Payback

Starring Mel Gibson, Maria Bello, James Coburn, Gregg Henry, David Paymer, Bill Duke, Deborah Unger, John Glover, Lucy Liu and Kris Kristofferson. Written by Brian Helgeland and Terry Hayes from the novel "The Hunter" by Donald E. Westlake. Directed by Brian Helgeland.

Brian Helgeland is the man who co-wrote the screenplay of L.A. Confidential. He’s also the director of the upcoming A Knight’s Tale, which combines the WWF with a Middle-ages rags to riches story about a peasant who becomes a knight. Here he’s the man in charge of putting Mel Gibson through his paces as the bad guy who you’re supposed to root for.

And you do.

Gibson is typically likeable as Porter (no first name), the two-bit crook who gets scammed in the beginning of the film and spend the rest of it’s average 140 minute running time seeking revenge, and shooting people. Lots of people. Along the way he hooks up with the always fetching Maria Bello, and runs afoul of Lucy Liu, Bill Due, John Glover and Kris Kristofferson.

I don’t know why it took me so long to see this film, maybe because the reviews weren’t all that great. This film isn’t great cinema, but at least it’s watchable, and enjoyable for what it is. Recommended.

My rating: *** ½ out of 5 stars.