Redbelt

Name: Redbelt
Genre: Action, Drama, Sport
Released: May 2, 2008
Duration: 99 min
Rating: 69
Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Emily Mortimer

2008

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Generally favorable reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 41 Ratings

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6.6

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6.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 41 Ratings

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Redbelt

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: May 2, 2008 | R

Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Emily Mortimer

Summary: Set on the west side of the Los Angeles fight world, a world inhabited by bouncers, cage fighters, cops, and special forces types, Redbelt is the story of Mike Terry, a jujitsu teacher who has avoided the prize-fighting circuit, choosing instead to pursue an honorable life by operating a self-defense studio with a samurai's code. Terry andSet on the west side of the Los Angeles fight world, a world inhabited by bouncers, cage fighters, cops, and special forces types, Redbelt is the story of Mike Terry, a jujitsu teacher who has avoided the prize-fighting circuit, choosing instead to pursue an honorable life by operating a self-defense studio with a samurai's code. Terry and his wife, Sondra, struggle to keep the business running to make ends meet. On a dark, rainy night, an accident at the academy between an off-duty officer and a distraught lawyer puts in motion a series of events that will change Terry's life dramatically and introduce him to a world of promoters and to movie star Chet Frank. Faced with this, in order to pay off his debts and regain his honor, Terry must step into the ring for the first time in his life. (Sony Classics)… Expand

Director: David Mamet

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Sport

Rating: R

Runtime: 99 min

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Critic Reviews

Tasha Robinson

The film unravels a bit in the last few moments, amid unanswered story questions and a simplistic climax, but until that moment, Redbelt is Mamet's richest film of the decade. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

A satisfying, unexpectedly involving B-movie that owes as much to old Hollywood as to Greek tragedy. Read full review

Claudia Puig

It's certainly not Mamet's signature rapid-fire dialogue, but it's an intriguing and engrossing departure. Read full review

Richard Schickel

Despite its novel milieu somehow remains trapped in genre conventions. It's still basically a boxing picture, not essentially different from dozens of other movies about life in and around what the old time sportswriters used to call "the squared circle." Mamet's circle is, alas, just a little too square. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

An absorbing and colorful, if not particularly convincing, excursion into a demi-monde of fighters, scammers, promoters and self-styled modern samurai, Redbelt gives the impression of Mamet coyly toying with the idea of making a populist little-man-against-the-system sports melodrama without actually attempting to create a film for the masses. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

In the end, Redbelt prevails, just as Terry teaches his students to prevail, but getting there isn't always pretty. Read full review

Andrew O'Hehir

Mamet's trademark artificial, mutual-incomprehension dialogue and con-game plotting are ineptly matched to the action genre (and feel stale in any case), while the jiu-jitsu scenes are so incoherently shot and edited you can't tell if the fight choreography is any good or not. Read full review

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User Reviews

pdw123

Sep 19, 2016

This is another masterpiece from Mamet, who is an aficionado of jujitsu, which I gleaned from reading my film society's monthly flier here. It's also another tight screenplay with fight promoter and gangster jargon, but since Mamet is known for his gritty screenplays (i.e. "Sparta"), I wouldThis is another masterpiece from Mamet, who is an aficionado of jujitsu, which I gleaned from reading my film society's monthly flier here. It's also another tight screenplay with fight promoter and gangster jargon, but since Mamet is known for his gritty screenplays (i.e. "Sparta"), I would only expect this from such a meticulous craftsman. The acting by Ejiofor is superb and the plot and character development by Mamet is superb with the rest of the cast also. The female support roles are right on the mark here and the film (and the action and dramatic aspects of it especially) will definitely keep you on your seat's edge all the way to the end.… Expand

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RyanP

May 12, 2008

Excellent movie. There aren't that many dramas which explore the TRUE meaning of the martial arts. I appreciate this since I'm a martial arts student myself.

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GeorgeM

Sep 2, 2008

This is the strangest martial arts movie I've ever seen, its not some chop socky mess with a silly story and 1-dimensional characters, this is a complex film with a deep sense of character development.....its a personal journey for the "hero" AND the viewer as well. The is a film about This is the strangest martial arts movie I've ever seen, its not some chop socky mess with a silly story and 1-dimensional characters, this is a complex film with a deep sense of character development.....its a personal journey for the "hero" AND the viewer as well. The is a film about morals, honor, and the human spirit that for some, simply CANNOT be broken.....our hero seems to think about everyone but himself, and no matter how hard he tries to help other people it tends to backfire in his face but his intentions are pure and true. This is a man you really want to see succeed, its hard watching bad things happen to such a good person who means well in everything he does.....and while it ends rather abruptly with MANY questions left unanswered and the well-being of our hero a little "open".....it still manages to end like the 4th of July with a triumphant personal victory. This is a wonderful film about the "deeper" side of martial arts, the courage of someone that simply CANT be held down by the outside world, and the good that can be found in a ugly ugly world. BUY this......rent Never Back Down (then get hypnotized to forget about it), and be happy with your decision......i'm sure youll understand what i mean after youve seen both.… Expand

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AustinW.

May 3, 2008

This movie was one of the weirdest movies I've seen in a long time, and not intentionally. It's basically The Spanish Prisoner meets Never Back Down. It's got giant plot holes (to the point where things don't make sense) but the scenes of brilliance make i t worth it. This movie was one of the weirdest movies I've seen in a long time, and not intentionally. It's basically The Spanish Prisoner meets Never Back Down. It's got giant plot holes (to the point where things don't make sense) but the scenes of brilliance make i t worth it. Ejiofor is outstanding.… Expand

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sanchopancho

May 18, 2017

I'm a big Mamet fan. But the story just doesn't string together on this one. I'm not sure if this was supposed to be an homage to a cheesy fight movie or a legit drama I was supposed to care about. At the end it just ended up feeling like a B movie caricature. Meh.

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MarcusA

May 21, 2008

Why is it that when I see a Mamet written and directed movie, i always come away with the impression that it was written and directed by a first time writer / director. The so called "twists and turns" are telegraphed well in advance, and the actors' delivery is consistently choppy and Why is it that when I see a Mamet written and directed movie, i always come away with the impression that it was written and directed by a first time writer / director. The so called "twists and turns" are telegraphed well in advance, and the actors' delivery is consistently choppy and one-dimensional. I don't think that the actors lack skill, but that instead the direction they're receiving is amateurish. Maybe I'm looking at this the wrong way. Maybe I should just should just lower my expectations if I know that Mamet is writing / directing, then I won't be disappointed.… Expand

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SteveR.

May 19, 2008

I cannot believe how badly this film misses the mark. Mamet brings high expectations. This film has chasm wide holes. People who betray at the last moment. People who disengage for no reason, people who slap and love with no investment. If not for Ejiofor and Alllen, this film was I cannot believe how badly this film misses the mark. Mamet brings high expectations. This film has chasm wide holes. People who betray at the last moment. People who disengage for no reason, people who slap and love with no investment. If not for Ejiofor and Alllen, this film was atrociously written and poorly acted. Mamet's worst effort by a wide margin and inexcusable given his knowledge of the subject. Randy Couture stutters every first line. What a fiasco, and I cannot believe the Metacritic score, i have never been so far off. 20 years from now, some films rise and gain cult status, mark my words, this will gain Showgirls status.… Expand

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