DIRECTOR: Brian Helgeland
MPAA RATING: R
RUNNING TIME: 101 Minutes
STUDIO: Paramount
| Payback (1999) |
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| CAST: Mel Gibson, Gregg Henry, Maria Bello, David Paymer
DIRECTOR: Brian Helgeland MPAA RATING: R RUNNING TIME: 101 Minutes STUDIO: Paramount |
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Don't expect the friendly feeling of a LEATHEL WEAPON movie when you watch PAYBACK, a very violent movie that stars Mel Gibson as Porter, a charming bad guy whose partner and girlfriend have taken $70,000 of his, and he wants it back. All Porter wants to do is get back what is rightfully (it was stolen money) his. Yet he gets double crossed, shot at, beaten, and almost loses more than his life with an altercation with a knife.
This is Brian Helgeland's first time directing and I believe that 100%. The reason? The pacing is slower than a snail traveling on vacation. Yes, this movie is boring, even with Mel in it. Gibson isn't the problem, the direction is. The entire movie is literally made up of Mel walking around, taking a cigarette or two, and narrating. What a letdown of a movie. The action doesn't kick in until about 20 minutes left into the film, and by that time you don't care. You're so exhausted with the first hour and 10 minutes that you just don't have the strength to watch anymore. The only bit of relief is with the cameo by James Coburn. Now this guy can be bad. Gibson is okay, but he can never really play the bad guy. The tagline for the movie is "get ready to root for the bad guy". Well, if we're rooting for them, then they really must be good guys. I feel sorry for director Helgeland. If other producers see this film, it may be his first and last time directing. |
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