John Moore on Max Payne

Indie London
Q. Was Mark Wahlberg always your first choice for Max Payne?
John Moore: Yes, the minute I played the game I saw Mark. I was delighted that he agreed to do it. I was also very nervous because if he’d said “no”, I really didn’t have a go-to guy. If he’d turned me down, I don’t think the project would have happened. I don’t think we’ve seen the cop as the anti-hero for a long time. You have to go back to Bullitt or Dirty Harry to see the cop who is ostensibly the real tough, don’t f**k with me guy, but who absolutely has right on his side. So, I think this is an enjoyable throwback to that type of character.

Q. So what was it about Mark that made you feel he was such a perfect fit?
John Moore: He just has that real-life toughness. Mark’s got some real life experience – he’s from a poor working class family. He’ll tell you his own story. But I’m sure people know that he’s been inside. So, he has that genuine toughness. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a really fun guy to be around when he’s not on, but when he turns it on I buy it. When he starts swinging that shotgun around, I buy it!

Q. Did he live up to your expectations?
John Moore: He exceeded them hugely. People use the word “collaboration” a lot and, to be honest, it’s a f**king bullshit word. They use it in Hollywood all the time. But in this case, Mark made the movie with me. So, he’d be on set a lot and we’d talk about things a lot. Whereas some actors just don’t want to know beyond turning up to do their bit and going home, Mark was very involved because it’s his movie. Mark Wahlberg is Max Payne, so he was very, very involved. And that was a lot of fun… to almost have a co-director to work with makes the job a lot less lonely.

Max Payne - Mark Wahlberg interview

IndieLondon
Interview by Rob Carnevale

MARK Wahlberg talks about the appeal of Max Payne and doing action movies, tapping into dark emotions and how he’s still determined to make The Fighter [the story of boxer ‘Irish’ Mickey Ward] with Darren Aronofsky [of The Wrestler fame].

He also talks about growing up as part of a large family, why he’s always reluctant to do sequels and how much of his own experiences go into informing the hit TV series Entourage (which he executive produces).

Q. What appealed to you about Max Payne?
Mark Wahlberg: I’d just done The Happening with M Night Shyamalan, where I’d played a science teacher, and I played an accountant in The Lovely Bones, so I was looking to go back and do something with a lot of action and intensity. I read this script and loved it.

Q. Do you like John Moore, the director?
Mark Wahlberg: I love John. Behind Enemy Lines… I was a little pissed off that he hired Owen Wilson instead of me [laughs]. But I was a big fan of his. I was a bit freaked out when I realised it was based on a video game… only because the video games that I grew up playing had no story whatsoever. But obviously that’s changed quite a bit.

Q. Were you also aware of the film history of video game to film adaptations?
Mark Wahlberg: I didn’t know any of the statistics, no. It wasn’t until I had actually made the movie that people started pointing out the fact that they’d tried it quite a few times and it didn’t work – that they’d made quite a lot of bad movies. But I read the script and liked it. I don’t really care where the story has come from. It’s so hard to find good stories and interesting characters to play, especially in the action world. Usually, when you get an action script they don’t really have much depth as far as the character goes. But this character is driven my emotion and that appealed to me. I thought it would be difficult going to that dark place, because I would have to think about something horrible happening to my beautiful family, but I was willing to go there. When I go to the dark place, I want to go as extreme as possible.

Q. Did you play the game?
Mark Wahlberg: Well, I didn’t play the game personally because I don’t want to get addicted to a video game. So, I allowed my friend who works with me to play it all day, every day until the movie was over. But then I had to take it away from him. More...

Bad boy Mark Wahlberg is now a family man by Scott Bowles

USA Today
Mark Wahlberg pushes away a bread bowl and drops his head on folded arms.
He's clearly a little run-down. His 2-year-old son, Michael, isn't adjusting well to the new baby in the family, 1-month-old Brendan. He has four television projects with HBO. He recently wrapped shooting on Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones and has been promoting his latest film, Max Payne, even stopping by Saturday Night Live to spoof himself this past weekend.
Oh, and he has taken up golf.

"I love staying busy, but even for me, this is crazy," he says from the booth of his favorite restaurant, The Polo Lounge. "I'm still a 'grass is always greener' guy. I can't let a good project go. I came from a place where we didn't have much at home, so I tend to put a lot on my plate."

Which may explain how the criminal-turned-rapper-turned-actor, 37, has quietly become one of the more powerful — and unlikely — dealmakers in Hollywood. More...

For Wahlberg kids, no 'Boogie Nights' ever

Chicago Sun-Times
For Wahlberg kids, no 'Boogie Nights' ever
FIVE QUESTIONS | As a dad, 'Payne' star can be strict (sometimes) BY CINDY PEARLMAN

'I'm a little bit strict, a little bit easy," says Mark Wahlberg, father of three: Ella Rae, 5; Michael, 2, and Brendan, 1 month. "I have these three beautiful prayer cards I keep with me. It reminds me I want to be stern, loving and caring. I want to walk that line."

Wahlberg is walking other lines these days as the anti-hero of "Max Payne," based on a popular video game. He plays a maverick cop looking for revenge against the people responsible for the murders of his family and partner. He tracks down a dark underworld with creatures to battle.

1. After dramas like "The Departed" and "The Happening," was a big fantasy action film like "Max Payne" a way to do something completely different? More...

Mark on Saturday Night Live - Video

Saturday Night Live

Mark on SNL?

US Magazine
A source hints to Usmagazine.com that Wahlberg will appear on SNL this weekend to get his revenge in person.

Mark on Jimmy Kimmel clip about SNL skit

Oh dear

Mark on the Today Show - Video

Mark on TV

Thursday October 9th



Monday October 13th
Ellen DeGeneres
Extra

Tuesday October 14th
Access Hollywood
ET
The Insider

Wednesday October 15
Today (NBC)
TRL (MTV)

Thursday October 16th
Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)

Friday October 17th
Take Five & Company


Saturday October 18th
Saturday Night Live

Mark Wahlberg Q&A - Maxim October Issue

Maxim
From underwear advocate to Oscar-nominated actor, the Max Payne star is still a Bostonian at haht. By Michael Ruffino

What are you up to?
My girlfriend [model Rhea Durham] is getting ready to have our baby, so it’s mostly all about that. It’s quiet around here. At least it was till the new neighbors moved in.

Who moved in?
Well, Jessica Simpson moved in next door, and the Beckhams live just down the street. So now there are paparazzi all the time. They don’t bother with me much, but there’s a lot more commotion around here.

Have you ever stopped over to ask the Beckhams for a bowl of sugar?
Never met them. They seem like nice enough people, though.

Max Payne, your new film, is based on a video game. Have you ever played it?
No, but you’d be surprised how elaborate the story is. My assistant got addicted, but I can’t do that stuff. My girl’s been so tolerant of my vices. If I add video games to the list, I’m sure she’ll leave me. The film, though, is going to be very satisfying for the die-hard gamers. More...

Max Payne Premiere video - AP

AP

Max Payne Premiere video - Insider

Insider