This movie wanted to be good, it really did. It seemed so close on so many levels. “Max Payne” was almost good. Really. Especially considering that it’s based off of a video game. Talk about starting in the hole from the get go.
Mark Wahlberg is usually excellent in just about everything that he stars in. As Max Payne, he broods constantly and chews the gritty, show-covered scenery. It was almost a good performance.
Mila Kunis is a fine young actress and has been good in many projects. I struggle to understand how the casting director thought that this very petite cherubic girl could pass herself off as a tough-as-nails Russian gangster. It also didn’t help that her accent seemed to disappear as the movie progressed.
The cinematic style and look of the movie wanted to be cutting-edge and cool. It almost was, but ended up looking out-of-focus and poorly edited.
So, for a movie with plenty of potential. One word sums up “Max Payne.”
Almost.