Payback

Now this is how a movie SHOULD start off. Within the first 3 minutes a character’s overriding, driving need is revealed, motive is justified, and we meet the protagonist and our narrator. (FYI- I have a soft spot for films that have narration throughout). The rest of the films’ intentions are laid out neatly in front of us. Either we are onboard or not buying it. For me, I was onboard and excited. Just like Chris Brown once said (not the musician, the film producer/critic) all films boil down to either: 1. A coming of age/fish out of water story or a 2. A story of revenge and seeking out one’s comeuppance. This is clearly the latter. And what better man to play the toughest guy in town than Mel Gibson. This is of course before he was painted as the anti-Semitic and crazy person by the liberal media. But he is probably one of the best actors to fit this bill; he’s dark and edgy, rough around the edges, and can play the pissed off part very well. And we’ve seen it before, mostly in the LETHAL WEAPON series, but also in RANSOM, THE PATRIOT, and the MAD MAX series. But definitely his character Martin in LETHAL WEAPON is closest to carbon copying Porter from PAYBACK.

Payback Trailer Here

Porter is shot twice in the back by his “girlfriend” and partner and left to die in a warehouse after a robbery went down. We meet Porter as he is getting the bullets removed in a less than sanitary hospital setting. The rest of the film is Porter’s journey to get back what is owed to him, and that is $70,000 dollars. (A really funny repeat joke throughout the film). Porter is a smart and cunning character with big brass ones. There are many instances where his cunningness and craftiness come across and put one man far ahead of an army of others. He’s kidnapped, beaten, and tortured, but he never loses sight of his goal.

PAYBACK is an excellent popcorn flick for the guys. The pacing is quick and doesn’t keep you waiting for the next “wow” moment. Mel Gibson is the perfect frontman for this role. It’s like he was born to play Porter. The supporting actors all contribute too, but Gibson’s performance is superb. The film is a seedy adventure through the underbelly of organized crime, crooked cops, and the back alleys of what looks to be New York City. It’s full of genuinely humorous moments due to Gibson’s stonewall facade and unfaltering tough guy demeanor.

Rating: 9/10