Film: Redbelt
Studio: Sony Pictures
Director: David Mamet
Principal Actors: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alice Braga and Tim Allen.
Release: May 9 2008
Film length: 1 hr 39 mins
Rating: R 

Reviewed By: Ashley Hunking (Vancouver Correspondent - Canada) 

Redbelt is not an ordinary fight movie. Leave it to David Mamet to create a cerebral fight film. Mamet is known for films with conspiracy themes and complicated storylines. You may recognize his work as a director of Spartan, Heist, or State and Main. He writes screenplays such as Wag the Dog, Hoffa, The Untouchables and Hannibal to name a few. Redbelt is thought provoking and entertaining however, the plot is very overly intricate and at times loses track of the main theme, which becomes bogged down in multiple sub-plots. 

Mamet is known for his large ensemble casts and Redbelt is no exception. Chiwetel Ejiofor, known for his roles in Amistad, Four Brothers and Kinky Boots, captivates the big screen as Mike Terry, a strong and wholesome man. His absorbing portrayal is permeated by a quiet wisdom. Mike's wife is played by Brazilian born Alice Braga (City of God, I am Legend) and soon to play alongside Harrison Ford and Sean Penn in Crossing-Over. Mamet recruited a talented cast including, Tim Allen, Joe Mantegna, Rodrigo Santoro, Max Martini, Ricki Jay, and Emily Mortimer.

Redbelt tells the story of a Jiu-Jitsu teacher (Mike) and his wife (Sondra) operating a martial arts studio. Mike Terry is dedicated to his students' enlightenment. He works to increase their awareness of the latent ability to externalize internal strength He teaches traditional Jiu-Jitsu enabling students to demonstrate the ability to escape from any situation. Some of his students include a cop and a rape victim. Mike is a principled man who stays away from the competitive side of Jiu-Jitsu. One stormy night, a woman fires a gun that accidentally shatters the studio front window. Unable to pay for the window Mike Terry is forced to ask a friend, who runs a club and is involved in shady activities, to loan him money. When a fight breaks out, Terry protects a reckless celebrity, Chet Frank (Tim Allen) from getting beaten up by macho guys. Thankful for his life, Chet gives Terry an extravagant gift and invites him to the set of a movie. Terry is offered a position as co-producer. Things turn bad when Terry's friend mysteriously commits suicide. Terry finds himself alone when everyone has turned his or her back on him. In order to set things right, Terry is forced to compete in a highly commercialized fight. A conspiracy unfolds and Terry is pushed into a situation which calls him to find a way out.

Although, Redbelt is entertaining, the story loses its focus and veers off track continuously, making it difficult to follow the main plotline. Mamet works hard to make his ends meet but it seems there are too many unmatched pieces in this puzzle. Overall, the storyline moves forward and holds your attention, however central plot is overshadowed by too many sub-plots, causing me to leave the theatre thinking, "What is this movie primarily about?"  

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