nebsmate Review of Payback: Straight Up

Payback: Straight Up (2006 Video)

this is how payback should have been

[9/10 · 21 October 2007]

the theatrical version of payback was a good,if slightly uneven crime thriller.this cut is how the original director-brian helgeland-wanted you to see the film .hollywood wanted something more accessible,so the rewrites made the film very disjointed in places,swithching from dark to comedic,particularly towards the end.what started off as a dark,moody revenge film ended up a dumbed down action fare for the lethal weapon fans .thankfully,some years later,helgeland got to restore payback to its previous status.gone is the ridiculous,abrupt ending of the theatrical version version, replaced with a far darker,twisted ending.this movie really shows off porters hard edged character.much better than the easy,comfortable ending of the old version,the gritty train station shootout leaves you on the edge of your seat.a modern classic.