Payback

Starring: Mel Gibson, Gregg Henry, Maria Bello, David Paymer, Bill Duke, Deborah Kara Unger, Lucy Liu
Directed by: Brian Helgeland
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Drama
1999

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: Porter (Mel Gibson) is shot and left for dead, his partner having stolen $70,000 from him. Now, he's back, and is determined to get back his money at any cost.

Review:

Tim: I really like the basic idea of this movie. The tagline is great- "Get ready to root for the bad guy." I love the throwback to those gritty 70's crime dramas. This is a movie about a bad guy, and he's our protagonist. It just so happens that everyone around him is much worse, and so, we actually do end up rooting for him. This is an interesting approach for a movie to take, and I was definitely on board. I felt like the movie was good, but there's nothing really special about it. It could have been better, but I'm thankful it wasn't worse.

Mel Gibson is a big reason why this movie succeeds. He gives such a great performance as Porter. He is certainly not a good guy, but he is also very likable. Gibson's charisma is certainly on display here, although he does have a tendency to stray into over-acting from time to time. Still, this is a gritty, strong performance, and I enjoyed him in the role. He really embodies the single-mindedness of Porter. He wants his $70,000, and is willing to do anything and kill anyone to get it. It is kind of fun to watch a character who simply does not care about how things are supposed to be done.

The movie as a whole is good, but it could have been better. It is fun to watch Porter cause death and destruction wherever he goes, but each scene feels a little disconnected from the others. This movie never really builds up much momentum. Sure, Porter gets closer and closer to his goal, but the excitement and suspense doesn't build along with him. The movie felt a little too flat to me. Also, while we're rooting for the bad guy, as the tagline says, it is really hard to find any kind of emotional connection with him. He is certainly not a good guy, and we're given lots of reasons not to like him. So, I was certainly hoping he could get his money back and wanted him to succeed, but I was never invested in his story on any kind of emotional level. That detachment from the characters and the story hurts the movie.

The supporting cast is fine, but not great. Gregg Henry is good as the sleazy, double crossing partner. Maria Bello is fine as a former flame. David Paymer felt a bit out of place. Lucy Liu is fun to watch, only because she's so crazy. Depending on what version you're watching, Kris Kristofferson may or may not be in the movie.

That brings me to the director's cut. The theatrical release has Kristofferson in a role. When I first saw the film, around 2000, I believe I saw this one. Later, on DVD, the director's cut became the most prevalent version. The two versions have some differences, but the end result is pretty much the same. I actually prefer the director's cut to the theatrical, but I'd give both movies the exact same rating. So, while one version is better, in the end, it's a negligible difference.

I like that Payback is a violent, dark, crime story. It's fun to watch in that regard. Gibson gives a good performance, obviously enjoying being the bad guy. However, the movie just doesn't hit you on any kind of emotional level. It's a film that is interesting while you watch it, but is far too easy to shake off once it's over. It is a bit too forgettable. I thought this was a good movie and I certainly liked it, but I recognize that it could have been a lot better. Still, a good movie is a good movie, and this is a solid film.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Kill Bill Vols. 1 & 2, Edge of Darkness, Ransom