It's been a while since the last test screening of PARKER/PAYBACK starring Mel Gibson. Last we heard it was utterly fantastic with an amazing temp track that blew the roof off the joint. Overall this review is again a positive look at the film , but with a couple of suggestions on where the film drags a bit. Remember this is just one opinion in a series of opinions on a film that is taking shape. Ultimately it'll be left to you. As for me, hell, when the writer of L.A. Confidential directs a film... I'm there. Gotta give it a chance, I owe em that much, right?
How are you doing Harry. I'm a long time listener, first time caller. Today I had the opportunity to see a test screening of the almost completed test print of Payback at Paramont Studios this evening. This is supposedly Mel Gibsons next movie to hit the theatres after Leathal Weapon 4. I went into this movie absolutely cold and not knowing anything about it. So I'll dispense with with the pleasentries and go straight to my review. If you post this I'd like to be know as Agent #24601.
The movie PAYBACK is basically a a story about two con men, Porter (Mel Gibson) and Val (Gregg Henry) who pull off an operation to make some quick money but then Val double crosses Porter and leaves him for dead. The rest of the movie is about Porters quest to get back the money that is rightfully his. The irony about this story is that Porter is only looking for $70,000 which was his in the first place and like a one man wreaking machine takes down a whole criminal orgaization to get it.
Mel Gibson portrays Porter much like Micheal Douglas in Falling Down killing anything that stands between him and his money but still in his heart he has a soft spot or two. I have never seen Gibson in such an intense role and I feel he does a fairly good job in pulling off this change. Many of the other actors in the movie were all unknown to me except a few small roles but this movie is carried by its many entertaining characters, all out to screw eachother over for either Porters money or to kill Porter and collect a handsom reward. Shining above all these characters was Pearl. Pearl was Vals girlfriend but also was a Dominatrix by trade. She is by far the weirdest character in this movie and has some great scenses which you'll have to see.
All around I thought that this was a good movie, the cut I saw lasted a little over an hour and runs fairly slow the first half hour so maybe they might cut a few minutes off to make it flow a little faster. Over then that it had a great mix of humor, action, suspense and pacing. I'm not sure when this movie with be released but I'm guessing either later this year or early 99.
