Review of Redbelt (2008) by Chase S — 12 Feb 2010
Mike Terry is a retired American solider, who now runs his own self-defence studio in Los Angeles.
A series of events force the ex Jiu-jitsu master to get back into the ring for a $50,000 prize.
David Mamet script is as usual pitch perfect, although not as quotable as a number of his past movies, the film is still an extremely well written piece.
The real prize for the film is the casting and performances, Chiwetel Ejiofor as the lead Mike Terry is exceptional, with ever scene showing a building of the character as events around him get more and more tense, and he feels that the control he teaches to his students could crack.
The support is also great including a worthy performance by Joe Mantegna and also an impressive and much understated performance by Tim Allen. Bravo to Mamet as a director, as well as a good script writer he can draw good performances from his cast.
If there are floors in the film it is possibly that there are too many plot ties for Mike Terry to have make that force him to take part in the competition. There are around three in total. Which although the films climax is satisfying allot of these story threads are left.
Still great performances from the lead and a great supporting case makes RedBelt an intelligent piece of cinema which you now come to expect from one of Hollywoods best screen writers.
This review of Redbelt (2008) was written by Chase S on 12 Feb 2010.
Redbelt has generally received positive reviews.
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