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Payback (I) (1999) 7.0
Ratings:
7.0/10 from 80,798 users
Metascore: 46/100
Reviews: 372 user | 146 critic | 24 from Metacritic.com Porter is shot by his wife and best friend and is left to die. When he survives he plots revenge. Director:Brian Helgeland |
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Title: Payback (1999)
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Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Mel Gibson | ... | ||
| Gregg Henry | ... | ||
| Maria Bello | ... | ||
| David Paymer | ... | ||
| Bill Duke | ... | ||
| Deborah Kara Unger | ... | ||
| John Glover | ... | ||
| William Devane | ... | ||
| Lucy Liu | ... |
Pearl
(as Lucy Alexis Liu)
|
|
| Jack Conley | ... | ||
| Kris Kristofferson | ... | ||
 |
Mark Alfa | ... |
Johnny's Friend #2
|
| Kwame Amoaku | ... |
Radioman
|
|
| Justin Ashforth | ... |
Michael, Bartender #1
|
|
|
|
Len Bajenski | ... |
Fairfax Bodyguard #1
|
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Porter is bad, but his neighbours are worse. Street-wise and tough, an ex-marine, he is betrayed by a one-time partner, and shot in the back by his junkie wife. He survives and returns, looking to recover his share from the robbery of an Asian crime gang. The money has passed into the hands of "the Outfit", a slick gangster organisation that runs the city. He has to make his way through a world populated by heroin dealers, prostitutes, sado-masochists, gunmen and crooked cops, a place where torture is a way of life. His only friend is a former employer, a prostitute, and her loyalty is in question, given she now works for the Outfit. He makes good early progress, but then falls into the hands of Fairfax, the crime boss. Written by Kwah-LeBaire
Taglines:
Get ready to root for the bad guy. See more »Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for strong violence, language, and drug and sexual content | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See more »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
5 February 1999 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Porter See more »Box Office
Budget:
$50,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend:
£1,181,026 (UK) (26 March 1999)Gross:
$81,517,441 (USA) (9 July 1999)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (director's cut)Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
Edit
Porter: [voiceover] GSW: that's what the hospitals call it: gunshot wound. Doctor has to report it to the police. That makes it hard for guys in my line to get what I call, quality health care.
See more »
Written by Pablo Beltran and Norman Gimbel
Performed by Dean Martin
Courtesy of Capitol Records
under License from EMI Music Special Markets
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The bar where Val meets Stegman is called Varrick's. This is a reference to Walter Matthau's crime thriller Charley Varrick, which was an influence on Payback. See more »Goofs
Porter enters Mr. Fairfax's office with his semi-automatic pistol aimed at Fairfax. But he incorrectly holds the gun tilted 90 degrees to the left. Such a hold does not allow proper sight alignment, and could also jam a semi-auto pistol during firing. Nobody familiar with basic pistol operation would grip one in this manner. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Porter: [voiceover] GSW: that's what the hospitals call it: gunshot wound. Doctor has to report it to the police. That makes it hard for guys in my line to get what I call, quality health care.
See more »
Soundtracks
"Sway"Written by Pablo Beltran and Norman Gimbel
Performed by Dean Martin
Courtesy of Capitol Records
under License from EMI Music Special Markets
See more »
Payback, while admittedly one of the more violent movies out this year, was definitely an entertaining flick.
Like the promo catch phrase says, this time you'll root for the bad guy. If Gibson's character has any redeeming qualities, they are on a very short list. Porter (Gibson) is violent, at times even cruel and the other characters aren't much better; some are worse. Every character is from the wrong side of the tracks, even the cops are on the take and there are no punches pulled. The only character you can really feel is a "good guy" is Rose, the stereotypical Callgirl with a heart of gold (although it's maybe only 10 karat, not a real 24 karat heart).
Nevertheless, you will root for Porter. Frankly, I don't think anyone else could have pulled off this role and still kept the support of the audience like Gibson did, but then he generally always plays the good guy with a twist. This time, the twist is a little more savage than usual.
All in all, if you enjoy the occasional violent romp on the big screen and you're a fan of Mel Gibson; Payback is worth seeing.