Rating: 
Summary: Payback - A truly enjoyable film!
Review: "Payback" hails back to the seventies type movies where rooting for the bad guy is the whole point of the movie and it works quite successfully in this first-rate film. Mel Gibson does an terrific job of playing the bad guy that you really want to root for. Fair warning to the light of heart and young ones though, for this film is not for them. Sticking with Mel Gibson's type of film making, the realism in this film is astonishing and could be considered rather shocking. Given that this is an entirely different type of movie for Mel Gibson in which he is the hero of the film but his character isn't quite the "hero" type, I found his performance to be exceptional, but then again, name a film where his performance wasn't exceptional. Maria Bello of "ER" fame stars as Mel Gibson's love interest and she performs quite well in this film. Gregg Henry who plays the "true" bad guy of the film and he does a great job of playing the extraordinarily sadistic mafia "wannabe." Kris Kristofferson plays the "mob" boss of the film. Lucy Alexis Liu performs quite "scarily" as the masochistic/sadistic call girl with some interesting associates. This is the first film from Director Brian Helgeland that I've seen and he certainly deserves a great amount of praise for bringing the novel "The Hunter" by Richard Stark to the silver screen and DVD format. This film is certainly the last of its type in the twentieth century! The sound track for the film matches perfectly with the entire "feel" and atmosphere of the film, greatly enhancing the experience. The premise: Mel Gibson plays Porter who, while being little more than a common criminal is not so much a common criminal as the film unfolds. As the film opens Porter is retelling the recent events of his life after he's been shot and has now recovered enough to make his way back to New York City and he's on a mission. We soon learn that he and Val Resnick had planned and executed the robbery of $130,000 from a Chinese organized crime group and that when it came time to divide the money between himself and his wife and Val, Val had been conspiring with Porter's wife, showing her a picture of Porter and Rosie (Maria Bello). Porter's wife shoots him in the back. He's now recovered and he's coming to town, looking for his $70,000 and to kill Val Resnick. What follows from there is nothing short of one of the most brilliant films of its type where Mel Gibson brings his style of acting to the forefront where he can throw in some well placed and funny lines in the most serious of situations for his character. I highly recommend this film to any and all fans of this genre as you will soon find that it bears many viewings quite easily and all the way through you'll be "rooting for the bad guy." {ssintrepid} Special Features: There's not much to look for here when it comes to the Special Features for "Payback." In the end though, this DVD is about the movie and that's what you get, in all its glory! - 2 Theatrical Trailers
- Behind the Scenes Featurette
Rating: 
Summary: Wanna see a GOOD action movie? Watch Payback!
Review: There are not lots of good action movies. Payback is an exception. Payback was not very violent (some people don't say so and I don't understand why) and the film was a huge focus on its extremely cool and various characters most of them played by BIG Hollywood names. The tagline says''Get ready to root for the bad guy''. I don't think it's right. Mel Gibson is playing a professional robber, but not really a bad and cruel guy. I guess they say bad guy because he's a robber...but he has feelings and he is funny. The story is EXTREMELY SIMPLE; a guy steals 14000 dollars and his associate(allied with Porter's wife) and the associate(which is one ofTHE BAD GUYS of the film)shoots Porter and thinks he is dead. And later, Porter steals a guy's wallet, buys a gun and goes back in town to get his money back(and kill his associate by the way). Like I said, Payback's good point is the characters, not the story. The scenario is cool and funny, and the atmosphere is creepy. I think this is a remake of the movie Point Blank, that was great too. Mel Gibson is'nt made to play a bad guy and it's pretty easy to see that. But, he is still a hero like another, but he has problems with police...a good movie, very entertaining.
Rating: 
Summary: I`m glad I didn`t pay to watch this
Review: A typical, by-the-numbers, emotionless action movie like so many others. Mel Gibson plays a tough guy (surprise!) that fights the real bad guys. Well, that`s about it... The beginning of the story is appealing, given that the direction is actually good and creates a tense mood with a dark blue ambience, a crime noir feel. Unfortunately, that`s the only good aspect of this picture, since the plot is flat and the characters one-dimensional.
Another boring blockbuster.
Rating:
Summary: PAYBACKS ARE HELL MEL
Review: Having Mel Gibson play such a lowdown creature as Porter is original enough in its own right. The fact that he plays him so well and that we root for him only goes to show the magnetic power of this charismatic performer. Briskly helmed by Brian Helgeland (he'll win an Oscar someday!), this flick moves like lightning and offers Gibson a chance to off Gregg Henry, William Devane, David Paymer, James Coburn and Kris Kristofferson. That's no small feat. The atmosphere is perfect, the musical score sublime, the overall effect cheesily gratifying. Maria Bello is fine as Gibson's love interest, too, and we can't overlook Porter the Dog. An involving and entertaining noir film.
Rating:
Summary: ** Payback - and Odd But Great Movie**
Review: Payback was a very well-done movie. Let me first explain what the film is about
Two small-time crooks, Val Resnick and Porter, hit a Chinese gang and steal $140,000. When they are about to split the money, 50/50, Val Resnick turns on Porter and shoots him, leaving him to die. Val turned on Porter because he needed $130,000 alone to get into this 'outfit.' But Porter survives and half a year later, he is back. He wants his revenge on Val, and his share of $70,000. To receive it, he has to go through more than anyone regular human can handle.
All in all, the acting was done very well. Every actor played their role. Mel Gibson was good as always. The other Actress' and Actors did extremely well too!
Although this was a dark movie, it had a lot of comidic lines. I love those action-packed films with comedy.
What I enjoyed most was Porter's character. He was a very uptight, brave, and funny man.
In conclusion, all action genre lovers should see this movie. Expect some good acting!
Rating:
Summary: Masterful action crime thriller
Review: Mel Gibson is superb in this compelling, riveting action crime thriller that is darkly humorous and holds its fair share of shocks. Mel Gibson plays the role of Porter who is mean, ruthless and dangerous. When Porter's wife and partner gun him down in cold blood after a heist, making off with all the money, he is seemingly left for dead. Porter is desperate for revenge and will stop at nothing to see he gets what he wants.
Created by Brian Helgeland, Payback is a superb, hard-hitting and atmospheric movie that boasts some excellent supporting performances which includes Gregg Henry as Val, Maria Bello as Rosie and David Paymer as Stegman. Director, Brian Helgeland carries this ice-cold film off with style, displaying razor-sharp intelligence and lethal doses of sardonic wit. Mel Gibson is also in one of his very finest roles and still proves irresistable and manages to evoke subtle hints of a more two-dimensonal character which carries the film more convincingly than you'd expect. A highly under-rated masterpiece!
Rating:
Summary: Mel Gibson's Payback
Review: "Payback" is a funny dark comedy and crime thriller at the same time. Mel Gibson plays Porter, a theif who has sworn vengence against his best friend (Gregg Henry) and his wife (Deborah Unger) for ripping off his share of heist money and leaving him for dead. He returns, enlists the aid of a hooker friend, and takes on the entire New York mob (called the Outfit). All of the men in the movie are bad guys, it's just that some are worst guys. Mel Gibson has never been funnier, even though he never cracks a smile through the whole movie. His delivery is dead pan, and that makes it so much funnier. Gibson's Porter (there is no first name) is tough. Porter has a kind of street smart that allows him to survive, much like a fox in the woods, always having the bad guys fall into their own traps. Lucy Liu is also pretty good as an extream S&M dominatrix. The three main bad guys are old hands at being bad. Kris Kristofferson is the head of the Outfit, Bronson. James Coburn is funny as the older man, Fairfax. And William Devane as Carter, a slimy day supervisor is funny at how casual he orders rather grisly murders. The violence is gruesome (though not exactly "Friday the 13th" level), but it is done in a "Three Stoges" extreamity that's kind of comic (although the torture scene at the end is not at all funny, I'll never look at Three Little Pigs the same way). I loved this movie, it has action, comedy, and a melodramatic scene that is out of this world. "Payback" is based on Richard Stark's "The Hunter", the first Parker novel. The movie has the correct feel that jibes with the book.
Rating:
Summary: Payback Pays Off
Review: What a straightforward, action packed flick this was with no confusing sidebar twists or excess baggage plots. This is the first film I've seen Gibson portray a character only described as a good-bad guy. This time he has the upperhand (most of the time) and does a bit of the damage control; It's always the real bad guys that get that privelage. Without giving away too much of the film's minor portion of comical slapstick, there is one scene where Gibson's character Porter is repeatedly slapped in the back of the head by one of the movie's shadier characters (this is a funny scene, especially when America remembers a time when Mel was US Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive in the past). His dead panned expressions and deep serious voice let the bad guys know he is not kidding around. Lucy Liu, from Ally McBeal fame, turns in one of the most kinkiest performances without actually using any nudity ! She adds quite a sensational spark to the movie. All in all, from the previous mixed reviews, people should take it for what it is; A typical action/comedy/drama flick done Mel Gibson style !Mel's antics rate top 5 stars and the story rates 3 stars. It was also a real hoot to see some old Hollywood heavyweights: James Coburn, Kris Kristofferson, and William DeVane. The only question is still why all that for 70 grand ?
Rating:
Summary: Mel Gibson's Payback
Review: "Payback" is a funny dark comedy and crime thriller at the same time. Mel Gibson plays Porter, a theif who has sworn vengence against his best friend (Gregg Henry) and his wife (Deborah Unger) for ripping off his share of heist money and leaving him for dead. He returns, enlists the aid of a hooker friend, and takes on the entire New York mob (called the Outfit). All of the men in the movie are bad guys, it's just that some are worst guys. Mel Gibson has never been funnier, even though he never cracks a smile through the whole movie. His delivery is dead pan, and that makes it so much funnier. Gibson's Porter (there is no first name) is tough. Porter has a kind of street smart that allows him to survive, much like a fox in the woods, always having the bad guys fall into their own traps. Lucy Liu is also pretty good as an extream S&M dominatrix. The three main bad guys are old hands at being bad. Kris Kristofferson is the head of the Outfit, Bronson. James Coburn is funny as the older man, Fairfax. And William Devane as Carter, a slimy day supervisor is funny at how casual he orders rather grisly murders. The violence is gruesome (though not exactly "Friday the 13th" level), but it is done in a "Three Stoges" extreamity that's kind of comic (although the torture scene at the end is not at all funny, I'll never look at Three Little Pigs the same way). I loved this movie, it has action, comedy, and a melodramatic scene that is out of this world. "Payback" is based on Richard Stark's "The Hunter", the first Parker novel. The movie has the correct feel that jibes with the book.
Rating:
Summary: phrase on cover says it all.
Review: "Get ready to root for the bad guy." I've been a Gibson fan for years. From the Lethal Weapon series, to Braveheart, to Hamlet. So, needless to say, I had to go after reading that Mel was playing a bad guy. It's a role he naturally roles into. It's against type Mel's usually good-duy role, so that makes it more fun. It's very dark, and rather violent. Not a movie for the weak of heart.
(spoiler warning) spoiler warning From the opening scene this movie doesn't relent. He takes change from a homeless man.Lift a guys wallet, and then assumes his identity whereupon he withdraws several hundred dollars, he buys a suit, he buys 3 expsensive watches, and immediately pawns them. (spoiler over) That said the movie is just too well acted for people to say anything negative against it.
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