Get the Gringo review

Goddamn has Mel Gibson taken some flack over the last few years.

We'll get to that later...

Get the Gringo is his latest flick - a straight to DVD/Blu-Ray release, no less. I've been waiting a while for this flick having seen the trailer on Joblo.com somewhere around 9-12 months ago. Back then it was awaiting distribution. We all sort of figured it wouldn't get a theatrical release what with all the controversy surrounding the movie's leading man, producer and co-writer. Not to mention that the Beaver underperformed despite rave reviews from the critics.

Eh, regardless, the flick is out and it's damn more than watchable. It's a helluva lot of fun.

The movie starts out quick with Gibson playing a career heist-man (who's so involved with his job we never even learn his name) who literally crashes through the border into Mexico to avoid U.S. authorities only to be captured by Federales, have his money stolen from him and then taken to one of the worst shit-hole prison's ever conceived of. Once inside, Gibson has to move quickly and think even quicker to outmanuever his enemies and regain his freedom all the while trying to get back his heist money before it's gone forever. The plot get's even thicker when he meet's an innocent kid living in the prison who desperately needs his help. To tell anymore would be to give away spoilers.

Have you seen Payback?

If not, go watch that movie right now.

If you have, well you can keep reading.

In many ways, Get the Gringo is almost a pseudo-sequel to Payback. It's got a similar tone with Mel Gibson playing a similar character. The plot is just completely different with new set-ups and maybe even more of a heart. It's a great action-comedy leaning more on the action than anything else. Seriously, it's a damn shame this didn't get a theatrical release because I would've loved to see this in cinemas. Oh well, fuck Hollywood.

Which brings me to my final point.

Say what you want about the man, but career-wise, Mel Gibson is a goddamn talent. Beyond being a phenomenal actor he's a brilliant producer, writer, and director to boot. Only in such a corrupt, cynical, and hypocritical industry like Hollywood could such a man be ostracized. Think about it, this is a world that considers itself a business first and foremost. Yet they have clearly cut this man off. A man that's made some of them rich and could CONTINUE to make them rich. It's just yet another notch in the belt showing how the suit's behind the studio's are NOT good businessmen.

Personally, I love the guy. I don't give a rat's ass what he's been tricked, conned, and caught saying, he's still an amazing actor to watch and has produced some of my favorite movies. And no, I don't think he's a racist. I think he's a guy who's got some problems and has been caught on tape saying some horrible things while under the influence that he clearly didn't mean. We've all said and done things we regret when sober, but I'm willing to bet that many of you have done and said even worse when you were high/drunk. Did you mean it? Do you regret it? How would you feel if someone caught it on tape and made it public? Sorry, the guy who worked with Danny Glover for four Lethal Weapon movies is NOT racist. I'm of the opinion that Glover wouldn't work with Mel if he even THOUGHT he smelled racist.

But hey, that's just my opinion.

8 / 10