Payback (1999)
Average Rating: 5.8/10
Reviews Counted: 73
Fresh: 39 | Rotten: 34
Sadistic violence and rote humor saddle a predictable action premise.
Average Rating: 5.2/10
Critic Reviews: 21
Fresh: 10 | Rotten: 11
Sadistic violence and rote humor saddle a predictable action premise.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 92,958
My Rating
Movie Info
Porter (Mel Gibson) is pulled into a heist by his old friend, Val (Brian De Palma regular, Gregg Henry). As they're stealing $130,000 in laundered drug money from Chinese Triads, no one is going to call the police. Everything goes smoothly until Porter's wife, Lynn (Deborah Kara Unger), shoots Porter in the back. After Val had shown Lynn a photo of Porter in the arms of another girl (Maria Bello), the two planned the double-cross together to pay off Val's mob debts so he could return to "The
Watch It Now
Cast
-
Mel Gibson
Porter -
Gregg Henry
Val -
Maria Bello
Rosie -
Deborah Kara Unger
Lynn -
David Paymer
Stegman -
Bill Duke
Detective Hicks -
Jack Conley
Detective Leary -
William Devane
Carter -
Kris Kristofferson
Bronson -
John Glover
Phil -
Lucy Liu
Pearl -
James Coburn
Fairfax
ADVERTISEMENT
Payback Trailer & Photos
All Critics (94) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (39) | Rotten (36) | DVD (26)
Demonstrates why Mel Gibson is a movie star: He can take mediocre material and through sheer willpower -- not to mention oodles of charm -- make it work.
A solid enough action comedy, albeit one that had a lot of potential to be wittier and darker.
A tough, entertaining homage to the kind of gritty '70s crime film that long ago gave way to a slicker yet tamer form of action movie ... Both the studio's cut and Helgeland's cut work about equally well.
This is the seediest studio picture I've seen since TO LIVE OR DIE IN LA. Even the theater floor feels stickier while watching this thing unfold.
Audience Reviews for Payback
Super Reviewer
So apart from the delicious scenes with Liu what about the rest of the film? well its basically pretty darn good folks. In my view this is Gibson's last good film in an acting role, I also think its one of his best action thrillers too riding high alongside 'Lethal Weapon 1+2'.
There is a quite different directors cut of this film which is suppose to be more straight forward, I cannot comment on that as yet but personally I have always liked this film and see nothing wrong with it really. Sure its a little cliched and you always know Gibson will win in the end but he does get knocked around allot which is reasonably surprising for the good looking 'hero'.
Casting is great for all the characters here with a great slimy weaselly performance from Henry as 'Resnick', Paymer as the even more weaselly wet 'Stegman', Kristofferson is...well kinda as he always is and add some good backing in small roles from Bill Duke, John Glover and James Coburn, solid reliable casting there.
Violence is hard fast and totally enjoyable without there being that much blood, but you know what's happening, its adult only and it rocks. Thing is its all quite believeable too, its not just ridiculous over the top violence with no sense of realism, it all works well along with Gibson's little traps and setups.
I like the look of the film also, its almost in black and white, the picture is very bleak or washed out, kinda faded looking, shades of greys, blues, blacks and silver with not much else. Sounds odd but it sets the tone for the film whilst giving it some added class or distinction.
You can't go wrong here really, think 'Riggs' outta 'Lethal Weapon' only he's more badass and the series of events he's involved in are more sensible and darker.
Super Reviewer
Discussion Forum
There are no discussion threads for Payback yet.
What's Hot On RT
Bradley Cooper's Best Movies
Trailer for new Coen Bros movie
Fast & Furious cars gallery
Blockbusters ranked!
Featured on RT
- Red Carpet Photos with Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Gina Carano and More 0
- Video: The Hangover Part III Cast Interviews 0
- Total Recall: Bradley Cooper's Best Movies 36
- Parental Guidance: Epic and Beautiful Creatures 2
- Comic Book Movies You Can Watch Online 9
- In Pictures: The Cars of Fast & Furious 0
- Digital Multiplex: Warm Bodies and Aftershock 9
Top Headlines
-
Evan Peters Joins X-Men: Days of Future Past
0
-
Toby Jones Talks Captain America: The Winter Soldier
0
-
The Poltergeist Reboot May Actually Be a Sequel
1
-
Will Forte Promises MacGruber 2
0
-
Universal Plans Timecop Reboot
0
-
Return of the Jedi Turns 30
0
-
Vin Diesel Says Fast & Furious 7 Will Take Place in L.A.
0
Foreign Titles
- Payback (1999) (DE)
- Payback (1999) (CA)


Top Critic