Released in 1999, "Payback" is about a professional robber Porter (Mel Gibson) who is betrayed by his partner Val Resnick (Gregg Henry) and wife Lynn (Deborah Kara Unger) after they steal 140,000 dollars from a Chinese Triad Gang. After he recovers, Porter goes on a mission to recover 70,000 (his share) dollars.
What's great about this crime thriller is that it has a deeply Noir feeling to it. The whole film looks like it takes place sometime in the seventies or early eighties with the way the cars look and the lack of technology (rotary phones, etc.) as well as the Porter narration. The whole film has a dark blue color tone to it, kind of like gunmetal; which gives it a very distinct look. Seedy bars, prostitutes, gang members, corrupt cops; a cornucopia of scum exists in this film. The first five minute montage of Porter stealing to get himself back to some sort of respectable status is full of humor. The score of the film also helps to add to the Noir feeling of the film.
There exists a director's cut of the film. It's called the "Straight-Up Edition" but I find this is one of the few films that the theatrical version is superior than the director's cut. The director's cut omits a lot of things that I find makes the movie strong: The bluish tint of the film is gone, there's no Porter narration; the Bronson character is completely changed from being a menacing presence to a literally 'phoned in' performance (the Bronson character is female and not shown in the film, just a voice on the phone); and the ending is more bleak and ambiguous than the theatrical. A lot of people think the director's cut is better, but I found it a weaker film. I also think they changed the music in the director's cut and it didn't have that jazzy feel.
This movie is good go watch it.