Payback (I) (1999)

Porter is shot by his wife and best friend and is left to die. When he survives he plots revenge.

Director:

Brian Helgeland

Writers:

Donald E. Westlake (novel), Brian Helgeland (screenplay),

Stars:

Mel Gibson, Gregg Henry, Maria Bello

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mel Gibson	...	Porter
Gregg Henry	...	Val Resnick
Maria Bello	...	Rosie
David Paymer	...	Arthur Stegman
Bill Duke	...	Det. Hicks
Deborah Kara Unger	...	Mrs. Lynn Porter
John Glover	...	Phil
William Devane	...	Carter
Lucy Liu	...	Pearl (as Lucy Alexis Liu)
Jack Conley	...	Det. Leary
Kris Kristofferson	...	Bronson
Mark Alfa	...	Johnny's Friend #2
Kwame Amoaku	...	Radioman
Justin Ashforth	...	Michael, Bartender #1
Len Bajenski	...	Fairfax Bodyguard #1

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.

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Plot Keywords:

money | revenge | prostitute | robbery | shot in the back | 

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Taglines:

Get ready to root for the bad guy.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, language, and drug and sexual content

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 February 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Porter

Filming Locations:

186 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois, USA

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

Production Co:

Icon Entertainment International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 90 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Porter uses a Smith & Wesson Model 27 357 Magnum with a four-inch barrel and custom wood grips.

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Goofs

At the meeting at the end of the line, Porter goes into the bathroom and takes a urinal between two members of The Outfit. The hit-man on the left pulls the gun out of his waistband. When Porter shoots him, the gun is back in his waistband.

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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.

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Connections

Referenced in Grand Theft Auto 3 (2001)

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Soundtracks

"Voodoo Child (Slight Return)"
Written and Performed by Jimi Hendrix
Courtesy of Experience Hendrix, Llc/mca Records
under License from Universal Music Special Markets

User Reviews

Top-notch

Easily one of Gibson's best, and one of the best of it's kind you will ever see. Homage to film noir, combined with usual Gibson tongue-in-cheekness, and some fabulous supporting roles from the likes of Coburn, Kristofferson, Liu, and Devane. Henry does a stirling job here opposite Gibson. Liu is simply wonderful in a role that - worryingly perhaps - looks like it was made for her!

Porter's single-minded, no-nonsense determination to get what he sees as justice for himself strikes a chord, and has you rooting for him right to the end. This film rarely lets up on the intensity, and gets better as it goes along. It will make you laugh and cringe at the same time, but you won't want to take your eyes off the screen for a second. It looks good, feels good, and oozes class. Definitely a must-see.