Filed under: Movie News

If ‘Max Payne’ Flops Does That Mean M. Night Was Right?

A curious bit of advice from Shyamalan

Uh, Mark, put the gun down.

MTV has a curious quote from Mark Wahlberg recounting a bit of advice give to him from The Happening director M. Night Shyamalan.

“[Night] gave me the worst advice he could have ever given me. He said, ‘After [The Happening], you can never hold a gun again. You know that, right?’ I said, ‘Are you crazy?’ He said, ‘I’m serious, don’t ever hold a gun again.’ And I said, ‘I don’t know about that, man.’”

Ironically enough that advice is quickly out the window as Wahlberg’s gun laden follow-up to The Happening, Max Payne, hits theaters on October 17. However, the reason I use the headline above is due to the fact it looks like Payne could go either way with very little middle ground. I currently sit on the fence with the film after the trailers and footage I have seen, but I am intrigued for sure. It could be great or it could be awful. I don’t see a lot of room for it to be just okay, but I also wouldn’t expect it to flop based on the fact that the trailers make it look worth checking out if guns, violence and explosions are your thing. Check, check and check in my case.

Wahlberg has talked up the new film at every turn, recently comparing it to The Dark Knight and saying, “I guarantee you there’s not a badder dude in a movie this year than Max Payne. This is like my character from The Departed, Fear, Four Brothers, all mixed into one, times ten.”

Of course, regardless of the result of Max Payne, the comment by Night is weird as hell. I have seen The Happening and I have no idea why Wahlberg couldn’t hold a gun after it. I could see why he should never talk to a plastic plant again or perhaps run away from the wind, but a gun? Nah, I’m not buying it.

Click Here to add an
Avatar to Your Account
Post #1
Gravatar

This has nothing to do with Max Payne, per se, but I just rewatched the Happening a little while ago…holy god in heaven that movie is terrible…absolutely, mind-numbingly awful.

Im actually pissed off I watched it again, and I wish Mark Wahlberg would go against Night’s advice again….and pistol whip the sonofabitch.

- ckybltz
( September 2nd, 2008 | 1:40 am )
Reply to this comment
Leave Your Feedback
(required)
(will not be shown) (required)
ADVERTISEMENT
How do you feel about the Cuban revolutionary?
'Ballast,' 'Frozen River' and 'Rachel' still look strong independently
Better get out there and get one last theatrical experience
'Ballast,' 'Frozen River' and 'Rachel Getting Married' lead the way with six noms
Goes to show the influence the fanboys and girls have on the Internet
Preparing to sum it all up...
The director shuffle on meaningless movies
Wanted, Narnia, Step Brothers and Casablanca lead off the week
Turn your brain off and enjoy
It's a miracle I am still awake to talk about it
ADVERTISEMENT
Yup, he actually likes it... a lot I would say
'Kung Fu Panda' leads the way with 17, nine for 'Bolt' and eight for 'WALL-E'
Feeling an urge to at least say something
Ahhhh, gotta like that word - 'cerebral'
I can't get on board with this thinking
'Benjamin Button' gets the international shaft
A director is possibly named...
Live from the set of Malta... well... not really live...
Jack's back and while the prequel ain't much there's still hope
Crazy makes for a fun film, but not necessarily a good one
Four Christmases pulls a slight upset...
Front loaded weekends are hard to follow-up
Will the guest stars outshine the lead?
It's a feast of post-holiday pictures
Van Damme can certainly play himself, but is that where it ends?