Main Feature

Being a fan of the UFC and Mixed Martial Arts in general, I was really looking forward to this film. The beginning indicates that Redbelt has a focus on genuine martial arts and this would certainly separate it from the glamour and fantasy of the likes of The Karate Kid and Kickboxer. The basic premise is that an idealistic martial artist finds himself in a world of trouble when he and his wife are tempted by wealth and is forced to compromise his beliefs in an attempt to put things right.

Mike Terry, played by the brilliant Chiwetel Ejiofor, is the owner of a Jiu-Jitsu school with near-insurmountable financial problems. Mike is a traditionalist when it comes to martial arts and believes that the art of fighting should never mix with competition. Laura, played by Emily Mortimer, is a lady with a severe nervous disposition who approaches Mike at his dojo to confess that she clipped his car with her own. During this otherwise straightforward encounter, Joe, who is a police officer and Mike’s star pupil, played by Max Martini, innocently lays his hands on Laura which sets off an increasingly bizarre chain of events. Laura backs away, stumbles a little, picks up Joe’s gun which he unrealistically left lying around with the safety off, pulls the trigger, and fires a bullet past Joe which in turn smashes the dojo’s window. This ridiculous scene is followed by an inexcusably bad piece of dialogue which is so terrible I feel I need to include it here.

(A car stops and Mike approaches)

Mike -I thought you were going to the mountains.

Joe’s wife – No, that’s funny. Joe? Joe still inside?

Mike – No. He just left.

Joe’s wife – Left?

Mike – Yeah. Maybe he went to the club.

Joe’s wife – What happened to the window?

Mike – Isn’t he on at the club?

Joe’s wife – That’s funny.

Mike – Weren’t you going to the mountains?

Joe’s wife – Why would he go to the club?

Mike – Isn’t he working tonight?

Joe’s wife – The club? No, no, no. He hasn’t worked at the club in months. Listen, I have to tell him something. Okay? Tell him.

Mike – Why?

Joe’s wife – Why what?

Mike – Why hasn’t he been working there?

Joe’s wife – Yeah, no. Listen, I gotta get home.

(The lady drives off)

Utter nonsense. What is even more baffling is that Joe is treated as some sort of hero because he decides not to report Laura for firing a gun at him. Mike even tells his wife that Laura would go to jail for attempted murder if Joe had reported the incident. Everyone in the film seems to ignore the fact that Joe might very well have been saving his own ass since he would have lost his job right there and then for incompetency by leaving his loaded firearm unattended with the safety off. I don’t want to include lots of spoilers in this review and this pains me because I really want to provide details on how ridiculous the story is.

For those who have seen the film and can remember the scene I am referring to, and for those who will watch it in future, “who’s going to pay these bills?” is the last thing that character would be concerned with at that particular moment. I can’t get my head round the fact that this was written by David Mamet, a fantastic writer who brought us The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Untouchables, and the highly under-rated House of Games.

The soppy ending which rounds everything off left me in a state of amazement. Not only is it the worst I have seen in a very long time but it is completely out of touch with the rest of the film. I also have no idea why the hell they decided to include a tribute to Donald O’Connor’s famous running-up-the-wall scene from Singing in the Rain.

Extras

The disc features a commentary from David Mamet and Randy Couture and it’s a shame that their comments had to be on this film, as I am certain both Mamet and Couture have far more interesting topics to discuss.

The “Behind the Scenes of Redbelt” feature involves the cast and crew describing how fantastic Mamet is and (I know they’re never going to say the film is poor) I really wish they didn’t go on about how great the script is because I believe that to be just untrue.

There is a Q&A session with the writer and director (Mamet) which might have been interesting, but the man with the questions seemed ill-prepared, and it spoiled the flow.

The best feature on the disc has to be “Inside Mixed Martial Arts” which provides an insight into Mixed Martial Arts and the origins of Jiu-Jitsu and this especially useful for those who are not familiar with MMA.

Summary

One of the main problems I have with this film, speaking as a fan of MMA, is that I find the premise of Mike’s useful training idea being used in competition to be absolute nonsense of the highest order. If this film is accurate and most fans of MMA would enjoy seeing a “contest” between a fighter and another with one arm tied behind his back then I am proud to say I’m in the minority because I find the very idea to be absolutely disgraceful. One more thing on the subject – “fighting with a blindfold. That sounds like fun.” – no, it really doesn’t, and the irony is that the character agreeing with this statement is played by none other than the legend Randy Couture who would find the idea appalling. I’m left confused as to who I might recommend this film to and I can only suggest that MMA fans watch this just so they can appreciate where I’m coming from.

Rating **