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Festivale online magazine A Reel Life film section Payback movie review

Payback: Scumbag Procedural In the first moments of Payback, our protagonist Porter (Mel Gibson) does everything but drown kittens and run over nuns on bicycles -- and that only because they don't cross his path. In true cinematic tradition, he is shown as a scumbag. Nobody has to tell us. We are quickly shown how he is relieved of $70,000 of his ill-gotten gains and from then on we follow Porter as he sets out to retrieve that amount.

Movie Poster, Payback

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Now, if you think that Old Mel is going to be a guy with moral principles, like Bernie in The Burglar who has lines he doesn't cross, you would be wrong. In the next couple of hours he alternatively blows up and coldly shoots anyone who gets in his way. So what has this film got to offer? Well if you are interested in watching killers work, this could be of interest to you. If you find mindless, conscienceless shooting entertaining, then you'll find the time passes quickly. On the other hand, the high spot of this film is Pearl (Lucy Alexis Liu). While Maria Bello gets to play a convincing whore-with-heart, Liu gets to play the SM Mistress of Pain. When Porter confronts a SM aficionado in her charge, Pearl is obviously enchanted by the situation and gleefully sets to work beating up the client on Porter's behalf. In fact, she has the best fun in the film, and is therefore the most fun to watch. The word is that Gibson forced changes to the film in an effort to be more likeable, that seems likely since the film has the chopiness of too-many-cooks (in Hollywood is the too-many-chiefs?). As an object lesson to actors to keep their paws off it works, otherwise, its an unattractive film that probably would have been better served by an actor with the guts to be the bad guy.

	Ali Kayn Due for Australian release March 4, 1999 See also: Mel Gibson also appears in Conspiracy Theory, Lucy Alexis Liu also appears in Austin Powers II For credits and official site details, click here. Search Festivale for more For credits and official site details, click here. Search Festivale for more
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Enter movie, TV show, or person   Provided by Internet Movie Database.	Just the facts: Title: Payback (1999) Written by: based on the novel The Hunter) Donald E. Westlake (as Richard Stark), screenplay by Brian Helgeland & Terry Hayes Directed by: Brian Helgeland  Produced by: Mel Gibson, Bruce Davey, Stephen McEveety (executive) Edited by: Kevin Stitt Director of Photography: Ericson Core running time: 101 rating MA
	The Players: Mel Gibson ... Porter Gregg Henry.... Val Maria Bello.... Rosie Deborah Unger.... Lynn Porter David Paymer.... Stegman Bill Duke.... Detective Hicks Jack Conley.... Detective Leary William Devane.... Carter Kris Kristofferson.... Bronson John Glover.... Phil Lucy Alexis Liu.... Pearl
	Official website: www.paybackmovie.com
	For session times of current films, use the cinema listings on the Movie links page. For scheduled release dates, see the coming attractions section.

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Movie images, sounds, and video clips are solely owned by their respective companies. No other uses are permitted without the prior written consent of owner. Use of the material in violation of the foregoing may result in civil and/or criminal penalties. disclaimer Festivale Online Magazine Celebrate everything! www.festivale.info ISSN 1328-8008 Published in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia disclaimers | contact the editor | Festivale revision history Published in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia copyright © Festivale 1999 All rights reserved Filed: Feb-1999 Last updated: 1-Apr-1999 Last tested: 3-Jul-2014 Last Compiled: 3-Jul-2014 Entire site refreshed: Dec 2008-Feb 2009 | Site URL transferred: Jan 2005 (previously www.festivale.webcentral.com.au)