Redbelt (Dir: David Mamet)

Director and playwright David Mamet has earned his critical cred by creating works such as the blistering actor's showcase Glengarry Glen Ross and densely plotted films like the comedy State and Main. He is a master of plotting. Moving his characters like chess pieces, toying with the viewer, creating worlds of treachery and conspiracy. His movies are games that tease and toy with the audience. He is also a master of dialogue more interested in capturing the disjointed non sequitur filled way people actually speak than with conveying exposition.

For his latest effort he lends his talents to the kind of film usually populated by the likes of late night cable staple Don "The Dragon" Wilson. Redbelt tells the story of jiu-jitsu teacher Mike Terry (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and his efforts to remain true to his principles. Terry is very good at what he does and has gained notoriety among Los Angeles fight promoters, but refuses to enter into the glitzy world of televised mixed martial arts bouts. He desires to pass along his knowledge to those in need of it, but avoid fighting for show.

But Terry is in a Mamet film where everyone conspires against you and draws you toward inevitable confrontation. From the very first moments, the film creates unease in the viewer and moves with urgency. Fighters grapple, a gun appears, and a sudden violent act occurs that sets the whole film in motion. The principled hero will be forced into an impossible situation and his belief that every trap can be escaped will be tested.

The film is perhaps too enslaved to genre conventions and it reveals this in the final third as it enters the more melodramatic world of the impossible fight against the evil villains. Still this is certainly one of the best fight films I have ever seen and Mamet's plotting, as always, amazes. The film does not desire more than to tell an entertaining story well and at that it succeeds.