America loves the mob ... at least movies about the mob. So here's one with a twist. A guy who was ripped off by a low-level mobster wants payback, and he doesn't care who he has to kill in the mob to get it.

Porter (Mel Gibson) is supposed to be our hero, but he only appeals to the audience because the people he wants revenge from are sleazier than he is. Don't go looking for any role models in this film.

Payback is a dark, sometimes comical, film. It delves into a part of society most of us don't enter into. However, it is unrealistic in situations where people endure fights and torture which should be disabling, and then they're mixing it up again in the next scene. For that I have to downgrade this film. I did enjoy the film in a sick and twisted way, but I can't say I found Gibson's character worth looking up to. Not only does he commit multiple murders of mobsters, he also harms multiple innocent victims. In his own words, nice guys are the people he preys upon.

The most fun comes from Lucy Liu who plays Pearl, an S & M dominatrix. Not only does she enjoy hurting people, she gets off from being slapped around. Again, it is the absurdity of the situation providing the entertainment, not the morals of the person.

If you like mob movies and violence, you may like Payback, but you won't find it on par with Good Fellas or Casino.

Jammed Pipe!

Film Facts

Cast
• Mel Gibson
• Maria Bello
• Jean Carol
• James Coburn
• William Devane
• Bill Duke
• Gregg Henry
• Kris Kristofferson
• Lucy Liu
• David Paymer
• Deborah Unger
• Sterling Wolfe

Directed by Brian Helgeland

Released in 1999

MPAA Rating: R

Reviewed by Mongo