Note: this review will apply to the 2006 directors' cut rather than the theatrical release.
Mel Gibson is convincingly ferocious as a lowlife criminal - albeit one of those guys with a personal code - who is double-crossed after a successful robbery. He survives, natch, and becomes absolutely HELLBENT on achieving justice for himself. He takes on all comers as he determines to reclaim his share of the money - $70,000, no more, no less - and get back at the slimeball (Gregg Henry) who betrayed him.
The main hook of this extremely brutal and visceral crime film is that there are no real "good guys" here - most of the characters are despicable to one degree or another. But Gibsons' Porter is one of those compelling anti-heroes whom you can't help but watch. It's richly satisfying whenever he dispatches his latest adversary.
People who loathe excessive violence in films are well advised to look elsewhere. But this second adaptation of a "Richard Stark" (Donald E. Westlake) novel, after the 1967 picture "Point Blank", has a superb forward momentum and a very gritty feel.
Gibson is ably supported by a rich variety of familiar faces. Henry is such a p.o.s. That you eagerly anticipate his demise. Maria Bello, David Paymer, Bill Duke, Deborah Kara Unger, John Glover, William Devane, and Lucy Liu provide sterling support. Liu is delicious as a sexy sadomasochist. James Coburn appears unbilled. This being the directors' cut, the crime bigwig named Bronson does not appear on screen (giving them a bit of an enigmatic quality), and is voiced by Sally Kellerman rather than played by Kris Kristofferson.
Scripted by director Brian Helgeland, this is a pretty straightforward story, and VERY amusing, no matter how implausible it may get. But at least our main character is no superhero; he does take some lumps before this is through.
Seven out of 10.
Mel Gibson is convincingly ferocious as a lowlife criminal - albeit one of those guys with a personal code - who is double-crossed after a successful robbery. He survives, natch, and becomes absolutely HELLBENT on achieving justice for himself. He takes on all comers as he determines to reclaim his share of the money - $70,000, no more, no less - and get back at the slimeball (Gregg Henry) who betrayed him.
The main hook of this extremely brutal and visceral crime film is that there are no real "good guys" here - most of the characters are despicable to one degree or another. But Gibsons' Porter is one of those compelling anti-heroes whom you can't help but watch. It's richly satisfying whenever he dispatches his latest adversary.
People who loathe excessive violence in films are well advised to look elsewhere. But this second adaptation of a "Richard Stark" (Donald E. Westlake) novel, after the 1967 picture "Point Blank", has a superb forward momentum and a very gritty feel.
Gibson is ably supported by a rich variety of familiar faces. Henry is such a p.o.s. That you eagerly anticipate his demise. Maria Bello, David Paymer, Bill Duke, Deborah Kara Unger, John Glover, William Devane, and Lucy Liu provide sterling support. Liu is delicious as a sexy sadomasochist. James Coburn appears unbilled. This being the directors' cut, the crime bigwig named Bronson does not appear on screen (giving them a bit of an enigmatic quality), and is voiced by Sally Kellerman rather than played by Kris Kristofferson.
Scripted by director Brian Helgeland, this is a pretty straightforward story, and VERY amusing, no matter how implausible it may get. But at least our main character is no superhero; he does take some lumps before this is through.
Seven out of 10.