Payback (1999/I)

Director:

Brian Helgeland
(more)

Writers:

Donald E. Westlake (novel)
Brian Helgeland (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

5 February 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

No More Mr. Nice Guy

Plot:

Porter is shot by his wife and best friend and is left to die. When he survives he plots revenge.

Plot Keywords:

Money | Revenge | Robbery | Prostitute | Criminal

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Mel Gibson	...	Porter
Gregg Henry	...	Val Resnick
Maria Bello	...	Rosie
David Paymer	...	Arthur Stegman
Bill Duke	...	Det. Hicks
Deborah Kara Unger	...	Mrs. Lynn Porter
John Glover	...	Phil
William Devane	...	Carter
Lucy Liu	...	Pearl (as Lucy Alexis Liu)
Jack Conley	...	Det. Leary
Kris Kristofferson	...	Bronson
Mark Alfa	...	Johnny's Friend #2
Kwame Amoaku	...	Radioman
Justin Ashforth	...	Michael, Bartender #1
Len Bajenski	...	Fairfax Bodyguard #1
Kate Buddeke	...	Counter Girl
Price Carson	...	Bronson's Heavy #1
Roddy Chiong	...	Chow's Thug #2
Art Cohan	...	Bronson's Heavy #2
Andrew Cooper	...	Whipping Boy
James Deuter	...	Tailor
Doc Duhame	...	Fatboy
David Dunard	...	Doctor
Nathan Effron	...	Johnny's Friend #1
Tom Equin	...	Razor Clean #1
Brian Heinberg	...	Bartender #2
Alex Henteloff	...	Varrick's Manager
Jeff Imada	...	Chow's Bodyguard
Michael Park Ingram	...	Chow's Thug #1 (as Michael Ingram)
Robert Kim	...	Chow's Courier
Robert Kurcz	...	Oakwood Arms Manager
Turk Muller	...	Black Suit
Chet Nichols	...	Oakwood Arms Tough #1
George O'Mara	...	Driver
Yasen Peyankov	...	Panhandler
Ed Pfeifer	...	Edward Johnson
Katrina Phillips	...	Bank Teller
Freddy Rodríguez	...	Punk Messenger
Michael Skewes	...	Fairfax Bodyguard #2
Alex Skuby	...	Oakwood Arms Tough #2
Trevor St. John	...	Johnny Bronson
Lee Stepp	...	Bar Patron
Daniel Patrick Sullivan	...	Razor Clean #2
Tedd Taskey	...	Waiter
Manu Tupou	...	Pawnbroker
Marc Vann	...	Gray
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Yûichi Hibi	...	Gang
Elizabeth Berridge	...	Hooker in Bar (uncredited)
Michael Chinn	...	Mr. Obvious (uncredited)
James Coburn	...	Justin Fairfax (uncredited)
Joe DeVito	...	Bank Patron (uncredited)
Dani Miura	...	School Girl (uncredited)
David Tweet	...	Haskell (uncredited)
Jovanna Vitiello	...	Waitress (uncredited)

Directed by
Brian Helgeland
John Myhre		(reshoots) (uncredited)

Writing credits
Donald E. Westlake		(novel "The Hunter") (as Richard Stark)
Brian Helgeland		(screenplay) and
Terry Hayes		(screenplay) theatrical cut

Produced by
Bruce Davey	....	producer
Stephen McEveety	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Chris Boardman

Cinematography by
Ericson Core		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Kevin Stitt

Casting by
Marion Dougherty

Production Design by
Richard Hoover

Art Direction by
Troy Sizemore

Set Decoration by
Sandy Struth

Costume Design by
Ha Nguyen

Makeup Department
Jennifer Bell	....	hair stylist
Mindy Hall	....	makeup artist
Julie Hewett	....	makeup artist
Medusah	....	hair stylist
Matthew W. Mungle	....	special makeup prosthetics
Carrey Gibbons	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Jim Lemley	....	unit production manager
Pamela Thur	....	production manager: New York

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mark Cotone	....	first assistant director
Jennifer D'Angelo Kircher	....	second assistant director: second unit
Vince Duque	....	dga trainee
Forrest L. Futrell	....	first assistant director: second unit
Franklyn Gottbetter	....	additional second second assistant director: Chicago
Jayson Merrill	....	second second assistant director: Chicago
Laura Nisbet	....	second assistant director
Mic Rodgers	....	second unit director

Art Department
Ayenne J. Applebaum	....	lead scenic artist (as Ayenne Applebaum)
George Atamian	....	swing gang
Luc Bamberger	....	swing gang
Adam L. Barker	....	plaster foreman
Jenny Baum	....	on-set dresser
Victor Bazaz	....	swing gang
Rick Bioni	....	assistant property master
Chris Carriveau	....	lead man
Kenneth Carriveau	....	swing gang
Harry Conrad Chitwood	....	construction coordinator (as Conrad Chitwood)
Daniel B. Clancy	....	set decorator: Chicago
Gina B. Cranham	....	set designer
William Dambra	....	assistant props: Chicago
Cece Destefano	....	art department coordinator: Chicago (as Cecele DeStefano)
Barry Franenberg	....	property master
Joanna S. Frank	....	art department assistant: Chicago (as Joanna Mickey)
Brenner Hugh Harris	....	swing gang
Ronald O. Jaynes	....	construction foreman
John P. Kenny III	....	construction coordinator: Chicago
Quentin Matthys	....	on-set dresser: Chicago
Caty Maxey	....	art director: Chicago
Mark Meloccaro	....	construction estimator
John Mikels	....	stand-by painter: Chicago
S. Quinn	....	art department coordinator
Adam Scher	....	set designer
Brent White	....	stand-by painter
Tim Wilp	....	head painter: Chicago
Jason Wolf	....	assistant property master
Anthony Joseph Fatigato	....	painter (uncredited)
Terry Kempf	....	property maker (uncredited)
Mike Monckton	....	lead signwriter (uncredited)
Steven C. Voll	....	general foreman: re-shoot (uncredited)
Jack White	....	food stylist (uncredited)

Sound Department
John K. Adams	....	sound editor
Bobbi Banks	....	dialogue editor (as Bobbie Banks)
Bill W. Benton	....	sound re-recording mixer
Beth Bergeron	....	dialogue editor
Dave Bergstrom	....	sound re-recording stage engineer
Keith Bilderbeck	....	sound editor
Trip Brock	....	dialogue editor
Weldon Brown	....	adr mixer
Chris Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael Chandler	....	sound editor
Dominique Decaudain	....	foley artist
Dean Drabin	....	narration mixer
Stephanie Flack	....	dialogue editor
Cindy Jo Hinkleman	....	assistant sound editor
Jon Johnson	....	sound supervisor
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bill Meadows	....	sound recordist
Geoffrey Patterson	....	production sound mixer (as Geoffrey Lucius Patterson)
Miguel Rivera	....	sound editor
Kyle Rochlin	....	foley mixer
Carolyn Sauer	....	adr recordist
Solange S. Schwalbe	....	dialogue editor (as Solange Schwalbe)
Edward M. Steidele	....	foley artist (as Ed Steidele)
Mark Steinbeck	....	boom operator (as Mark D. Steinbeck)
Bruce Stubblefield	....	sound supervisor
Thomas Thoms	....	utility sound technician (as Thomas P. Thoms)
Robert Troy	....	dialogue editor
Tim Webb	....	sound recordist
Ben Wilkins	....	sound editor
Jeffrey A. Williams	....	utility sound technician: Chicago (as Jeff Williams)
Chris Winter	....	assistant sound editor
Gary Coppola	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
Earl Martin	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Michael Ahasay	....	special effects technician: Chicago (as Mike Ahasay)
Blair Foord	....	special effects technician (as Blair F. Foord)
Frank Krenmuller	....	special effects technician: Chicago
Bob Stoker	....	special effects supervisor
Mario Vanillo	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Janet Quen	....	digital effects artist
Brian Begun	....	digital effects compositor: POP Film (uncredited)
Mark Spatny	....	visual effects production manager (uncredited)

Stunts
Raymond W. Beal	....	stunts
Tobiasz Daszkiewicz	....	stunts
Angela Devita	....	stunts
Kenny Endoso	....	stunts
James Fierro	....	stunts
Joe Gaspar	....	stunts
Lance Gilbert	....	stunts
Tim Gilbert	....	stunts
Matt Johnston	....	stunts
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunts
Billy D. Lucas	....	stunts (as Billy Lucas)
Daniel Maldonado	....	stunts
John Meier	....	stunts
Linda Perlin	....	stunts
Jimmy N. Roberts	....	stunts
Mic Rodgers	....	stunt coordinator
Pat Romano	....	stunts
Mark Roscoe	....	stunts
James Ryan	....	stunts
Bobby Stuart	....	stunts (as Bob Stuart)
Keith Tellez	....	stunts
Mic Rodgers	....	stunt double: Mr. Gibson (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Gary A. Beaird	....	grip (as Gary Beaird)
Lisa Bonaccorso	....	film loader
Kevin Boyd	....	video assist operator (as Kevin P. Boyd)
Craig Brown	....	grip
Malcolm Brown	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Malcolm M. Brown)
Kyle Carden	....	grip
Richard L. Carden	....	dolly grip (as Rick Carden)
Christopher M. Collar Jr.	....	set grip: Chicago
Andrew Cooper	....	still photographer
Chris Culliton	....	electrician
John L. Dardis	....	electrician (as John Dardis)
Joseph Graham	....	key rigging grip (as Joseph A. Graham)
Shawn E. Helgedalen	....	rigging best boy (as Shawn 'Sparky' Helgedalen)
Jay Johnson	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Dennis J. Leahy	....	set electrician: Chicago
Mark R. Lindberg	....	set electrician: Chicago
Michelle M. Mann	....	assistant camera
Bradley T. Matthys	....	rigging key grip: Chicago (as Bradley Matthys)
Mark E. Matthys	....	set grip: Chicago
Bruce McCleery	....	gaffer (as Robert Bruce McCleery)
Stephen McGehee	....	electrician
Jess Mexia	....	best boy rigging grip
Danial Miller	....	best boy rigging grip: Chicago
Mark O'Kane	....	Steadicam operator
Mark O'Kane	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Rusty Reilly	....	best boy grip
Kathryn Roberts	....	film loader: Chicago (as Kathryn Mueller)
Paul Santoni	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Jim Shelton	....	key grip (as James R. Shelton)
Dean M. Simmon	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera, Chicago
David W. Slodki	....	dimmer board operator (as David Slodki)
Robert Swander	....	best boy rigging electrician: Chicago (as Bob Swander)
Jordan Valenti	....	rigging gaffer
Michael D. Weldon	....	first assistant camera
Paolo Cascio	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera, second unit (uncredited)
Thomas S. Ciciura	....	camera loader: second unit (uncredited)
Kelly Clear	....	chief lighting technician (uncredited)
Scott Fieldsteel	....	best boy electric (uncredited)
Fred Folmer	....	second unit: key grip (uncredited)
Joe Gajewski	....	grip (uncredited)
Chris Hammond	....	best boy electric: New York (uncredited)
Mike Hodges	....	grip (uncredited)
Blake E. Matthys	....	grip: Chicago (uncredited)
Daryn Okada	....	additional photographer (uncredited)
Kevin C. Potter	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Mark Proscia	....	electrician: New York (uncredited)

Casting Department
Terrence Harris	....	casting associate
Douglas Wright	....	casting associate
Byron Crystal	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charlene Amateau	....	set costumer
Patrick Caulfield	....	set costumer: Chicago
Gretchen Gain	....	set costumer: Chicago
Kimberly Guenther	....	costume supervisor
Molly Mitchell	....	key costumer

Editorial Department
Dennis McNeill	....	color timer (as Denny McNeill)
Peter McNulty	....	assistant editor: avid
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter
Frank G. Urioste	....	apprentice editor
Marianne Urioste	....	first assistant editor
David Tweet	....	assistant film editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Mendel Baylitz	....	musician: sophistifunk band
Greg Bissonette	....	musician: sophistifunk band
Chris Boardman	....	orchestrator
Luis Conte	....	musician: sophistifunk band
David Culiner	....	executive in charge of music: Icon Productions
Arlene Fishbach	....	music clearances
Steve Forman	....	musician: sophistifunk band
John Goux	....	musician: guitar solos
Jim Harrison	....	supervising music editor
Brian Mann	....	assistant music producer
John Richards	....	scoring mixer
William Ross	....	orchestrator
Michael T. Ryan	....	supervising music editor
Neil Stubenhaus	....	musician: sophistifunk band
Jeanette Surga	....	additional music editor
Frank Wolf	....	scoring mixer
Patti Zimmitti	....	orchestra contractor
Thomas Vicari	....	music scoring mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Charley Bob Burnham	....	transportation coordinator
James F. Hogan	....	transportation captain: Chicago
Brenda Ryan	....	driver
Lee Stepp	....	transportation captain
Gina August	....	driver (uncredited)
Michael R. Cairo	....	driver: Chicago second unit (uncredited)
Michael Forte	....	driver: Mel Gibson (uncredited)
Jody Kreinbrink	....	transportation (uncredited)
Brita McCollough	....	driver (uncredited)
Thomas O'Donnell	....	mobile lighting operator (uncredited)
Robert Wallace	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Daniel Berkowitz	....	set production assistant
Thomas Breuler	....	caterer
Angela H. Brice	....	assistant production coordinator: Chicago
Kathy Brown	....	set production assistant: Chicago
Briana Burke	....	assistant location manager (as Briana Burke-Ullman)
Timothy A. Burris	....	first assistant accountant
Ken Cabrera	....	craft service: Chicago (as Kenny Cabrera)
Sheryl Carnes	....	assistant: Mr. Helgeland
Kristina Carpenter	....	stage assistant (as Kristina Carpenter-Jensen)
Mark Carter	....	key set production assistant
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot
Bradley Combs	....	caterer
Jonas Cukierman	....	production coordinator
Kristin Dehnert	....	assistant location manager: Chicago
Gregg Edler	....	production coordinator
Tom Elkins	....	assistant production coordinator
Brian Scott Ferdman	....	set production assistant
Chris Silver Finigan	....	production accountant
J.J. Geary	....	craft service (as John James Geary)
Mark Gulbrandsen	....	dailies projectionist: Chicago
Gillian Johnson	....	facilities manager
Deborah Higgins Kelly	....	caterer
Shauna L. Kroen	....	assistant accountant
Ross L. Kulma	....	medic: Chicago
Eddie Lee	....	set production assistant (as Eddie J. Lee)
Harry Lu	....	armorer
Mary Lamar Mahler	....	set medic
Elizabeth Maxwell	....	caterer
Stacy Minkowsky	....	assistant: Mr. McEveety
Beth Unger Morrison	....	script clearance
Ruta Palulonis	....	production assistant: Chicago
Stephanie Pond-Smith	....	unit publicist
Sioux Richards	....	script supervisor: Chicago (as Sioux Richards-McLane)
Christina Rollo	....	production assistant
Burton Sharp	....	adr group coordinator
P.R. Tooke	....	script supervisor
Ken Twohy	....	set production assistant
Andrew L. Ullman	....	location manager
Jason Wasserman	....	production assistant
Bonnie F. Watkins	....	assistant: Mr. Davey
Doug Weaver	....	assistant: Mr. Gibson
Peter J. Abrahams	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Susan Ahulii	....	craft service (uncredited)
Dawn Barkan	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Michael Barnes	....	financial legal services (uncredited)
Brian Bartolini	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Sam M. Cobb	....	production medic (uncredited)
Shirley Davis	....	production coordinator (uncredited)
Kelli-Michelle Evans	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Louis Farah	....	production medic (uncredited)
Ken Halsband	....	location manager (uncredited)
Eric Hedayat	....	location manager (uncredited)
Joseph Keideth	....	security: Mr. Gibson (uncredited)
Steve Kraus	....	dailies projection technician (uncredited)
Linda Leifer	....	script supervisor: Chicago second unit (uncredited)
Chris Miller	....	technical consultant (uncredited)
Patrick Tillmann	....	set production assistant: Chicago (uncredited)
Jared Trimble	....	location assistant: Chicago (uncredited)
David Tweet	....	voice: "Haskell" (uncredited)
Mark N. Woods	....	remote head technician (uncredited)

Thanks
Michael Segal	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Icon Entertainment International

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (1999) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (New Zealand) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (Poland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Warner Sogefilms S.A. (1999) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (1999) (Japan) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2002) (Japan) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1999) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• V8 (2002) (Netherlands) (TV)
• WB Television Network, The (2002) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (1999) (Non-USA) (all media)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Australia) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Australia) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Switzerland) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (UK) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (UK) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vidéo (1999) (France) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vidéo (1999) (France) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (1999) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (1999) (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Pacific Ocean Post Digital Film Group (digital effects) (as P.O.P. Film)

Other Companies

• Alfred Hitchcock Theatre, The  sound re-recorded at
• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting
• Birds & Animals Unlimited  animal handler
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies
• Digital Cut Post Inc.  avid equipment provided by
• Fury & Grace Digital  sound design
• Home on the Range  catering
• Icon Records  soundtrack
• International Film Guarantors  completion guarantee
• Jane Alderman Casting  additional casting
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music preparation (as Jo Ann Kane Music Services)
• Karen Peake Casting Inc.  extras casting: chicago
• Max Behm & Associates  insurance
• Near North Insurance Brokerage  insurance
• Pacific Title/Mirage  titles and opticals
• Republic Bank California N.A.  production financing
• Safeguard Investigation and Security Services  security
• Sound Satisfaction  foley recording studio
• Todd-AO Studios  sound laboratories
• Universal Studios Sound Facilities  re-recording facilities (as The Alfred Hitchcock Theatre, Universal Studios Sound)
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack
• Widget Post Production  sound post-production

Also Known As:

Porter (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, language, and drug and sexual content.

Runtime:

100 min | USA:90 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #36313) | New Zealand:R18 | Iceland:16 | Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Philippines:R-18 | Hungary:18 | Italy:VM18 (tv rating) | Australia:MA | Belgium:KNT | Finland:K-16 | France:-16 | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 (cut) | Canada:16+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Icon Entertainment International

Trivia:

Director Brian Helgeland was fired from the film two days after he'd won his Academy Award for L.A.Confidential.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: After entering Mr. Fairfax's office with his pistol drawn, Porter orders Fairfax's two bodyguards to extend their arms straight out while holding their boss's suitcases (one in each hand). The ease with which the men hold the suitcases this way over a period of time clearly indicates that they are empty.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Porter: [voiceover] GSW: that's what the hospitals call it: gunshot wound. Doctor has to report it to the police. That makes it hard for guys in my line to get what I call, quality health care.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Same Story... Different Movie: Creating 'Payback: The Director's Cut' (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Anniversary Song

Payback - Great movie in the "film noir" genre

Payback directed by Brian Helgeland is a classic "film noir" following the tradition of urban "gangster movies" and Mel Gibson is giving an outstanding performance as Porter - the bad guy who is only slightly better than the rest of the gangsters, hoodlums, crooks and scoundrels to be met in the film.

"Payback" is a great movie in this genre. Donald E. Westlake, who has written the novel on which the film is based, has picked up the thread of Raymond Chandler and Dashiel Hammett to create an authentic universe with "real" characters, and Brian Helgeland has succeeded to bring this universe to the screen.

Everything about this movie is great - the storyboard, the cast, the direction and the soundtrack. This film bears resemblance to Sergio Leone's "The Good, the Bad & the Ugly" and if you have seen "the Maltese Falcon" starring Bogart, you should definitely see "Payback".