Detective Max Payne lives in a dark and dangerous world. Played by Mark Wahlberg in this film adaptation of the popular video game, our morose anti-hero spends most of his time trying to solve the murder of his wife and baby in order to wreak vengeance upon the guilty party. With its stylistic atmospheric presentation, Max Payne, the movie, matches the lead character’s gloomy personality and drew me into its surreal world of crime, conspiracies, betrayals and revenge.

Granted, it’s easy to hook me into revenge films. And I’ve become a Wahlberg (Shooter) fan, so my enjoyment of Max Payne comes as no surprise. I also admire creative approaches to cinematography -- except for the jerky camera type -- and this  action/crime/mystery/thriller boasts many visually stunning scenes, including a couple featuring slow motion photography. Thanks to cinematographer Jonathan Sela (The Omen), the shadowy look of the film doesn’t obscure what’s happening on screen. I hate it when everything looks so dark in certain sequences you don’t know what’s going on. (Tears of the Sun, I’m talking about you.)

While Wahlberg’s solid performance makes us feel sorry for Max, we also worry about the drastic actions this emotionally wounded man will take when he discovers the villains responsible for the tragic loss of his wife and child. Max’s investigation brings him face to face with powerful forces, nightmarish creatures called valkyries, and his own demons.

Despite the surreal nature of Max Payne, supporting cast members Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges, and Ludacris also turn in believable turns. Kunis (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) endows her character, an assassin who helps Max with his mission, with the right blend of toughness and sexiness in this key role. Bridges (The Ballad of Jack & Rose) lends gravitas to his portrayal of a former partner of Max’s father who now claims “Max is part of the family.” As a police official hoping to get to the bottom of everything, Ludacris (Crash) is completely convincing. And I mustn't forget to mention Amaury Nolasco (from TV’s Prison Break), who scared the socks off me as a huge thug with nothing but violence on his mind.          

Speaking of violence, there’s plenty of it in Max Payne. Shootings, beatings, torture -- take your pick. But director John Moore (Behind Enemy Lines) wisely alternates these sequences with scenes of verbal and psychological confrontation as well as a few glimpses of those frightening, mysterious valkyries. Although dialogue may be less than stimulating here, images relate what needs to be said -- and this definitely worked for me.    

(Released by Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation and “PG-13” for violence including intense shooting sequences, drug content, some sexuality and brief strong language.)

For more information about Max Payne, please go to the Internet Movie Data Base or Rotten Tomatoes website.