Mel Gibson ditches his nice guy image and returns to his psychotic roots (as seen in the MAD MAX films) by playing a criminal with no redeeming features whatsoever. At least, that's the idea. However Gibson's charm and warmth still shine through with his character, so that you can't help rooting for him even if he is the anti-hero. Gibson's trademark smile and wisecracks are in full use here, even if he does employ them when killing people.

PAYBACK is an extremely distinctive movie, mainly due to the film noir-ish style of the cinematography. The setting is a dingy, grimy city, mostly filmed in shades of grey and brown, where lowlife seethes everywhere. Nobody in the film is a good character, and even the female love interest is a prostitute. This makes the film feel like a '40s Philip Marlowe crime thriller, which it partly is, but the excessive violence make it something much, much more.

The plot, of revenge and double crossing is nothing new, but the twists and spins given to this tale are refreshing and interesting, mainly in the ways in which Gibson outwits the various characters opposing him. There's delight to be had in the way in which Gibson blows up cars, buildings, sets up crooked policeman, and calmly, offhandedly blasts away the bad guys when they won't give him the money. Added into the brew is a much needed level of black humour, my favourite type of comedy, so there's a lot to smile and laugh at too.

The cast is top notch, partly the reason why the film is so great. Gibson spends most of the film either beating people up or getting beaten up, but his charisma still shines through (even if he is looking pretty old these days). The female lead is also very good, likable yet realistically human in her role, something lacking from many films these days where the female leads (such as the one in GODZILLA) are annoyingly bubble headed and picked for their looks only. The bad guys are mainly distinguished actors. William Devane is excellent as a laid-back crime boss, while James Coburn steals his scenes as Devane's expensively-dressed, lavishly-attired globetrotting partner. Kris Kristofferson is also effective in his role as the head criminal, he's used to playing villains by now and so he fits the role like a glove. The rest of the actors and actresses are also memorable in their roles, I can't think of one person who stuck out like a sore thumb. Everyone surpasses themselves in this film.

The violence level is high, which led to some criticism, but there will always be critics no matter what. There are the expected shoot outs and explosions, all staged with panache and style, and some graphic torture scenes involving a hammer and Gibson's toes (very reminiscent of the torture in MISERY). Other good moments involve Gibson ripping out a punk's nose ring, shooting a car full of people from underneath, and of course outsmarting about a hundred and one bad guys. PAYBACK is a great film, one of the best blockbusters that I've seen in recent years, and can easily stand up to repeated viewing.

Porter (Mel Gibson) is a bad, bad man and he's looking for revenge on all those who backstabbed him. First he finds his druggie wife (Deborah Kara Unger). In flashbacks, he, his wife and Val Resnick (Gregg Henry) steal money from an Asian gang but his wife shoots him in the back. Val had shown her a picture of Porter with Rosie (Maria Bello). Now Porter is looking to collect his $70k share of the take from Val. Val had used the money to get back into the good graces of the underworld syndicate.

The tagline is "Get Ready to Root for the Bad Guy" but I never did. It's dour and dark. It may need more action violence because it doesn't have the realism to be taken seriously. Lucy Liu has a nice role before she got big and this is also early Maria Bello. It has some dark humor but it needs to be funnier. It's an interesting attempt at a dark anti-hero but I can't completely buy it.

When you just want one thing: what is owed to you. A sign of respect sort of. Nothing more nothing less. To some that may sound weird at least or incomprehensible, but our main character here (who presents himself not as the most likeable character),has other things to say and do. And he is more a man of action, rather than someone who waits around - straight shooter and straight talker.

Something that the producers didn't seem to appreciate much. But years later the original director was allowed to sort of finish the version he had in mind. As much as it was possible with the things he had shot. Now I do think that the directors cut version is better. Straight to the point, no nonsense no waiting around, no overthinking it. Which may be considered as not clever by some, but that is not what the movie and its main character are aiming for anyway ... no pun intended