Redbelt (2008) DVD Review

Redbelt, the new film from playwright (Glengarry Glen Ross, American Buffalo) and occasional director David Mamet (House of Games- one the 80’s best movies, The Spanish Prisoner), is filled with scenes displaying either Honor (with a capital ‘H’) or Jiu-Jitsu…and sometimes even both. But that isn’t to say this is an action film in any sense as it’s mostly talky. Just thought I’d let you know right now in case the trailer or even the nifty box cover led you astray…

If you’ve seen a Mamet film before you’d know it, but if you haven’t…here’s what you’ve been missing (this is my best attempt at Mamet-ian dialogue- my apologies in advance)

Speaker 1: So did you see that movie last night?
Speaker 2: What? What movie? Wh-Wh-What fuckin’ movie? I’ve been in the house all fuckin’ cooped up not doing anything but I didn’t see any fuckin’ movie?
Speaker 1: You know, that movie. What fuckin’ movie you ask? THAT fuckin’ movie. I c-c-c-can’t believe you didn’t see it last night, since it was on, um, last night. It was the fuckin’ greatest movie
Speaker 2: Are you askin’ me if I saw that movie last night? There are certain things that a man doesn’t ask another man. And askin’ another man if he saw that movie last night is kinda like askin’ that man if he wants to suck his dick. Cuz’ I know you’re askin’ me if I saw that movie last night, but that’s not what you’re really askin’ me. So why the fuck don’t you ask me what you really want to ask me?
Speaker 1: So….did you see that movie last night?

That said, is Redbelt worth a rental and your valuable time? Of course, since it’s a pretty good movie notwithstanding. If you’ve seen Mamet’s films before, you’ll get the usual kick out of his stammering, repetitive dialogue and semi-predictable twists and turns. But if you’ve never seen his movies before you might think Redbelt is too square with not enough action. I can see the argument for that, but go ahead and rent it anyway, because it’s probably the best movie coming out this week on DVD. As the competition out there is What Happens in Vegas and Uwe Boll’s Postal, that’s not too high a hurdle to jump…

Mike (Chiwetel Ejiofor) teaches Jiu-Jitsu in a shabby “Academy” that’s barely paying its bills, and that it’s not even doing too well. But, he can still kick your ass and mine with (literally) one hand tied behind his back. His wife Sondra (Alice Braga) is using money from her own (more successful) clothes business to keep the Academy afloat. And so begins one crazy night in which:

-a gun gets fired in his building almost killing someone (the details to this scene are so well handled that I was caught off breath by surprise. Even as I write this and set you up for it, you still won’t see it coming…unless you’ve seen the movie before, and then you might see it coming)

-he makes acquaintance with a twitchy lawyer played by the wonderful Emily Mortimer

-he saves the life of movie star Chet Frank (Tim Allen) by doing a little home improvement with the faces of some bar thugs

The movie star is uber-grateful and invites Mike and his wife over for dinner. And so begins a chain of events that involves hot watches, suicide, guys beating the crap out of each other, double-crosses, shirtless guys rubbing each other down, black and white marbles, and the true meaning of Honor, though not necessarily in that order…

I’m being deliberately vague about the details of the plot up to this point as the surprises are what make this film more riveting than I was expecting it to be, being familiar with most of Mamet’s work. Will you guess some of the plot developments? No doubt you will, unless you’re a complete moron and I know you’re not because I’ve read your mail. It’s the ones you won’t be able to guess that makes Redbelt worth watching…

What works with Redbelt-

1) The gunshot- think John Travolta killing Marvin in Pulp Fiction…

2) Chiwetel Ejiofor- he’s spent most of his career taking supporting roles (Inside Man, American Gangster, Serenity) but he more than comes into his own as a lead in Redbelt. Mike’s a guy guided by what could seem to be archaic principles, but Ejiofor manages to make that look cool and not at all dorky. And he’s more than convincing as a master of Jiu-Jitsu as there are no obvious cutaways or medium shots during his fight scenes

3) Emily Mortimer proves again why she’s one of the best character actresses around

4) A bar fight that looks as spontaneous as it’s supposed to

5) I’ve never like Tim Allen as a movie actor much less a star (those Toy Story movies don’t count). He’s always had a made-for-TV acting persona. I can't stand those Santa Clause movies and I can’t think of any movie that I’ve liked that he’s in. Having said that, he’s well cast against type as, whaddya know, a movie star. And he looks and acts the part (“Booze, Women. What in this life doesn’t get you into trouble”).

6) Mamet regulars Ricky Jay, Joe Mantetgna and ex-wife Rebecca Pidgeon make their customary appearances. I kept on waiting for William H. Macy to show up, but apparently they cut his scene out

7) An excellent climactic fight, although not one you’d expect

8) Alice Braga is more Lady MacBeth than dutiful wife. This bitch is badass, and she doesn’t even lift a finger

What doesn’t work-

1) A key Plot development occurs because a character just HAPPENS to walk by an open door. That’s rather convenient

2) You wish Tim Allen were in it more. I can’t believe I just wrote that

3) After taking so long to set up, a subplot involving Mike and a rewriting movie script is simply discarded

4) The circumstances involving a suicide are hardly believable. Watch it, and you’ll be… “Yeah, Riiiiiiiight”…

5) Emily Mortimer’s job is rather expedient in how it ties into the movie

Overall. Redbelt. Wear it. Rent it. Watch it. Eat Right. Exercise. You find out why the best weapon in the world is a flashlight. And if someone asks you if you saw that movie the other night, you can say “Yeah, I fuckin’ saw that movie the other night. What the fuck’s it to ya?” And then the person could ask “Was it pretty fuckin’ good?” And you could say with all honesty “Yes, I had quite a pleasant time viewing the feature film and much thanks to you for inquiring.”