Payback

Name: Payback
Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime
Released: February 5, 1999
Duration: 100 min
Rating: 46
Cast: Mel Gibson

1999

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 191 Ratings

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8.4

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8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 191 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: February 5, 1999 | R

Starring: Mel Gibson

Summary: A thief plots revenge when he is betrayed by his wife and best friend.

Director: Brian Helgeland

Genre(s): Action, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 100 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Mick LaSalle

Payback has a completely different spirit from "L.A. Confidential'' -- more wild, more silly -- but it has the same attention to the fine points of plot and character. Read full review

Roger Ebert

There is much cleverness and ingenuity in Payback, but Mel Gibson is the key. The movie wouldn't work with an actor who was heavy on his feet, or was too sincere about the material. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Payback is a thriller so mean and degraded it carries a low-down, vicious charge. Sadism is its only real subject, and its only real life as well. Read full review

Peter Travers

Payback is a brutally entertaining crime drama that should have been a little more brutal and a little less entertaining. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Has the makings of that rarest of ventures, an adaptation that is true to the spirit of the original as well as its own time and place. But as Payback wends its way toward its conclusion, its promise dissipates and its pleasures wane. Read full review

Keith Phipps

Consider that in “Point Blank,” Lee Marvin walks through the film with the look of a man who's lost his soul. You can see it in his eyes. Look in Gibson's eyes in this one and you'll see soullessness, but it doesn't seem to come from anywhere within his character. Read full review

Stephen Holden

What one word might best describe Payback? How about "loathsome"? Read full review

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User Reviews

Kaprawiec

Sep 5, 2016

This is the story about manhood. Yes, Porter is mean, tough and uterly bad motherf...er. Not in a grotesque steroid Vin Diesel or Dwayne "Rock" Johnson style. You know and they know he would kick both of their buts. Its a shame, that nowadays we have this awfull global metrosexual trend.
OhThis is the story about manhood. Yes, Porter is mean, tough and uterly bad motherf...er. Not in a grotesque steroid Vin Diesel or Dwayne "Rock" Johnson style. You know and they know he would kick both of their buts. Its a shame, that nowadays we have this awfull global metrosexual trend.
Oh well, back to the movie - story is nice, if not a little bit too predictable, performances are excellent, there is some dark comedy. Great noir movie, instant classic in my book.… Expand

6 of 6 users found this helpful60

Pluto744

Jun 21, 2021

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0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Allogism944

Jan 28, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. SVal Resnick: Did you get a name?

Stegman: [finishing his drink] He said his name is Porter.

Val Resnick: Whoa, whoa, whoa, he said he was there for Porter?

Stegman: No he said he WAS Porter.

[Val sighs]

Stegman: I'm telling you I wouldn't want that guy after me neither.

Val Resnick: Who am I? A nobody?

Stegman: No.

Val Resnick: I got friends. I'll I have to do is point! I pick up the phone and he's a dead man. And this time HE STAYS DEAD… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

FilipeNeto

Aug 24, 2021

This film reminded me a lot that ancient "noir" films, for their style and the way the characters behave. It takes place in an environment where innocence simply does not exist: everyone has a secret, a dirty business, an illegal activity, they are criminals or prostitutes. Overall, it's aThis film reminded me a lot that ancient "noir" films, for their style and the way the characters behave. It takes place in an environment where innocence simply does not exist: everyone has a secret, a dirty business, an illegal activity, they are criminals or prostitutes. Overall, it's a pretty good movie, that delivers on its promises, but that has fallen by the wayside over the years.

The script takes a while to develop, but it becomes more interesting over time: we have a professional thief, Porter, who is tricked by his fellows (his wife and a friend) after stealing some Chinese mobsters, and is left for dead while they run away with his share of the money. When he manages to recover, he decides to go all the way to get revenge and to get his money back.

Directed by Brian Helgeland, the film feels like one of those old thrillers with a likeable anti-hero who, despite being a bad guy, knows how to act with integrity and have honor. Suffice it to say that the main character only wants the money from the stolen portion and not the whole cake, or more than that, and this is offered to him on more than one occasion. The film has a very good story, somewhat slow at first but pleasant overall, and full of action and moments of ironic and intelligent humor. The pace is good, the film has energy and had a good editing.

Mel Gibson is the man of the movie. In addition to being an agreeable protagonist and having made the film at an excellent time in his acting career (still enjoying the popularity achieved with the "Lethal Weapon" films), he imbues the character with enormous charisma and charm. Next to him, we have a ruthless, tough Gregg Henry. I also liked the work of William Devane, in the role of an elegant and sophisticated mobster, and Lucy Liu, who gave life to a sarcastic dominatrix prostitute and who, quite obviously, was fun to play for this renowned actress. Unfortunately, the film's two main girls - Rosie de Bello and Deborah Unger - cannot go beyond the clichéd register of the "femme fatale" of traditional "noir" movies.

On a technical level, it's an elegant and enjoyable film. The cinematography features washed-out colors and a soft light that, personally, reminded me of the black-and-white look that is the hallmark of the "noir" genre. The atmosphere is grim, as the film moves through garages, narrow streets and marginal environments, where crime happens, to ascend to the lavish office of the mob godfather or the well-furnished mansion of a crime boss with expensive tastes. The film skillfully recreates all this through excellent sets and well-crafted costumes. There are some good quality visuals, specials and sound effects, but the film is very sparing in its use. The soundtrack, full of jazz themes, helps a lot in building the environment.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Compi24

May 25, 2015

After a clumsily uneventful first act, "Payback" manages to redeem itself with some nostalgically noir-ish tonality and a healthy dose of subverted expectation.

1 of 7 users found this helpful16

Steven1981

Mar 22, 2020

Payback is a 1999 action, drama, thriller showcasing actors and actresses such as Lucy Liu, Mel Gibson and Maria Bello... Some of the action is good, Mel Gibson is average at best and the rest of the film though in colour feels a bit old fashioned and at times uninteresting. Can't bePayback is a 1999 action, drama, thriller showcasing actors and actresses such as Lucy Liu, Mel Gibson and Maria Bello... Some of the action is good, Mel Gibson is average at best and the rest of the film though in colour feels a bit old fashioned and at times uninteresting. Can't be bothered going into the story or anything and for me the only real reason to watch this movie is for the funny and beautiful Lucy Liu who calls somebody fat boy in the movie. Watchable at least but nothing fantastic.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

RonaldoG.

Mar 31, 2009

This movie is terrible. I turned it off half way through. It is confused about whether or not it is a comedy or a drama, and fails miserably at being both.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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60	#60 Most Discussed Movie of 1999
61	#61 Most Shared Movie of 1999