importance of living your life when leaving the film, and I had...
  • Review: Revolutionary Road (16)
    • Goon: I wonder if it should be of note that so many reviewers I’ve seen who read the book say all the passion is gone....
    • Goon: All I can say is I watched the whole thing and felt nothing. I didn’t ilke or dislike them, I didn’t care...
    • rot: SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS Couldn’t disagree with you more, Goon. I cannot get the film out of my mind, it has a sad...
    • Goon: I guess I wouldn’t include Shannon in that list, he’s maybe the only thing in this movie to shake it out of...
    • Goon: “I found Revolutionary Road sloppy and heavy-handed more times than not.” This. I found the movie overly...
  • Michelle Williams in Wendy and Lucy Trailer (14)
    • Goon: so in contrast with the Toronto critics awards we as a concensus would give it the equiv. of a 100% rottentomatoes rating...
    • Marina Antunes: I finally caught up with this the other day. Agreed that it’s good but I also didn’t love it....
    • Goon: With “Into the Wild” I didn’t exactly sympathize with McCandless, but definitely empathized. I mean...
    • Jay C.: I guess I didn’t find that she was shit on nearly as much as you did. She was just down on her luck, as many...
    • Jonathan B.: I have generally have few problems with being manipulated (depending, of course), but the movie sure felt real,...
    • Goon: Sure all movies are manipulative, but some are more than others. It isn’t just the dog, its the fact that when you...
  • Cahiers du cinéma’s Top 10 (2)
    • Orton S.: I was surprised to see Cloverfield on that list. Granted its not your typical horror movie and focused a lot more on...
    • rot: There seems to be a mistake, Redacted belongs on a worst list of the year, amateurish which is crazy considering De Palma...
  • The Tribe Trailer Featuring Jewel Staite (1)
    • swarez: Meeeeeeh. A shot in the trailer indicates that she will take on those creeps, Predator style.
  • Screen Shot Quiz #125 (2)
    • Andrew James: Bonus points for the cocktail party remark. Right on. Great little movie showcasing David Strathairn in earlier...
    • Pieter: That would be Sneakers. Robert Redford thought the geese were a cocktail party.
  • Row Three Narcissism: Movies We Watched (7)
    • Goon: Bug bored me to death, I’m not sure what anyone sees in it.
    • Shannon the Movie Moxie: Added Shotgun Stories to my to see list, I’m up for another Michael Shannon film. Ditto what Rot...
  • The Amazing Women of 2008 (21)
    • rot: I was just thinking, wouldn’t it be better if Oscars chose best characters rather than performances, it would be...