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A Couple Of Readers Disagree On David Mamet’s REDBELT!
Hey, everyone. ”Moriarty” here.
Appropriately enough, we’ve got a showdown here.
First up, a guy who really, really, really didn’t like Mamet’s new film at all:
Harry,
Just saw a sneak of David Mamet's jujitsu flick REDBELT at the Aero in Santa Monica last nite (with Mamet and Ricky Jay in person doing a Q&A afterwards).
As a fan of Mamet's work, here are my thoughts on the film: It sucked really, really hard. Mamet let down his great cast with the laziest, stupidest script ever. It was stunningly inept, one of the worst things I've ever seen of his (and yeah, I saw SPARTAN). The first 2/3 are actually pretty good in a mechanistic way, even though they are a total ripoff (self-homage?) to SPANISH PRISONER and HOUSE OF GAMES. But the final 1/3 is the most pathetic, awkwardly staged martial arts tournament ever. Mamet cannot stage a big fight scene. The movie just falls apart as Mamet throws logic into the trash can in favor of ludicrous coincidences, pathetic action sequences, and implausible twists (if they can even be called that). Honestly, at least trash like NEVER BACK DOWN has hot chicks to look at!
And Elswit's cinematography was really perfunctory here--hard to believe it's the same person who shot THERE WILL BE BLOOD. By the end of the movie, REDBELT is just dead on the screen, a big boring lumpen mess from the Mamet factory. This guy's talent has seriously decayed over the years and he's become a self parody (who knows, maybe Lindsay Crouse wrote all his early plays for him?)
The only good thing in this movie is Chiwetel Ejiofor, whose performance in the end is completely undercut by Mamet's lazy script. Just leaving a bunch of random loose ends and encouraging the audience to "guess" at the meaning, like a David Lynch film, doesn't really work in a densely plotted, noir like this one that is solely dependent on dialogue and character. And it's best that I don't even mention Tim Allen's stab at a performance (Tim Allen's immobilized face looks like a Botoxed sponge). Mamet was cool enough at the Q&A, although he seemed mighty pleased with himself, and his substandard work. But someone should cast him in a movie as Henry Rollins's dad (or older bro). They look so similar!!!
if you use this, credit me as OblivionRoad
Okay, then. Not a fan.
Longtime AICN spy Uncapie saw the same screening, apparently, and has a different take on the film:
"There's always a way out. You just have to find it."
David Mamet is a gifted writer who can tell a story with great dialogue and tone, but what he's known for is his twists and turns in a plot.
In "Redbelt," the audience will not be disappointed.
Mamet writes and directs another of his trademark intricate plots about a Brazilian jujitsu instructor, Mike Terry(Brilliantly portrayed by Chiweitel Ejiofor.) as the owner of a martial arts school who gets involved with people that may or may not be what they seem, luring him into a mixed martial arts competition match. But, is it winner take all or take all from the winner?
Mamet unravels the story from the beginning as an onion being peeled. Lots of layers underneath and listening to what the actors say adds a double-entendre to the film's story.
Mamet favorites Ricky Jay(Who gets some of the best lines in the film.) and Joe Mantegna(Who also owns the restaurant "Taste Chicago" in North Hollywood, California. There are some great eats to be had there!) show up as well as real-life, professional fighters like Danny Inosanto and Ray "Boom-Boom" Mancini are excellent. Mamet, who is also a black belt in the martial arts, wrote and created some visually entertaining fight scenes that add a no-holds barred realistic approach to the film. Like you've just suited up and stepped into the ring yourself. You feel the punches and the hits with the characters while trying to figure out who's on your side. Its cerebral and physical at the same time.
Impressive, in a serious role, was Tim Allen portraying a washed up action-star filming a desert war movie that pulls in Mike Terry into a world of double and triple crosses.
With the people that cross paths with Terry; are they friends or foes? Who is using who? Just when you think you know the answers; Mamet changes the questions and that's what makes this movie fun and entertaining. Its well worth your time.
Uncapie
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See you in Hell.
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and Spartan was good....Kilmer punching the drug ho' Bell in the gut is funky.
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Loved it. And I'm definitely watching this. Two reasons: Mamet and Elswit.
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i, otoh, am a Mamet fan who thought Spartan was great. so i really don't need to read any further thanks.
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i know he's been around AICN for a while but, seriously dude, using phrases like 'the audience will not be disappointed', 'you feel the punches and the hits' and 'its well worth your time'?
I'm a fan of Mamet's stuff but reading this kind of gushy prose makes me think i'm getting shilled, and not in a good way. -
seriously, who other than marketing whores use phrases like: "Mamet writes and directs another of his trademark intricate plots" and that wasn't even the worst one. The whole fucking "review" reads like a press release.
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Although it did read very, very planty. How's that job application to Fox marketing coming on for you Uncapie? Is this your PLANT audition?
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...then I don't trust your review, simple as that.
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was not the success it should have been. I personally loved the film, especially the first time I saw it. On a second viewing my enthusiasm abated slightly.
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I love Mamet's dialogue and conaluted plotting, I've never been dissappointed with any of his work so far, and I'm looking forward to Red belt.
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Hard to trust the opinion of someone who didn't like Spartan. That's why when I talk to someone about movies I ask what they thought of Armageddon. Like it or love it then I don't take their advice about any movie period. Redbelt looks good and I will definetly check it out.
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Who's he trying to convince, us or himself?
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like a well-written, feature-length version of '24'. Moriarty-- give us a Redbelt review; didn't you say you'd seen it?
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I'm a huge Mamet-o-phile and I thought Spartan was great! ... Now the Unit, that's another story.
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Have the B-Movie, Friday Night Sci-Fi movie of the week look to them? Is it because he uses digital or something? Like I remember Heist and at the end when he drives of and scraps the poles it look so cheesy. I think I would be into Mamet more if his movies look like they weren't DTV movies. Also I hope Tim Allen does more dark stuff. I could see him being a semi decent bad guy, not as good as the other Alan (Rickman) but like a good weasly sort of manipulator. Who at the end is about to get his ass kicked and trying to reason with the guy about to kick his ass. FUCK what arnold movie am I thinking of, I want to say Running Man, but there are better examples.
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...sheep count HIM.
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He was on sometime last year and seemed pretty cool. Maher tried to bait him into saying that mainstream audiences are stupid because they like superhero movies and the like, but Mamet didn't bite. In fact, he said he likes special-effects blockbusters too. It was clearly not the answer that the smug Maher was looking for. I loved it!
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That movie fucking OWNED!!! Where's the girl *SLAP*, where's the girl *SLAP*, where's the girl *SNAP - BROKEN ARM*
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I would love to write press releases for the studios! Can I use you two as references? Though I wouldn't want to work at Fox or Warner Brothers. The people that work there always have scared looks on their faces. As if they're in "Schindler's List" getting ready to be picked off by Ralfe Finnes. I agree with the posters on the board about "Spartan." Its underated by all means. Kilmer's character is like the doomed, film noir private eye who remains true to himself in his search for justice, even though he's going to fail in the end, people around him will be killed and the bad guys win. Its the classic tragic hero. "Heist" is another film that is well thought out and written. "Redbelt" is a good movie though. Its entertaining. The audience I saw it with enjoyed it. The reviewer above has stated his opinion and I can respect that. Is it lazy script? I wouldn't say that. Mamet tried something different and fans of his will be thrown off. Like the Cohen Brothers' movies, Mamet's films don't appeal to everyone. Is it Mamet's best work? No. Some say "Glenn Gary, Glenn Ross" is. Maybe people are pissed off at him because of his "Village Voice" article and have already formed an opinion. Regardless, the man can write; especially dialogue. Mamet keeps you guessing. He makes you think. That's a good thing when there are so many movies out there that after you've left the theater, you wonder what you just saw. For people that want to be screen writers, Mamet's films are excellent teachers. The book he wrote is informative and right out the gate he tells you that he doesn't know how to write a screenplay, but he tells you how to write a story and that's what a film is about.
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In a nutshell:
Mamet: "As you get older, you realize that things aren't always black and white."
Reader Response: "FASCIST!!!" -
In a nustshell:
Tonagan: "FASCIST!!!"
Reader Response: "COMMUNIST!!!" -
Course you can. Provided you egt me a job doing it as well.
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I hate being that guy, but if that's not a planted review, I don't know what is.
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And he said it was horrible, like "walk out because its so bad" horrible. And he's a big Mamet fan, not some knuckledragging goon. Still, it was an early cut, but I'm not getting my hopes up for it.
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It's one of the best action thrillers of the past decade bar none.
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What would I have to gain from it? I'm not employed by Mamet, though I did work on a film of his for three days. If I was talking about Mamet, I would write about Mamet. I am writing about his "film." I enjoyed the movie. The audience enjoyed the movie as well. What I wrote is called a positive review. The other reviewer didn't like it. Its called a negative review. Both sides are presented. See it or don't. Its not like you have to be Stephen Hawking to figure this out.
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I was at the screening last Thursday as well and I thought it was a solid film. I mean, don't walk in thinking you're going to see Glengarry Glen Ross or anything. It's a fight film. Put it to you this way, if you like "Rocky", see it. If you don't, don't. He's not redefining the genre.
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About an unfortunate Enterprise crewman spending his last night before going on a mission down to the surface of a planet. -
You say "...if that's not a planted review, I don't know what is." Then you clearly DON'T know what is. Uncappie is a regular around these parts, and if you paid some fucking attention or weren't a complete fucking noob you might actually know that. This is why I think people who cry "PLANT!!!" are fucking idiots.
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I put in an extra P.
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The extra "p" was for the props. Much obliged!
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It's sincere and fun. Not sure how anyone who knows Mamet's work could consider this more mechanistic than his earlier work. It's Mamet, man. He builds all his scripts with a protractor and compass. But if you're into his stuff, this is a good one.
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Okay, so sure, all Mamet's films are mechanistic, but REDBELT is one broken machine! I shouldn't have even mentioned SPARTAN as everyone got hung up on that. I just didn't like that film much. I think it sucks compared to SPANISH PRISONER or HOUSE OF GAMES, and I hate Val Kilmer (except for his Brando impersonation in that crappy Dr. Moreau movie way back when). Look, REDBELT just totally falls apart. Honestly, I was so psyched going into this film, and to hear Mamet in person, but REDBELT is truly terrible. You could feel the audience energy sag at the end, like the people were bumming out (but again, maybe that was just my interpretation). I thought the film got a tepid response at best, although the crowd did show a lot of love for Mamet himself. REDBELT is just crap--I used the word lazy in my review because the film is so recycled from his other work, and seems like the kind of thing he could churn out in his sleep at this point. The idea of Mamet plus martial arts seemed like an intriguing one to me too, but the movie just doesn't work.
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Honestly, at this point all the PLANT!!! screamers have really begun to annoy the shit out of me. If someone likes a movie and can write reasonably well, and is kind enough not to include spoilers, all these motherfuckers start yelling plant. As though nobody is actually allowed to like a movie, and if they do, they'd better write like a high-school dropout, or somehow they are no longer credible.
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It's Mamet's second best film! The first would be House of Games.
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I've seen uncapie around countless times. That's why I asked if it was an audition,
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Dear Studio Marketing Head,
I write in reference to Uncapie's application for the position of on-line marketer (or 'studio plant' as we in the bidness call it).
As you may know, Uncapie has been a sometime contributor on AICN for several years now. In that time he has shown himself more than able to write studio ad copy in the guise of an apparently 'normal' individual. In fact, I would go so far to say that his prose is a rollercoaster! A gripping thrill-ride from start to finish, with a shocking twist that you'll never see coming and an ending that you and your friends will be talking about for weeks! He's guaranteed fun for the entire family, the crowd-pleasing hit of the summer! Hire him this weekend, you won't be disappointed! I kid you not, he's better than Cats!
Yours faithfully,
newc0253
p.s. Uncapie? the cheque better be in the mail, dude.
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Of course I rented it because Mamet wrote glengary glen ross and thats setting it up to fail in the comparison, but House of Games was pretty interesting despite its low quality
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Someone had to say it.
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