Plot: What’s it about?
So are you ready to root for the bad guy? That’s what the tag line claims…Mel Gibson plays “Porter”, not a last name, a first one… He is a low life criminal who has been around and makes his “living” as a theif who specializes in payroll jobs.
Porter’s “partner”, Val (Gregg Henry) do a job together that turns out to be a double cross on Porter’s end. Being left for dead, Val and Lynn (Porter’s wife) take off with $140,000 in cash. Val is using the money to buy his way back into “The Syndicate” (it has many names). Basically, it’s a place where you can pretty much do as you please and live in the protection of what seems to be, organized crime.
Porter, of course, is not dead and is hell bent on getting his half ($70,000…and remember that) back. He tracks down almost everyone associated with Val in order to get his half of the money back, even people who are supposedly “untouchable”. Needless to say, I’m not going to tell you the ending! This is a very dark movie, though, it’s not like “Maverick” and I don’t even recall seeing the colors yellow, green, red, or any other lighter shades in the movie…very dark indeed.
Video: How does it look?
Paramount seems to be sticking by their “renewed” commitment to 16:9 enhancement, and it looks great in this film. As mentioned above, it is a very dark movie, not only in plot, but physically. There is not a spot of grain, artifacting or any other flaw in this perfect transfer from Paramount. Hopefully they’ll keep up the good work…
Audio: How does it sound?
Dolby Digital 5.1 sound is used, as in 99% of movies made now a days, and it sounds great. I wouldn’t exactly call it reference quality, but it does have it’s share of gunshots, punches and expolsions that keep all of your speakers busy.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Paramount is trying, I think, they included a trailer, a teaser trailer and a 5 minute featurette on the making of “Payback”, nice and interesting, could have been more, but also less as well…
