REDBELT
US, 2008, 99 minutes, Colour.
Chiwitel Ejiofor, Emily Mortimer, Alice Braga, Tim Allen, Joe Mantegna, Rodrigo Santoro, Ricky Jay, Max Martini, David Paymer, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Rebecca Pidgeon, Randy Couture, Matt Molloy, Jennifer Gray.
Directed by David Mamet.
Very mixed reactions to David Mamet's Redbelt. Audiences attracted by the belts and the martial arts may find that the film is far too philosophical and underuses martial arts sequences to satisfy them. Audiences attracted by the plays and screenplays of David Mamet may be more satisfied since the fight sequences that are in the film are at the service of the broader and more thoughtful themes. And some may not be interested in either facet of the film – or dislike Mamet's work. Mamet himself spent five years in Jiu Jitsu training, especially that of the Japanese tradition to the US via Brazil.
This is a review strongly in favour of the film.
Although the opening keeps us in the Jiu Jitsu studio for quite some time, it introduces us to a character who is exemplary in terms of being a good and principled man. It is often very difficult to dramatise integrity and decency. If they are portrayed in a context of greed, phoniness and corruption, they do stand out. That is what happens here.
Chiwitel Ejiofor is at his best as Mike Terry, former military, who now runs the studio. The initial encounter is a lesson with his friend, Joe, a policeman and a sometime bouncer at his Brazilian brother-in-law's club. They are disturbed on this rainy night by a lawyer (Emily Mortimer) crashing into Mike's car as she is desperately looking for a pharmacy for her medication. In her anxiety, she grabs a gun, fires and smashes a window. The group feels sorry for her and decide not to report this to the police. A lot of sad consequences follow from this decision.
When Mike goes to ask for a loan from his brother-in-law (Rodrigo Santoro) at the urging of his wife (Alice Braga) who runs a fabric and design company, he saves a film star (Tim Allen) in the bar during a brawl. Invited to dinner at the star's house, he is feted by the star and his wife is feted by the star's wife (Rebecca Pidgeon, Mamet's own wife) and friends. Problems over? No, only beginning.
Some years ago, Mamet made a film with a complex plot, plots within plots, deceptions and lies, The Spanish Prisoner. Redbelt goes in this direction as Mike's wife is the victim of fraud and borrows money from a loan-shark friend (David Paymer). Mike is swindled out of his ideas by an agent (Joe Mantegna) and a fight promoter (Ricky Jay). Mike's principles are tested, especially since he does not believe in competitive sports and winning. His martial arts are for defence, protection by grappling rather than hitting, deflecting an attack. Even the lawyer's attempts to help backfire because of the initial gun incident.
Mamet works out a satisfying ending, including a fight, that is not an easy way out and protects Mike's integrity.
As can be seen by the cast, Mamet is working with many actors that he has included in his plays and films.
Redbelt may not be to everyone's taste but it is well worthwhile.
1.The impact of the film as drama, multi-martial arts? Principles and integrity? California, corruption and fixing?
2.The context of ju-jitsu, training, Mix Martial Arts? The Japanese tradition, Brazilian tradition? American?
3.How satisfying the action sequences for fans? The training, the explanations, the moves, grappling, deflecting attack, strengths and weaknesses and exploiting them, the argument against competition, the preference for prevailing and deflecting? The initial fight as a demonstration and class, Mike and his struggles, defending Chet in the bar, the film sequences, the competitions, the final confrontation? The martial arts a context rather than a goal?
4.California, the studios, streets, homes, mansions, the film sets, the fights, the ring? Race and ethnic issues? The Brazilians in Los Angeles? The Japanese traditions and fighting?
5.Mike Terry as a character: strong, a man of integrity and principles, working with Joe in the training session, demonstrating the moves in the fight, his skill in lessons? The Laura situation, the gun, the broken window? The deal that they would not report her? Sonia, his relationship with her, her concern about money, paying bills, her own fabric business? Orders from Brazil? Going to Bruno, the bar, the discussions, not raising the issue of the loan? Meeting Chet, the fight in the bar, his using his skills to defend Chet? The CCTV and the record of it? Chet and the invitation, Mike and Sonia going to the meal, the discussions with Chet, the film industry, the wives and the discussions about fabrics and dresses? His being invited to the set, the gift of the watch? His giving the watch to Joe as a payment for Bruno’s non-payment? The consequences, Joe pawning it, his being suspended from the police force, his killing himself, not wanting to shame the studio? His wife’s bitterness? Mike and his friendship with George, the stunts at the set, his faxing the information, looking at the script? Meeting with Jerry in the restaurant? The wives not answering Sonia’s calls? Jerry leaving, stealing his ideas?
6.The Brazilians, the club, the bar, the customers, Bruno and his involvement in the fights, Augustine as the fighter, the plans, the promoter, trapping Mike through legal means, stealing his ideas, forcing him into the bouts? The fixing of the games?
7.The opening with the three balls, the explanation, the handicap in the match, the magician and his ability to change the colour, the ritual at the fights, the masked Japanese master, Mike discovering the truth?
8.Chet, his background, life and style, fighting in the bar, his friendship with Mike, the meal, on the set, discussions about the film? The wives and their plans, Sonia and her investing thirty thousand dollars, borrowing it from Richie?
9.Jerry and his smooth talk, his stealing the ideas, having no sympathy for Joe and the suicide?
10.The Laura situation: her driving in the rain, unable to get her medication, her anger, the car, crashing, the shooting, her fears, breaking the window, giving the cheque, the discussions with Mike, his explanations, the enrolment form, her return, the various moves, her recounting the rape and his getting her to vent her angers? Her work as a lawyer, the confrontation about the conspiracy, the stealing of intellectual property? The tables turned because of the incident in the studio? Sonia giving the information?
11.Mike, his being trapped, his attitude towards competitions, his having to go and fight, the training, the bouts?
12.The fights, the rituals, the audience, the radio and television commentators? His finding out the truth, opting out? The variety of reactions, the promoter? Bruno? Augustine? Flynn and his watching? Sonia, Chet and his wife? Their bringing the master from Brazil and his watching?
13.The fight with Augustine, the television cameras, everybody watching?
14.The culmination: Mike and his preserving his principles, the Japanese champion presenting his belt, his giving it to Laura, his going to the microphone? The master presenting him with the red belt?
15.Themes of greed versus decency and integrity?
