Search - Payback: Straight Up - The Director's Cut [Blu-ray] on Blu-ray

Payback Pays Off

Armando M. Mesa | Chandler, AZ | 01/13/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"What a straightforward, action packed flick this was with no confusing sidebar twists or excess baggage plots. This is the first film I've seen Gibson portray a character only described as a good-bad guy. This time he has the upperhand (most of the time) and does a bit of the damage control; It's always the real bad guys that get that privelage. Without giving away too much of the film's minor portion of comical slapstick, there is one scene where Gibson's character Porter is repeatedly slapped in the back of the head by one of the movie's shadier characters (this is a funny scene, especially when America remembers a time when Mel was US Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive in the past). His dead panned expressions and deep serious voice let the bad guys know he is not kidding around. Lucy Liu, from Ally McBeal fame, turns in one of the most kinkiest performances without actually using any nudity ! She adds quite a sensational spark to the movie. All in all, from the previous mixed reviews, people should take it for what it is; A typical action/comedy/drama flick done Mel Gibson style !Mel's antics rate top 5 stars and the story rates 3 stars. It was also a real hoot to see some old Hollywood heavyweights: James Coburn, Kris Kristofferson, and William DeVane. The only question is still why all that for 70 grand ?"

Payback - A truly enjoyable film!

K. Wyatt | St. Louis, MO United States | 10/05/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Payback" hails back to the seventies type movies where rooting for the bad guy is the whole point of the movie and it works quite successfully in this first-rate film. Mel Gibson does an terrific job of playing the bad guy that you really want to root for. Fair warning to the light of heart and young ones though, for this film is not for them. Sticking with Mel Gibson's type of film making, the realism in this film is astonishing and could be considered rather shocking. Given that this is an entirely different type of movie for Mel Gibson in which he is the hero of the film but his character isn't quite the "hero" type, I found his performance to be exceptional, but then again, name a film where his performance wasn't exceptional. Maria Bello of "ER" fame stars as Mel Gibson's love interest and she performs quite well in this film. Gregg Henry who plays the "true" bad guy of the film and he does a great job of playing the extraordinarily sadistic mafia "wannabe." Kris Kristofferson plays the "mob" boss of the film. Lucy Alexis Liu performs quite "scarily" as the masochistic/sadistic call girl with some interesting associates.This is the first film from Director Brian Helgeland that I've seen and he certainly deserves a great amount of praise for bringing the novel "The Hunter" by Richard Stark to the silver screen and DVD format. This film is certainly the last of its type in the twentieth century! The sound track for the film matches perfectly with the entire "feel" and atmosphere of the film, greatly enhancing the experience.The premise:Mel Gibson plays Porter who, while being little more than a common criminal is not so much a common criminal as the film unfolds. As the film opens Porter is retelling the recent events of his life after he's been shot and has now recovered enough to make his way back to New York City and he's on a mission. We soon learn that he and Val Resnick had planned and executed the robbery of $130,000 from a Chinese organized crime group and that when it came time to divide the money between himself and his wife and Val, Val had been conspiring with Porter's wife, showing her a picture of Porter and Rosie (Maria Bello). Porter's wife shoots him in the back. He's now recovered and he's coming to town, looking for his $70,000 and to kill Val Resnick.What follows from there is nothing short of one of the most brilliant films of its type where Mel Gibson brings his style of acting to the forefront where he can throw in some well placed and funny lines in the most serious of situations for his character.I highly recommend this film to any and all fans of this genre as you will soon find that it bears many viewings quite easily and all the way through you'll be "rooting for the bad guy." {ssintrepid}Special Features:There's not much to look for here when it comes to the Special Features for "Payback." In the end though, this DVD is about the movie and that's what you get, in all its glory!- 2 Theatrical Trailers
- Behind the Scenes Featurette"

Extremely sharp bluray quality

toddo | los angeles, ca | 04/11/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This bluray boast a very sharp video quality. From start to finish I was very impressed at how good an old movie like this can look. Extremely enjoyed the extras which had interviews with all the cast. Pace of this director's cut was a lot slower than the original release as how the director intended. Along with it you lose Mel's character narration that was highly enjoyable on the previous release. Even for such an old flick, you can see all of Mel's wrinkles and see his age."

A good cast makes a good film

Peter Ingemi | Worcester County, Massachusetts United States | 04/13/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is dark yet amusing film about a thug looking for revenge on his partner that double crossed him. He wants revenge but most of all he wants his 70k that was taken from him. His quest brings, the mob, the man who wanted to kill him, and the people who he stole the money from in the first place all after him.

It really isn't much of a plot but it is brimming with first rate performances from Mel Gibson all the way down to William Devane to John Glover. (Note to the Star Wars franchise: Great acting can overcome a mediocre plot, but Bad acting can't save a good one).

This movie isn't great but it's not only good but it's good the 2nd 3rd and the fourth time. Lucy Liu's fatso line is worth the price of the picture alone.

Definitely a keeper."