Review: Max Payne (15)

by The Journal

(15, 1hr 38mins) Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges.
Director: John Moore 

“I DON’T believe in heaven. I believe in pain, I believe in fear, I believe in death,” growls the titular, gun-toting hero in voiceover at the beginning of John Moore’s tiresome video game-to-movie adaptation.

First-time screenwriter Beau Thorne sketches a familiar tale of murder and redemption without any of the excitement or relentless, adrenaline-pumping action of the small screen source material.

Police officer Max Payne (Mark Wahlberg) returns home to find his wife Michelle and baby daughter slain by an intruder.

Unable to rest until he unmasks the killer, Max scours every open case file and draws comfort and inspiration from his mentor BB (Beau Bridges), who urges patience.

A tip-off from a snitch leads to a nightclub where Max meets beauty Natasha and her sister Mona.

The former dies in an alleyway and police discover Max’s stolen wallet at the scene, fingerprinting him for the gruesome crime.

Fans of the Max Payne games will recognize characters and certain plot elements.

However, Moore’s film is a poor substitute for the visceral slam-bang that comes from grabbing a controller and taking charge of the hero yourself.