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Mamet's REDBELT takes a knee to Capone's nuts! But does he like it?
Hey everyone. Capone in Chicago here.
If you asked me what the deeper meaning is of writer-director David Mamet's latest work, I'm not sure I could answer that. This is one of those rare Mamet instances when the story might mean more than the subtext, but if I had to venture a guess, I'd say REDBELT is about Mike Terry (played by the always-solid Chiwetel Ejiofor), a man who is barely scraping by as the head of his own martial arts studio because he refuses to simply teach people to fight. He's has a code that he lives by that doesn't involve teaching violence as a means to get rich; he's a modern samurai. So if REDBELT has a subtext, it's about the dangers of daring to dream big.
One night at a bar, Mike breaks up a fight between well-known actor Chet Frank (played by Tim Allen) and a couple of guys who want to beat up someone famous. Chet is making a war film in town and would like Mike to be a consultant/producer and to make the hand-to-hand fight scenes seem more believable. Mike sees this as a way to finally make money without compromising his principles, but he gets caught up in a battle of sorts between his money-hungry wife (Alice Braga), ultimate fighting promotors (Mamet regulars Ricky Jay and Joe Mantegna), and a lawyer (Emily Mortimer) who wanders into his studio and discharges a gun belonging to Mike's cop buddy (Max Martini of "The Unit"). The plot is classic Mamet with double-crosses, con jobs and his staccato language that sounds exactly like people talk and nothing like the way movie people talk.
What separates REDBELT from other Mamet works are the occasional fight scenes. He doesn't stage his physical confrontations like a typical action movie would. The goal isn't to make Mike look like a glistening bad-ass. Instead, Mamet wants to show Mike's minimalistic tactics of robbing his opponent of his power. This may seem like a subtle difference, but you notice it immediately. Ejiofor isn't making cool-guy faces or screaming when he takes somebody out. His only mission is to disarm and take down as quickly as possible. But beyond the action scenes, Mamet has constructed another great layered plot that left my head spinning and made my admiration grow. I have to applaud Allen for trying something like this. He's played slickster characters before, but nothing quite this shallow and deplorable.
There's a moment in RDBELT when the sense of impending doom on Mike's head is palpable, and you haven't got a clue how he's going to get himself out from under it. Then, bit by bit, he begins to pick up the pieces and defy those who consider him disposable. In my book, Ejiofor can do no wrong, and this film is proof of that. The man has the ability to wear his anxiety and emotional weight on his face (watch CHILDREN OF MEN or TALK TO ME for proof), and he does so here as well as I've ever seen him. His performance is devastating, and the movie ain't bad either. I realize a lot of people simply don't like Mamet, and I've given up fighting that battle. But for those of you who wait eagerly for each new play or film, you will relish REDBELT.
Capone
capone@aintitcoolmail.com
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Yes, you are small, but no smaller than the rest of us. Also, you're right - Alec Baldwin's scene in Glengarry Glen Ross was very cool.On a Mamet-related note, I notice from IMDB that his next film as writer/director is called Joan Of Bark: The Dog Who Saved France. This seems like an interesting change of pace for him. There isn't any information on the cast, but it sounds like the sort of thing that might star Jason Alexander or Matt le Blanc or the little kid out of Malcolm In The Middle. Is he really making a film about a heroic French dog?
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And I agree Chiwetel is a very watchable commodity in the movie industry. Mamet tells some fantastic stories sometimes. I think I'll make a point of seeing this next week. This summer is shaping up to be a whirl-wind of cool movies.
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thanks Capone.
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Chiwetel rules
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After Glengarry Glen Ross, I'm watching everything Mamet puts on screen. He could make Ass: The Movie a fucking masterpiece.
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Great flick! And the Lemmon character in it is the basis for the Gil character on The Simpsons.
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1997 called, it wants its explanation back.
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Sometimes I like Mamet, but other times I want to slap him around. Like Heist. I swear to god, if you don't laugh at the ridiculously awful dialogue in that piece of shit, you truly have drunk the Kool-Aid.
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and so is this movie.
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Not a strong vote of confidence.
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Damn You Michael Bay
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...sheep count HIM.
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May 10, 2008 9:49:54 PM CDT
I don't want you quieter than an ant pissing on cotton...
by osmosis jones
...I want you quiter than an ant not even THINKING of pissing on cotton.
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Ever wonder what a well-written 24 movie would be like? This is it.
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It has great characters - particularly with respect to what they do and why they do it - and some of the most creative plot twists and reversals that I've seen in a while.For the most part, Chiwetel Ejiofor could've "phoned in" his role from DIRTY PRETTY THINGS (which I love BTW), but instead he does something really fresh with Mamet's material.Agreed regarding Emily Mortimer. Surprisingly, she added a huge dimension to this and I don't see how REDBELT would've been as great without her.IMHO this movie is for people who love both thrillers and action but want the action to have real substance and resonance.
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No, this movie is about living with the mediocrity of modern life (usually forced upon you by need to pay bills, among other things) versus living with a code of honor. Like at my job.
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Forgot to mention that.
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The fight sequences seem well rooted in the reality of Kumate style combat, no hollywood Martial Art histrionics, with more emphasis placed on the adrenalised impetus of having to react, counter and apply quickly thought strategy to take out an openent as swifty and effectively as possible - 'the shortest distance between two points'. For me Mamet's always produced interesting and well structured films, his flair for dialogue sets him apart heads and shoulders from his peers, one of the great contemporary American playwrights IMHO. And it's refreshing to have a director who prefers the 'British' School of acting over the Stanislavsky/Strassberg luvies.
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That's why they call it money!
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That seems odd given the consistent quality the man has delivered over the years. Redbelt is certainly on my short To Do List.
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I actually trained and later, taught in an "old school" dojo. The owners's first name is Terry and we started teaching Gracie BJJ in 1993. That decision caused us to part company with Chuck Norris' UFAF organization and become an full independent school. Since I haven't seen Redbelt yet, I can't do direct comparisons, but I suspect there are some. And I absolutely LOVE Mamet films. House Of Games is high on my list, but I don't think there's a "bad" Mamet film, period! I'm very curious to see Tim Allen's part; I was amused by Home Improvement, but haven't really liked his movies that much. Looking forward to the weekend. We saw Speed Racer yeseterday and had mixed reviews ranging from "well, it could have been worse" to "I really liked it", which kind of matches the critics take, I guess.
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Saw it on Friday and it really is a damn good movie. Followed it up with a DVD viewing of Spartan. Val Kilmer fucking owns that movie! I loves me some Mamet goodness!
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Dirty Pretty things. In which I suppose Allen saw his ablility in the first place. The dude is a great fucking actor. Thats for sure. Oh, and GlennGary was a masterpiece! Pacino: have you ever taken a shit that let made you felt like you slept for twelve hours? Or a piss?
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Ending's been criticized some, but it brought a huge smile to my face. Ejiofor is so perfect; just...centered. You can't take your eyes off of him. Great flick
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his glengarry movie was crazy.
"coffee is for closers" , it was
so engrossing and it's about ...
salesman? will see redbelt soon,
considering mamet has actually be
TRAINING in jiu-jitsu for 5 years,
i am guessing he got addicted to
it..like most folks who tries bjj,
once you are hooked, your life
will revolve around it. guess mamet
is blending his work and play passions together
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The ending was perfect and was based on the code of honor of all involved (for good or bad).
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