Redbelt (2008)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

David Mamet

Writer (WGA):

David Mamet (written by)

Release Date:

9 May 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

There's always a way out. You just have to find it.

Plot:

A fateful event leads to a job in the film business for top mixed-martial arts instructor Mike Terry. Though he refuses to participate in prize bouts, circumstances conspire to force him to consider entering such a competition.

Plot Keywords:

Fight | Debt | Bar | Jujitsu | Instructor

Awards:

1 nomination

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
Ricky Jay	...	Marty Brown
Randy Couture	...	Dylan Flynn
John Machado	...	Ricardo Silva
Rodrigo Santoro	...	Bruno Silva
Ricardo Wilke	...	Eduardo

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Portuguese | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:15 | USA:R (certificate #43844) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | UK:15 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Singapore:NC-16 | Netherlands:16 | Ireland:15A | Argentina:13 | South Africa:16LV | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Long Beach, California, USA

Company:

Sony Pictures Classics

Trivia:

David Mamet had been studying jiu-jitsu for about 6 years prior to making the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Mike is on Chet's set during the knife demonstration, the knife fighters shirt first appears to be clean. When the camera shot changes it becomes sweaty in the front and back, and when the camera changes again it appears to be clean.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mike Terry: Tie him up.
[to class]
Mike Terry: The hands are not the issue. The fight is the issue. The battle is the issue. Who imposes the terms of the battle will impose the terms of the peace. Think he has a handicap? No. The other guy has a handicap if he cannot control himself. You control yourself, you control him.
[to student]
Mike Terry: Take him to court.

Movie Connections:

References Titanic (1997)

Another searing masterpiece from Mamet!!

I just saw this movie yesterday at the Tribeca Film Festival, NYC. I have never posted a review at IMDb before, in spite of being a loyal visitor to this website for 10 years now. However, after watching Redbelt, I have been forced to say something.

In short the film is about a martial arts instructor who is too idealistic for the real world around him. Thats why he stays safely behind the confines of his teaching academy. One night though, a series of events changes everything and he is forced to come out into the open and confront the consequences of the ripple effect.

This confrontation, in the hands of David Mamet becomes white hot and you can feel the tension of the film in your pulse. The audience applauded many scenes and in the end I think the standing ovation must have lasted five minutes or more. Many people also felt that this film should have been considered for the Cadillac Award, and were disappointed that Redbelt was ineligible for the top competition honor.

As always taut screenplay and cracking dialogues were the hallmark of the film, like any other Mamet movie or play. During the course of the film I couldn't help but wonder at the raw intensity that Mamet manages to bring to his films. I have not been able to pin point so far, but I do see parallels between the protagonists of his earlier film Spartan (played by Val Kilmer) and Redbelt (played to greatness by the ever brilliant Chiwetel Ejiofor).

Overall an amazing film and Mamet fans won't be disappointed.