Payback Movie Review

Payback (1999)

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Written by: Donald E. Westlake (novel "The Hunter" as Richard Stark), Brian Helgeland (screenplay) and Terry Hayes (screenplay, theatrical cut)
Directed by: Brian Helgeland
Starring: Mel Gibson, Gregg Henry, Maria Bello, David Paymer, Bill Duke, Lucy Liu, Kris Kristofferson
Rated: R
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Plot
After a successful heist, Porter is left for dead. Once he recovers, he seeks vengeance and his share of the money.

Verdict
It's a gritty tale of revenge as Porter manages to survives a double cross and now goes to any length to get the money stolen from him. We watch this guy go right into the lion's den just because he wants the money he's owed. The danger doesn't matter, it's the principle, and he'll take it all the way to the end. He's likable enough as everyone else is a worse criminal, and Porter is so clever in thwarting them.
It depends.

Review
Criminal Porter (Mel Gibson) was double crossed and cheated out of seventy-thousand dollars. He survives just barely and is out for revenge and his money. He was betrayed by his wife and friend. He doesn't care who gets in his way. They're all collateral damage. He starts with his wife, getting information from her and working his way to Val. Porter is a guy with no fear, just a goal.

It's very film noir, with cynical characters and a lot of voice over. It's also heavily color graded with a blue tint. It looks unnatural.

Mel Gibson plays Porter

Val used the money he stole to embed himself in a broad criminal empire. That organization offers some protection, but they're also intrigued by Porter. They can't understand a man risking his life for so little money. They're shocked he's doing this for one-hundred thirty thousand. As Porter reminds everyone, it's only seventy-thousand. He's brazen and stupid, but it's clearly not about the money. Porter is risking his life on the principal, approaching his task with detachment. You don't steal from him and get away with it.

Porter is a bad guy killing other bad guys. It's easy enough to root for him, or at least see his perspective. He's focused on one thing, heading straight to the problem regardless of anything else. Throughout the story he's portrayed as the crazy guy risking his live for a paltry sum of money. Each person he encounters is surprised he's undertaking this.

Mel Gibson plays Porter

The criminals catch up to Porter, not that he was ever ducking them. They have the money but aren't planning to make the transaction easy. Throughout the movie he always has a plan. We never see it until it's in play and he skirts trouble. That's what makes him likable, he outsmarts everyone with each step. That and every other character is terrible. Through a series of clever ruses, he manages to get his enemies exactly where he wants them.

I didn't know this had a director's cut, and it's nearly a different movie. I had to check it out.