REELTIME: "Payback" Shortchanges Gibson's Talents

By Gilbert Le Gras

TORONTO, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Paramount's film noir ``Payback'' delivers a tough cast, stylish look and decent script but lead actor Mel Gibson's sullen character numbs his performance.

Based on the 1962 pulp fiction novel by Donald E. Westlake, under the pen name Richard Stark, ``The Hunter'' inspired the opening scenes in the 1967 cult film ``Point Blank'' which cast stone-faced Lee Marvin in the role take up by Gibson in this incarnation of the script.

But 20 years after Gibson's arrival on film screens worldwide in the Australian cult classic ``Mad Max'' the actor's performance in ``Payback,'' although good, lacks the fire-brand passion or depth he's shown in other films.

Granted, this is a film that implores you to root for the bad guy and makes no bones about casting the 43-year-old Gibson in his tried and true macho, tough guy role, the stoic interpretation of the film's ``hero,'' Mr. Porter, suits the Aussie actors about as well as a strait jacket.

``You got a light?'' Gibson asks antagonist Gregg Henry drawing out a cigarette after pumping two bullets into him.

``No,'' the mid-level heroin supplier gasps.

``Then what good are you?'' grumbles Gibson before firing one more bullet into Henry's brain.

The scene has its shock value but the delivery of the dialogue is more akin to Lee Marvin's icy style while Gibson seems restrained and almost depressed. His fire-brand fury would have better suited this and other scenes.

``Payback'' is still a good film noir but it could be better like last year's stronger feature movie of this genre ``Out of Sight'' with George Cloonie and Jennifer Lopez.

The film is stylish and has undertones of a Mikey Spilane detective novel, not surprising since ``Payback's'' director Brian Helgeland wrote the script to ``L.A. Confidential,'' and offers up enough unexpected plot twists to keep the audience from anticipating how Gibson will shake off his growing number of enemies.

The story follows Gibson's monomaniacal obsession with recovering $70,000 owed him by Henry, whom he kills, and then Henry's mob bosses - a triumvirate including 70-year-old Oscar nominee James Coburn for ``The Affliction,'' Kris Kristofferson and William Devane.

E.R.'s Maria Bello plays a saucy prostitute who guides Gibson to the inner sanctum of the mob with David Paymer, who plays a convincing small-time crook, and Bill Duke, as a corrupt cop coveting his take on Gibson's payback, in tow.

The film is graphically violent, starting with the scene where Gibson's wife Deborah Kara Unger shoots him twice in the back and makes off with Henry and the $140,000 the two men just stole from a New York City Chinese triad.

There's also a heavy dose of sado-masochism, from the cameo role played by Ally McBeal actress Lucy Liu as a merciless dominatrix to the a torture scene reminiscent of ``Reservoir Dogs'' near the end of the film where two of Gibson's toes are pulverized by a hammer-wielding mob strongman.

Overall, there are enough well executed moments in this film to otherwise make up for the constraints handcuffed onto Gibson's character.

-- To comment or make suggestions on this occasional column, write gilbert.legras@reuters.com