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
Caroline de Souza Correa	...	Monica
Tim Allen	...	Chet Frank
Jack Wallace	...	Bar Patron
Jake M. Johnson	...	Guabayera Shirt Man (as Jake Johnson)
Dennis Keiffer	...	Knife Fighter in Bar
Rob Reinis	...	Officer
Dominic Hoffman	...	Detective
Michael Kenner	...	Chauffeur
Mike Genovese	...	Desk Sergeant
Bob Jennings	...	Sammy
David Paymer	...	Richard
Kimko	...	Richard's Bodyguard
Joe Mantegna	...	Jerry Weiss
Rebecca Pidgeon	...	Zena Frank
Jennifer Grey	...	Lucy Weiss
Linda Kimbrough	...	Murphy
Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini	...	George (as Ray Mancini)
Steve DeCastro	...	Knife Fighter on Set
Ed O'Neill	...	Hollywood Producer
Enson Inoue	...	Taketa Morisaki
Matt Malloy	...	Lawyer
Allison Karman	...	Paralegal
Damon Herriman	...	Official at Arena
Renato Magno	...	Romero
Rico Chiapparelli	...	Sanchez
Martin Desideriom	...	Sanchez's Handler
Frank Trigg	...	Sanchez's Cornerman
Gilbert Gomez	...	Romero's Handler
Kei Hirayama	...	Japanese Interviewer
Vincent Guastaferro	...	Eddie Bialy
Mike Goldberg	...	Himself
Jean Jacques Machado	...	Himself
Josh Rafferty	...	Himself
J.J. Johnston	...	Ring Announcer
Christina Grance	...	Ring Girl
Galen Tong	...	Referee
Tony Mamet	...	Fight Commissioner
Justin Fair	...	Non-Smoking Attendant
Christopher Kaldor	...	Official Security Guard in Blazer
Scott Farrell	...	Himself
Simon Rhee	...	Bruno's Henchman
Troy Gilbert	...	Bruno's Henchman
Dan Inosanto	...	The Professor
Gene LeBell	...	Old Stuntman
Lee Michael Cohn	...	Undercard Fighter (as Lee Cohen)
Mordecai Finley	...	Undercard Fighter
Aryan Morgan	...	Undercard Fighter (as Arvan Morgan)
Peter Smith	...	Undercard Fighter
Scott Voss	...	Undercard Fighter
Chris Lisciandro	...	Southside Jiu-Jitsu Academy Fighter
Tino Struckmann	...	Southside Jiu-Jitsu Academy Fighter
Adam Treanor	...	Southside Jiu-Jitsu Academy Fighter
Clay Woods	...	Southside Jiu-Jitsu Academy Fighter
Masato Baba	...	Taiko Drummer
Darren Endo	...	Taiko Drummer
Kene Kubo	...	Taiko Drummer
Jason Osajima	...	Taiko Drummer
Bryon Yamada	...	Taiko Drummer
Bryan Yamami	...	Taiko Drummer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jennifer Flynn	...	Event Girl (as Jennifer McTamney)
Sam Puefua	...	The Wall
Jeffrey Addiss	...	Celebrity (uncredited)
Joseph Alfieri	...	Security (uncredited)
Douglas Barcellos	...	Fighter (voice) (uncredited)
Craig Collington Bator	...	Assistant (uncredited)
Ryan Everett Canfield	...	Marty's Underling (uncredited)
Danielle Cooper	...	Brazilian Girl in Bar (uncredited)
Hugh Fitzgerald	...	(uncredited)
David Kiiskinen	...	Special Ability Actor (uncredited)
Jess King	...	Bar Patron #4 (uncredited)
Emily Peck	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
James Ralph	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Gene Richards	...	Fight Promoter (uncredited)
John Robert	...	Newsman at Ringside (uncredited)
Jonathan Rossetti	...	Celebrity (uncredited)
Lee Ryder	...	'Rude' Photographer (uncredited)
Eric Shackelford	...	Celebrity Fight Fan (uncredited)
Daniel Cage Theodore	...	Toro's Handler (uncredited)
Erin Anne Williams	...	Videotech (uncredited)

Directed by
David Mamet

Writing credits (WGA)
David Mamet		(written by)

Produced by
Chrisann Verges	....	producer

Original Music by
Stephen Endelman

Cinematography by
Robert Elswit		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Barbara Tulliver

Casting by
Sharon Bialy
Sherry Thomas

Production Design by
David Wasco

Art Direction by
Ray Yamagata

Set Decoration by
Sandy Reynolds-Wasco

Costume Design by
Debra McGuire

Makeup Department
Sheila Cyphers-Leake	....	co-hair department head (as Sheila Cyphers Leake)
Suzanne Diaz	....	makeup department head (as Suzanne Diaz-Westmore)
Lori Guidroz	....	co-hair department head
Tina Hoffman	....	additional makeup artist
Nancy Morrison	....	key hair stylist
Scott Wheeler	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Luca Borghese	....	post-production supervisor
Mads Hansen	....	unit production manager
Ben Rekhi	....	behind the scenes

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cara Giallanza	....	first assistant director
Stephen E. Hagen	....	second assistant director (as Steve Hagen)
Yuko Ogata	....	day player additional second second assistant director
John Tagamolila	....	second second assistant director
Ken Twohy	....	crowds assistant director

Art Department
Peter Bankins	....	property master
Kai Blomberg	....	set dresser
Timothy M. Earls	....	set designer
Erin Fite	....	set decorating buyer
Anne Hyvarinen	....	lead scenic artist
David Ladish	....	set dresser
Steven Ladish	....	set dresser
Edward J. Protiva	....	leadman
Stuart Rankine	....	assistant property master
Jacob Reinwand	....	art production assistant
Karen Teneyck	....	graphic designer

Sound Department
Steve Bissinger	....	foley editor
Gary C. Bourgeois	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Gary Bourgeois)
Anita Cannella	....	foley artist
Howard Carle	....	adr mixer
Steven Gerrior	....	assistant sound editor
Amy Kane	....	foley artist
Michael Kirchberger	....	supervising sound editor
Nick Kray	....	adr recordist
Paul Lewis	....	production mixer
Jon Logan	....	post sound intern
Mike Marino	....	foley mixer
James Simcik	....	adr supervisor
Roy Waldspurger	....	sound re-recording mixer
Roy Waldspurger	....	supervising sound editor

Special Effects by
Bart Dion	....	special effects technician
Dennis Dion	....	special effects coordinator
Mike Dion	....	second special effects
Louie Lantieri	....	special effects technician
Paul Staples	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
David Altenau	....	visual effects supervisor (as David T. Altenau)
David Beedon	....	compositor
Patrick Clancey	....	digital opticals
Dick Edwards	....	digital compositor
Yale Kozinski	....	compositor
Bob Lloyd	....	compositor
Tom Mahoney	....	digital supervisor (as Thomas Mahoney)
Dane Picard	....	compositor
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)

Stunts
Ahmed Best	....	stunts
Eddie Braun	....	stunts
Rico Chiapparelli	....	fight choreographer
Debbie Evans	....	stunt driver
Jack Gill	....	stunt coordinator
Dan Inosanto	....	fight choregrapher: knife fight
Bevin Kaye	....	stunts
Dennis Keiffer	....	stunts (as Dennis Keefer)
Jess King	....	utility stunts
Tony Lazzara	....	stunt performer
John Machado	....	fight choreographer
Renato Magno	....	fight sequence coordinator
Simon Rhee	....	stunts
Aaron Toney	....	stunt double: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Jose L. Vasquez	....	stunt double
Todd Warren	....	stunt double: Tim Allen
Boni Yanagisawa	....	stunts
Alan Zborovsky	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Luke Allein	....	assistant camera
Mike Bachman	....	video assist
Michelle Baker	....	film loader
Joe Chouchanian	....	grip
James B. Crawford	....	gaffer (as Jim Crawford)
Peter Geraghty	....	second assistant camera: "c" camera
Jason Goebel	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Barry Idoine	....	first assistant camera (as Barry 'Baz' Idoine)
Michael Kenner	....	key grip
Jeff Kunkel	....	dolly grip
Greg Langham	....	best boy electric
Jim McComas	....	electrician
John Morris	....	best boy grip
Chris Moseley	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Scott Rathner	....	first assistant camera: "c" camera
Peter Rosenfeld	....	Steadicam operator
Lorey Sebastian	....	still photographer
Jim Sheldon	....	still photographer
Larissa Supplitt	....	second assistant camera
Michael Ursetta	....	rigging electrician
Harry Zimmerman	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera

Casting Department
Kathy Kaplan	....	casting assistant
Judith Sunga	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bethany Bernhard	....	set costumer
Jessica Carpenter	....	set costumer
Joseph Cigliano	....	set costumer
Robin McMullan	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Kenny Becker	....	color timer
Steve Bowen	....	supervising digital colorist
Stephen Byrne	....	assistant digital intermediate producer
Yale Kozinski	....	first assistant editor
Christian Prejza	....	digital intermediate producer

Music Department
Tom Brissette	....	music mixer
Brian Bulman	....	music editor
Stephen Endelman	....	orchestrator
Michael Farrow	....	music mixer (as Mike Farrow)
Vanessa Parr	....	pro tools operator
Chris Tedesco	....	musician contractor
Tyler Westen	....	assistant to composer

Transportation Department
Tim Abbatoye	....	transportation coordinator
Rich Bennetti	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Anna Boudinot	....	production assistant
Dante	....	warm-up comic
Erin Davis	....	assistant production coordinator
Srdjan Dobic	....	set production assistant
Christopher Field	....	production assistant
Neale Fishback	....	assistant location manager
Matthew Goben	....	assistant to cast
Andy Goldman	....	title designer
Charles Heaphy	....	production financing
Micky Hohl	....	layout production assistant
Kenneth Hunter	....	location scout
Jeff Hunt	....	production secretary
Shea Kammer	....	first assistant accountant
S. Dylan Kirkland	....	assistant location manager
Meaghan Librizzi	....	assistant: Mr. Mamet
Jean Jacques Machado	....	assistant fight choreographer
Renato Magno	....	consultant: jiujitsu
Jackson Rowe	....	set production assistant
Jason Ruffolo	....	key set production assistant
John Russel	....	production assistant
Joe Rynearson	....	production assistant: additional photography
Pam Susemiehl	....	assistant: Mr. Mamet
Trevor Tavares	....	set production assistant
Katie Taylor	....	assistant: Ms. Verges
Marion Tumen	....	script supervisor
Matthew Wersinger	....	location manager
Kelley Whitis	....	assistant: Mr. Ejiofor

Production Companies

• Sony Pictures Classics

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Classics (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• LK-TEL (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2009) (Japan) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (UK) (DVD) (rental)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (UK) (DVD) (retail)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Outfit, The (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• Falco Ink.  publicity
• Inflatable Crowd Company, The  thanks
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Reel Security  security
• Renegade Effects Group  thanks
• Santa Clarita Studios  thanks
• Sony Pictures Studios  post-production facilities
• Sound  sound editing facilities (as Sound, San Francisco)
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility (as Soundtrack Boston)
• Stunts Unlimited  thanks
• The Bloch Company  script clearance
• Village Recording Studios, The  music recording facility

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:

Ed O'Neill's practice of Brazilian Ju-Jitsu partially inspired Mamet to write the movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ricardo comes out from behind the curtain the red band on his belt is on the right side. Then when the camera changes it's on the left side.

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)

I'd love to dump on this movie for the pain it put me through

I've never rented a DVD that I had to take several attempts to see before. This hero's struggle was so painful to me personally that I had to take several runs at it. I'm a little surprised I made it through. Chiwetel Ejiofor as the main character, Mike Terry, is so perfect for the role it begs the question, Was this guy really just acting? The whole point of this movie, an homage to the purity of a certain sort of warrior spirit, is so unexpectedly plausible that I was taken aback. I thought David Mamet who had been involved in "Spartan", "Heist", "Ronin", and "Wag the Dog" to name a few other movies, was more predictably conventional and commercial.

This movie probably won't make a lot of money but it's a truly beautiful exploration of the potential for nobility in modern life. I kinda doubt whether they plan a sequel as the point has been made and it would take a truly extraordinary script to follow this little tour de force, but if there is one, I wouldn't miss it for the world.