Movies I haven't seen in a while: Payback

 

           

                 

         After watching Get the Gringo, I decided to rewatch Mel Gibson movie that I remember being obsessed with as well as a revenge movie that was in a sense my first introduction to the Anti-Hero. Payback was certainly one of those films that I haven't seen in quite a long time which would be perfect to bring up a movie I haven't seen in a while. Payback staring yours truly Mel Gibson, Maria Bello and up and coming actress Lucy Liu. Although Payback is a typical Mel Gibson movie in a sense, but this is an infamous that spawned two different versions of the film and for some reason turns into a forgotten movie I do wish to get everyone into re-watching this film again because it's a great action/comedy that needs to be brought to the light.

         Porter (Mel Gibson) is a thief betrayed by both his wife, Lynn (Deborah Kara Unger), and his partner, Val (Gregg Henry), when he is shot in the back after a heist. Slowly, Porter recovers from his wounds and begins a search for Val, intent on recovering his share of the money they stole together. With the aid of prostitute Rosie (Maria Bello), Porter captures Val but still cannot find his cash. For this, Porter will have to challenge an imposing crime syndicate called the Outfit.

         Based on the book, Hunter by Richard Stark in 1962 involves around a professional robber named Parker, and while the first book is loosely based on Payback, author Richard Stark aka Donald E. Westlake consisted of writing 28 books as the follow up to his success to Hunter. The film is amazing to watch from start to finish with Mel Gibson playing a perfect Anti-Hero along with having romantic chemistry with Maria Bello long before she was a Coyote Ugly as well as Lucy Liu who originally was in the credits Lucy Alexis Liu until she got her big break in Charlie's Angles. Now all the actors are great as well as the director, Brian Helgeland too, which is credited for his first film. Although the film is amazing to relive what makes the movie famous for is that the film started off with a theatrical release until 2007 when Helgeland finally released his truer version of Payback that didn't consist of voiceover work by Mel Gibson and Kris Kristofferson as the main antagonist and the story is that Brian Helgeland and Mel Gibson fought over ideas on the films concept and granted majority of the cut was directed by Brian Helgeland he was later fired, upon hearing that he won the Oscar for his writing on L.A. Confidential, which yeah show's how great the show business in Hollywood is. Now you can both versions thankfully on Tubi or Amazon Prime, though the question is which version is better and at times I would usually say that the director’s cut is always better almost the same as an extended cut, but this time I have to stick with the original cut of the movie, for good reasons is mainly the voice over or narration that Mel Gibson does in the theatrical film works for me and it gives the film a more film noir feel with the combination of the tough guy presence that you see on screen, while some of the scenes of the director’s cut do work and some of the scenes in the movie I wish were in the theatrical movie though I can understand though there is no voice over in the director’s cut and it kind of feels like when you don't have the voice over the scenes seem a bit slow as well as unnecessarily need those scenes but furthermore the ending to the director’s cut feels like the movie was going to wink for a sequel and it doesn't need a sequel it feels much better if they just wrap it up and they do in the theatrical cut where all the mafia is dead they both go up to Canada. Both film versions of Payback are on Tubi as well as Amazon Prime so, honesty if you’re a massive fan of Mel Gibson and who isn't a fan of Mel Gibson? Hell, if you’re not a fan of Mel Gibson then you’re not American. Anyway, you can watch both versions of Payback to see which is better and there's nothing wrong to experience both versions, though after watching the original Payback I still prefer the theatrical version and granted majority of Brian Helgeland's movie is still in the movie, though deep down I can feel what he was trying to go with in terms of bringing his own version to life. Hands down this is an unappreciative Mel Gibson movie that's been stored in the dark and it needs to be seen to a wider audience, and I hope you all pick the time or the right weekend to watch Payback or give your boss Payback in case they haven't given you your paycheck if you know what I mean.