Max Payne

by Justin Bielawa   ·    December 21, 2008

Yet another video game is turned into a b-movie, and like so many others it passes without a whisper of mention. Reviewers go out of their way to use the thesaurus for words that are more angry than the word “hate” and the movie is flushed quickly to DVD in the hopes that it recoups some cost or at least ends up as a cult movie. Sadly, the scores tend to be overlooked even by the fans.

Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders work for Max Payne may fall into the category of the forgotten but the truth is that its inventive nature and black-on-black atmosphere deserves a lot more. Disposing of practically all the usual tricks, the score rests on churning, almost nauseating samples and drum loops. Yet instead of sounding like a synclavier score from the 80s or Goblin from all those 70s horror movies, the composers push new ideas out into the score. The synthetic takes a turn for the organic, playing around the small ensemble players forming the orchestra.

The piano takes the forefront – tuned, prepared and re-tuned no less than five times during the length of the album. Max Payne manifests in a creaky, pained theme (no pun intended), stretched out in a long bit of loneliness. With this being the only identifying marker against the gritty, vibrating music, the sense of detachment is overwhelming. Its a clever way of being angry – instead of filling the album with action   music, the composers keep it at a deep simmer throughout.  While there are moments of musical relief – “Dark Heaven” the most prominent example – the entire score sneers angrily to its self.

Is Max Payne a good score? Yes, without a doubt and amongst this year’s most inventive and interesting. But it may not be for everyone either; its lack of themes and usual musical footsteps ultimately makes this an acquired taste. None the less, Marco has a skill in the “less is more” schooling, providing something his mentor Jerry Goldsmith would probably have appreciated.

TRACKS

2. Max Attacks
4. Investigation
6. Payneful Piano
8. Colvin Quivers
10. Dethlab
12. Storming The Office
14. No Respects For You
16. Lupino Spreads His Wings
18. Max Returns Home
20. Factoring Max
22. Window Payne
24. Dark Heaven
26. Vote for Dennis
28. BB's Maxim
30. Max Marches On
32. Heaven To The Max
34. Topless Fanfare