Payback

Starring: Mel Gibson
Director: Brian Helgeland
Genre: Action / Thriller
Year: 1999
Rating: 4 / 5

Payback is the exciting, electrifying culmination of months of rewrites and multiple directors, all leading to an incredibly entertaining final product. The Mel Gibson vehicle, which gives viewers the chance to "root for the bad guy," is the directorial debut of Brian Helgeland, the star scribe behind the critically-acclaimed L.A. Confidential. Unfortunately for Helgeland, he never got to finish his work, as he and Gibson clashed as to the particulars of the last third of the movie. Dismissed at that point, Gibson brought in an unnamed director to complete the process. Despite all of this upheaval, Payback shows us a side of Gibson we have not seen since The Road Warrior - an unlikely hero who feels that nothing will stand in the way of justice being done.

The crux of the rift that drove Gibson and Helgeland apart if the very essence of the film. Gibson's Porter, a career thief, is double-crossed by his wife (Debra Unger) and partner Val (Gregg Henry), to the tune of a mere $70,000. Left for dead in a warehouse, Porter gets back on his feet, with money the only thing on his mind. Despite being a criminal, it appears that Porter is a man of principle. He does not want to punish those who hurt him, and he does not feel the need to be "compensated" for his pain. He only wants his money - $70,000 - and nothing more.

On the comeback trail, Porter returns to his old home, only to watch his former wife die of a drug overdose. Never one to be caught grieving over such a thing, Porter merely shoves the body aside and resumes his quest. With the help of Rosie (Maria Bello, ER), a female escort who has a history with him, Porter locates Val, his treacherous partner, demanding the return of his money. His quest will ultimately lead him from Val to the upper echelon of the The Outfit, a crime organization Val was able to enter with the money he stole from Porter. The Outfit, run by Bronson (Kris Kristofferson), Carter (William Devane), and Fairfax (James Coburn), is then forced to deal with Porter, as he has taken his personal quest beyond the realms of personal justice.

The issue in question was how ruthless to make Porter. Gibson felt that, while Porter was clearly a criminal, he had to retain some heroic qualities, or audiences would never allow themselves a vested interest in him. Helgeland wished to stay true to the script, which called for no remorse, no regret, and a generally heartless Porter. Therein lied the distinction, and it was a battle which Gibson eventually won, though he had nothing but positive words to say about Helgeland's efforts after the fact. While Helgeland's ideas may have brought more consistency to the character, while avoiding the easy way out, Gibson's Porter is clearly easier to watch. Even though we in the audience know he is ruthless and seemingly merciless, we can cheer, for all of his "payback" is delivered to other members of the criminal underworld. He is a man driven by principle, willing to remove anyone or anything that stands in the way of that.

Mel Gibson shines as always in a role he helped shape twenty years prior. Porter is the cool, cunning man we are used to seeing, invoking images of Clint Eastwood's glory days. Porter may be on the other side of the law, but that does not mean he does not stand for something good. Maria Bello makes a seamless transition to the big screen as Gibson's love interest, and Lucy Liu (Ally McBeal) does likewise as a sultry dominatrix with connections. One is left with one simple question at the end of this movie: Should not someone have simply paid the money to Porter? One Payback would surely have voided another.

Cast:

Mel Gibson..........	Porter
Gregg Henry..........	Val
Maria Bello..........	Rosie
Kris Kristofferson..........	Bronson
William Devane..........	Carter
James Coburn..........	Fairfax
David Paymer..........	Stegman
Lucy Liu..........	Pearl

Certification: Rated R for violence and language.
Running Time: 110 minutes.

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