BuzzSugar

Max Payne: Awesome Style, Not Much Else

BuzzSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:30:09 -0700

In its own haunting way, Max Payne is beautiful to watch. I knew that director John Moore had utilized some new digital technology while filming, but I didn't quite expect the movie as a whole to be so visually mesmerizing. This world never strays from its grainy state, everything awash in a blue-gray sheen - except for striking spots of bright red, and sometimes twinkly orange sparks - and there is near-constant precipitation usually large snowflakes swirling through icy air.

In other aspects (you know, the actual story and stuff), there's not too much to chat about. The story is fairly simplistic and the visual symbolism of this sad, dark world is obvious (in his memories of his past life, the world is bright and lovely, his miserable present-day life is only cold darkness). This isn't a subtle film by any means. But while there's plenty of violence and gunfire, somehow it doesn't seem to be fetishizing it. There's a greater goal to be met, and violence is par for the course in reaching this goal. To see why else I kinda liked this movie, read more.

Max Payne (Mark Wahlberg) has been searching for his wife's murderers for three years, and one night he meets the sexy Natasha (Olga Kurylenko) who leads him into a sinister world of drugs which provides more clues toward solving the mystery. Max even starts sniffing around the company where his wife worked alongside a kindly older friend of Max's family, BB Hensley (Beau Bridges). Before long, Natasha winds up dead with certain details linking her death to Max's wife's, and Natasha's sister Mona (Mila Kunis) joins Max in his hunt for answers and revenge.

Mark Wahlberg is tasked with playing what he does quite well: a hot-headed, broody guy with not too many lines. Mila Kunis plays the badass chick convincingly, and Ludacris is more or less OK in his role as a tough guy detective with some sassy one-liners (though I'm wary of seeing him take on meatier roles). No real acting chops are required for this movie (the acting's not really central to the film's success), though Beau Bridges puts his all into it anyway, and comes out the best of the bunch. He's got that fatherly businessman-with-shady-secrets thing down pat. We see Marky Mark the most in the movie, but it was Bridges's performance that I kept thinking about.

I might've liked the ending more if they hadn't taken such pains to ensure there will be a sequel. I understand the urge to do that (studios love nothing more than an endless number of unnecessary sequels), but it seems like a lame move here. It also felt like the movie ended a few times before it finally ended. Still, the journey getting there is captivating from start to finish, and extremely cool to watch.

Photos courtesy of 20th Century Fox

First Look: Single With Parents Starring Alyssa Milano

BuzzSugar — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 07:30:42 -0700

Like Castle, Alyssa Milano's Single With Parents is another of ABC's growing roster of midseason shows. This one stars Milano as Lou, a single woman in her 30s who finds herself being the dumping ground for her parents' wild behavior and irresponsibility. They seem to be the ones off living fabulous lives while she stays behind to watch after their kids or hears their stories about having sex in a helicopter.

There have been a lot of young-slackers-behaving-badly comedies over the past few years, so it's kind of refreshing to have a show in the mix where the adults are the ones acting silly. And if I were going to choose people to play parents living life with reckless abandon, I could do a whole lot worse than Beau Bridges and Annie Potts. The trailer didn't exactly win me over, though, and it felt way longer than its 100 seconds, which can't be a good thing.

There are some awkwardly funny moments here, though, so I'll be curious to see how this one develops. To check out the trailer, just read more.

Movie Preview: Max Payne

BuzzSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:26:09 -0700

The trailer for the video game-turned-movie Max Payne looks dark and spooky, though the story doesn't seem particularly new. According to the plot description, Mark Wahlberg's character, Max Payne, is looking to avenge the deaths of his family members. Mila Kunis costars as an assassin who is also looking to avenge a loved one's death (her sister's). Lots of avenging going on.

Ludacris and Chris O'Donnell also star. Additionally, there is a giant bird.

The dark thriller hits theaters October 17. To check out the new trailer, read more.

Buzz News Roundup, 5/23

BuzzSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 14:30:57 -0700

ComingSoon has the newly announced NBC Fall premiere dates, which includes a two-hour season premiere of Heroes on Monday September 22.
Hellboy's Ron Perlman will star in the upcoming FX series Sons of Anarchy, writes Hollywood Reporter.
There's now a Bruce Lee Broadway musical in the works, Variety writes.
According to Billboard, Jonathan Demme is now directing the Bob Marley documentary, replacing Martin Scorsese.
Marvel Studios will adapt the series Runaways for the big screen, ComingSoon reports.
Beau Bridges has been cast in an untitled ABC comedy pilot, according to Zap2It.
Law & Order and Criminal Intent have been renewed for another season, Reuters reports.
Variety has news that Frank Langella will topline a Broadway production of A Man for All Seasons in the Fall.

Photo courtesy of NBC