There's always a way out. You just have to find it.
Is there room for principle in Los Angeles? Mike Terry teaches jujitsu and barely makes ends meet. His Brazilian wife, whose family promotes fights, wants to see Mike in the ring making money, but to him competition is degrading. A woman sideswipes Mike's car and then, after an odd sequence of events, shoots out the studio's window. Later that evening, Mike rescues an action movie star in a fistfight at a bar. In return, the actor befriends Mike, gives him a gift, offers him work on his newest film, and introduces Mike's wife to his own - the women initiate business dealings. Then, things go sour all at once, Mike's debts mount, and going into the ring may be his only option.
Genre(s): Action, Drama, Sport
Runtime: 99 minutes
Rating: 7.0/10 (9,768 votes)
Release Date: 7 April 2008
Country: USA
Languages: English, Portuguese, Japanese
Company: Sony Pictures Classics
Sound: SDDS, Dolby Digital
MPAA: Rated R for strong language.
Director(s): David Mamet
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Producer(s):
Chrisann Verges - producer
Writer(s):
David Mamet - (written by)
Cast:
Max Martini - Joe Collins
Matt Cable - Academy Fighter
Chiwetel Ejiofor - Mike Terry
Alice Braga - Sondra Terry
Jose Pablo Cantillo - Snowflake
Emily Mortimer - Laura Black
Cathy Cahlin Ryan - Gini Collins
Luciana Souza - Singer in Bar
Cyril Takayama - The Magician (as Cyril Takata)
Scott Barry - Billy the Bartender
Music: Stephen Endelman
Chrisann Verges - producer
Writer(s):
David Mamet - (written by)
Cast:
Max Martini - Joe Collins
Matt Cable - Academy Fighter
Chiwetel Ejiofor - Mike Terry
Alice Braga - Sondra Terry
Jose Pablo Cantillo - Snowflake
Emily Mortimer - Laura Black
Cathy Cahlin Ryan - Gini Collins
Luciana Souza - Singer in Bar
Cyril Takayama - The Magician (as Cyril Takata)
Scott Barry - Billy the Bartender
Music: Stephen Endelman
Posted on: May 11, 2008
December 23rd, 2008
Director and playwright David Mamet has earned his critical cred bycreating works such as the blistering actor's showcase "Glengarry GlenRoss" and densely plotted films like the comedy "State and Main." He isa master of plotting. Moving his characters like chess pieces, toyingwith the viewer, creating worlds of treachery and conspiracy. Hismovies are games that tease and toy with the audience. He is also amaster of dialogue more interested in capturing the disjointed nonsequitur filled way people actually speak than with conveyingexposition.
For his latest effort he lends his talents to the kind of film usuallypopulated by the likes of late night cable staple Don "The Dragon"Wilson. "Redbelt" tells the story of jiu-jitsu teacher Mike Terry(Chiwetel Ejiofor) and his efforts to remain true to his principles.Terry is very good at what he does and has gained notoriety among LosAngeles fight promoters, but refuses to enter into the glitzy world oftelevised mixed martial arts bouts. He desires to pass along hisknowledge to those in need of it, but avoid fighting for show.
But Terry is in a Mamet film where everyone conspires against you anddraws you toward inevitable confrontation. From the very first moments,the film creates unease in the viewer and moves with urgency. Fightersgrapple, a gun appears, and a sudden violent act occurs that sets thewhole film in motion. The principled hero will be forced into animpossible situation and his belief that every trap can be escaped willbe tested.
The film is perhaps too enslaved to genre conventions and it revealsthis in the final third as it enters the more melodramatic world of theimpossible fight against the evil villains. Still this is certainly oneof the best fight films I have ever seen and Mamet's plotting, asalways, amazes. The film does not desire more than to tell anentertaining story well and at that it succeeds.
January 6th, 2009
To watch this movie is to realize that it took real guts to make it inthe first place. This movie is about honor, integrity and beingtruthful to one's self and one's belief's. The reason I say it takesguts is because the "Bad Guy" in this movie is Hollywood. Not TimAllen's character directly but the entertainment machine. It grabseverything with any virtue and turns it into a greedy whore of anindustry. Chet comes across as a good man who really listens to Mike'sphilosophies. It's his manager (Mantegna) who does the stolen watchdrive by that screws everything up. We're further introduced to the wayrelationships work in Hollywood… they don't. Not unless you'rewilling to be used or sell out your beliefs. Jiu Jitsu just happens tobe the best vehicle to explain these points contrasting a style ofmartial art, largely thought of as the most violent, being taught by amain character that comes off as the most gentle of souls. Mike Terryis the honorable character, who I'll admit seem to be too naive &trusting for his age while living in L.A., surrounded by backstabbingplastic people including his wife who turns on him, that series ofcircumstances leads to a suicide. The fight at the end starts with thestudent teaching the teacher (the slap) Even Terry has to get his mindright and realize that the battle is about what he loves and who he isi.e. Jiu Jitsu. And that he has to keep it from being ruined the sameway everyone around him has. Seemingly minor characters stay close tohim at the end and we realize they have the most important thing incommon. That which is real and everlasting. The truth, real respect,honor and just being real. Did ANY of you notice how the samurai beltwas accepted with honor but given away? The thing worth money wasrespectfully tossed aside. It was the Red Belt that was honored as itis a symbol of the man. Of balance and all the important thingHollywood has lost.
This movie was a slight against the industry it was made in and a greatmany of the people working in it. Deservedly so. If you guys don't seethat for the genius it is…. Then maybe you should be sweating thedetails of the shot or the dialogue. You're missing the bigger picture.It's not just a film. This was a good lesson.
January 26th, 2009
It's clear to me now that Mamet has two styles. Gritty scripts withcharacter dialogue that interplays like master jazz musicians riffin'back and forth and, the other style, which uses a series small butunusual incidents to lead somewhere. I like the first style, theGlengarry style.
This film starts out strongly then uses a Spanish PRISONER styletroupe. YIKES. The main characters trust people they met 7 hoursearlier, to the point of risking everything. I just couldn't suspend mydisbelief anymore, you know instantly these new friendships would endbadly.
The ending: I also hated how we found out what happened via anexplanation of events by the main characters' brother-in-law. Why wouldsuch a great writer just have a character rattle off the events &reasons like that. VERY LAME. Did he have to shorten the film orsomething? Also, there's a cop suicide over being temporarily suspendedover a pawned watch? The watch could've linked to something more sordidbut didn't. It's just a stolen watch. And there was opportunity to domore with the Tim Allen character.
The best thing about this film for me was introducing me to Ejiofor(sp?). This actor has a natural ease on screen. I'll have to check outmore of his stuff.
I would only recommend this to curious Mamet fans.
February 16th, 2009
Just when one would expect 'Redbelt' to following a predictable path weare thrown off with a twist. Mamet tells a very layered story and mostof the twists make sense. There are a few plot holes and perhaps thefilm could have used some energy boost. The pacing is arguably a tadslow in the beginning but as the events progress the viewer gets moreand more drawn in. Mamet also brilliantly involves jiu-jitsu in themain story (unlike other martial arts film where the art is used merelyas a device). The film is about honour (as the principles of Jiu Jitsugoes) and sacrifice but 'Redbelt' refuses to tread the clichéd pathwhere the protagonist forcefully preaches the message to the viewer.The fights are well choreographed. The cinematography could have beenbetter during the fight sequences. Mamet's cast is terrific. ChiwetelEjiofor is exceptional as the noble and dignified Mike Terry. Terryain't the clichéd hero. He is deeply passionate about jiu-jitsu but whowon't resort to anger or bloodshed to achieve his means. He is willingto help anyone and he will do it through correct measures rather thanthe quick but 'wrong' way. Max Martini and Alice Braga are good. EmilyMortimer is fabulous. Tim Allen stands out in a small role. 'Redbelt'tells the story of a real(istic) hero who is not willing to give up hisintegrity or sacrifice his honour at any cost, who truly respects hispassion and understands it.
February 21st, 2009
This story twists and turns so much that in some areas does not makesense.
What should have been a good story just sort of fell apart for smallreasons.
Bad luck, good luck, no luck, revenge, fight, honor…whatever.
Maybe it's just me, but I was looking for some martial arts fighting ina martial arts movie, not just some wrestling.
I've seen better moves in The Karate Kid series.
Ed Oneil's character didn't even have to be there – as with plenty ofthe cast…they were pretty much useless or underdeveloped characters.
This story needed 20 more minutes to properly end it and structure it -but like so many I watched this week, fell short.
A useless suicide, legal cases that don't have any merit, scenes thatdon't go anywhere…that right…it's a David Mamet film – you shouldexpect that.