Directed by:
Brian HelgelandCinematography:
Ericson CoreComposer:
Chris BoardmanCast:
Mel Gibson, Gregg Henry, Maria Bello, David Paymer, Bill Duke, Deborah Kara Unger, John Glover, William Devane, Lucy Liu, Jack Conley, Kris Kristofferson (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
Mel Gibson is Porter, a ruthless criminal, who is gunned down by his wife and friend after they rob an Asian gang. When Porter survives the attack, he makes it his mission to exact revenge on his friend, who has used the robbery money to buy his way into a powerful syndicate. Added to the mix are crooked police officers, members of the syndicate, and the Asian gang, who are out for a bit of revenge themselves. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (11)
The brutality suits noir-themed crime stories quite well. On a journey for revenge, Mel Gibson, as a tough guy with a steel gaze, loves a beautiful prostitute, seeks out a traitor, and encounters – uh – a sadistic dominatrix leading an Asian gang. I can't remember the last time I used that word, but Payback is a cool movie, with a perfect cold look, and some scenes are amazingly uncompromising in their brutality, but unfortunately, everything is always just tough, and throughout the whole time, I didn't experience any significant twist that would have affected me in any way. Brian Helgeland relies on stylish form, but the essence constantly eludes him.
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I really didn’t expect this to be such a stylized hit. I usually associate Brian Helgeland with quality screenplays, but here he not only took on the director’s chair but also created an incredibly old-school detective film in every way. Mel Gibson fit the lead role perfectly; his character, Porter, took his quest for revenge (which is more principled than personal) perhaps a bit too seriously, ruthlessly eliminating one villain after another. However, he can’t be classified as a hero; rather, quite the opposite (he hardly smiles throughout the film, making him someone you’d prefer to stay on good terms with at all costs). The dark blue filter had a certain visual appeal; at times, I wondered if the film was inspired by a comic book. The film also doesn’t lack originality, offering a few carefully crafted plot twists that genuinely surprised me. By the end, it picked up considerable pace, with perfect one-liners escalating exponentially, and I’m simply amazed. In terms of the genre, few films can compete with it; such a stylish, dark noir crime film is a rare sight. I give it 87%.
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Mel Gibson did a hell of a job in this one. He’s tough, cool, rough, his mouth is full of great lines and he’s about to finish what he’d started. This is one hell of a payback. It actually doesn’t matter how Mel is going to go about is, what’s important is that he shoots enough bullets and that there are tons of dead bodies around him. It’s as simple as that. It might be a bit of a wannabe cool over-filtered action ride, but other than that it’s a wacky movie in the vein of Tarantino, which will keep you entertained for those almost two hours.
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When it premiered, I gave Payback 4 stars and I must admit with a certain blush that it charmed me in its own way - and I am not a fan of the genre or even Mel Gibson. It is a film made with ease and it is straightforward, simple, genre-pure, and a cool ride where the pace never slackens and the usual clichés are presented tastefully and with a pervasive sense of irony. On the other hand, as the years went by and I read the book, it impressed me much more with its darkness, complexity, and ambiguity. Besides, it is impossible not to notice how the film approaches the character of the violent, murderous, and thieving protagonist, presenting him to the viewer as a likable rascal. This story is hard to believe, and I left behind my teenage years when I would have identified with this portrayal a long time ago. Overall impression: 60%.
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A rakish, hardheaded gangster played by Mel Gibson, the pretty blonde he cares about, a couple of dumb corrupt cops, a pile of violence, some sado-masochism and, mainly, a dozen goons whose “coolness” increases as they gradually get to know each other, from the biggest bungler to the biggest, toughest and most uncompromising boss. And all of this wrapped up in nostalgic, grey-blue camera filters and hellishly black humour. A delicious treat!
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