Having studied martial arts, I understand its all-consuming allure. That first time you execute a technique with perfect precision; the first time you block an attack or take-down an opponent. There's an inherent, visceral thrill to the whole thing. There's also an inherent irony to it. Any martial art form worth its salt teaches that a true master avoids confrontation. But damn if those spinning back-kicks aren't fun to do! Martial arts movies have long dealt with the peaceful hero archetype - the protagonist who avoids the battle at all costs until he can no longer stay out of it. With "Redbelt" - an ill-conceived morality play set in the world of mixed martial arts - writer-director David Mamet takes on the familiar themes of honor and pacifism with all the subtlety of a side-thrust-kick in the chest.
"Redbelt" is set in a Los Angeles Jiu-jitsu academy run by Mike Terry (Chiwetel Ejiofor). One dark and stormy night (I'm not kidding), while Mike is training an off-duty cop, a frantic woman (Emily Mortimer, lost at sea) runs into the academy saying she hit Mike's car. Through some classic Mametian over-lapping dialogue, confusion ensues and, improbably, the cop's gun goes off shattering the window of the school. This more-than-slightly contrived opening sets in motion a chain of events which will find Mike making the choice to fight or not to fight in a crooked mixed martial arts tournament.
While it's refreshing to watch Mr. Ejiofor play something other than a baddie ("Serenity", "Children of Men"), he is let down by Mr. Mamet's script, which requires a level of benevolence which borders on naiveté. Alice Braga ("I Am Legend"), meanwhile, is given little to do as his nagging Brazilian wife except struggle with Mr. Mamet's always-challenging dialogue. Tim Allen has some fun playing against type as an alcoholic action star. And Mamet regulars Joe Mantegna and Ricky Jay pop by to give familiar performances.
In its own way, "Redbelt" reminds me of 2002's Clooney-Soderbergh sci-fi remake "
Solaris". That film seemed to be science fiction made by talented men who hadn't seen much sci-fi in the past. Likewise, "Redbelt" is a film about martial arts by an exceedingly talented writer discovering a new passion but unfamiliar with its cinematic tropes. The film's ending, which revolves around some criminally lax security and the awarding of not one but two belts, is so ludicrous that it's liable to provoke more laughs than tears. That is, for those still sitting in the theater by the end.
