“Redbelt” American Theatrical Poster
Director: David Mamet
Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tim Allen, Alice Braga, Rodrigo Santoro, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Randy Couture, Caroline de Souza Correa, Mike Goldberg, Damon Herriman, Dan Inosanto, Enson Inoue, Ricky Jay, John Machado, Ray Mancini, Joe Mantegna, Max Martini, Emily Mortimer, David Paymer
Running Time: 100 min.
By JJ Hatfield
Red Belt is truly an exceptional martial arts movie. It achieves this distinction by focusing on one quiet unassuming man and in doing so beautifully enlightens the viewer to the true art of Jiu-jitsu. However the lesson served up is not so much about mixed martial arts as it is regarding integrity, righteousness and most of all honor. This is not a film packed with bone crunching wall-to-wall brutal blood spattered beatings. If that is your only interest in martial arts then don’t bother watching Red Belt – the meaning will elude you.
Mike Terry (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is the owner of a Jiu-jitsu school on the not wealthy side of Los Angeles. It is here he trains his students not only in the martial arts and self-defense but also imparts the principles of the Samurai code. Mike is a unique individual who embodies the teachings of the art he has dedicated his life to learning and passing on to others. He is also a man who exemplifies virtue and decency.
The movie opens with three marbles being placed into an army issue cup. There are two white and one black. In a fight if you draw the black marble that means you are given a handicap. A black marble means you might be limited to using only one arm, no arms or be blindfolded. That sounds like an unfair advantage with the fighter who picks the black marble most likely to lose. However as Mike is quick to remind the two men who stand before him there is no situation you cannot turn to your advantage. As the fight continues Mike coaches – control your emotions; when you control yourself you control your opponent; a man distracted is a man defeated. It is abundantly clear these are not mere platitudes. Nor do they apply to only a physical battle. These and other teachings of Jiu-jitsu form the cornerstones of Mike Terry’s existence.
The Jiu-jitsu academy reflects the teacher, both are unpretentious. The students are quite loyal to Mike and believe in the Samurai code. However the school isn’t making much money so Mike’s wife Sondra (Alice Braga) is supporting them and the school with her fashion design business. After an encounter between a lawyer, Laura Black (Emily Mortimer) and a cop, Joe Collins (Max Martini) events inexorably become increasingly byzantine. When Mike becomes concerned about Joe he goes to a bar where he was employed. A fight breaks out and Mike comes to the defense of an over the hill action movie star named Chet Frank (Tim Allen). In gratitude Frank invites Mike and Sondra to his home for dinner. While Sondra and Frank’s wife Zena (Rebecca Pidgeon) discuss fashion and a potential business venture Frank queries Mike about Jiu-jitsu and more specifically regarding competitive fighting in the ring. Mike elaborates on the tenets of martial arts in general and in more detail Jiu-jitsu. He tells Frank that competition for money weakens the fighter and that he does not feel it is in harmony with the Samurai code. Before long Frank wants Mike to be co-producer of the war movie he is currently shooting. Life is good however soon complications arise. In order to keep up the good life Mike may have to compromise his principles and way of life by stepping into the fighting ring.
Red Belt is a multifaceted movie. It requires the viewer to pay attention to how the story unfolds. Seemingly simple conversations and actions have crucial significance. Even the way Mike Terry moves and speaks conveys much more than what is in the script. When someone asks Mike what is the best weapon in the world he responds – a flashlight so you can look deep into the other guy’s eyes. Perhaps not the most poetic turn of phrase however it speaks volumes about Mike’s character. He is a gentle spirit but doesn’t hesitate to step in when he sees an injustice. A noble warrior he personifies all that is good and virtuous. His ideals crash hard against the current day prevailing greed that threatens to completely overwhelm the art of mixed martial arts.
The origin of Jiu-jitsu is from the days of the Japanese Samurai. The actual creator of the martial art is unknown. One theory holds that it was designed for an unarmed individual who had to fight an armed opponent. It is highly likely that more than a few teachers added their own techniques and made changes along the way. A form that combined various aspects of Judo, Karate, and other martial arts Jiu-jitsu became popular in the Western world when it became all the rage in Brazil. The writer and director of Red Belt, David Mamet (The Postman Always Rings Twice, Glengarry Glenn Ross, Hannibal, Wag the Dog – screenplays) is not only highly skilled at writing and directing he is also a devote of Jiu-jitsu having studied it for five years. Mamet sought to bring the heart and soul of Jiu-jitsu to the screen and he triumphed! Red Belt is a success for several distinct reasons. Chiwetel Ejiofor (Dirty Pretty Things, American Gangster, Salt) who was nominated for Best Actor by Black Reel for his role as Mike Terry brought absolute perfection to the character. Not for a second was there any doubt that he embodied the physical grace and the spiritual attainment of a Master. Combined with Mamet’s dedication and his spot-on decision to use real fighters a truly special piece of film was achieved. The story builds deceptively slowly so that by the third act the intensity is almost overwhelming.
Red Belt is a fine film that will satisfy both martial artists and those desiring an excellent movie experience. And what of the Red Belt of the title? For the answer to that you must see this film, and you won’t be disappointed.
JJ Hatfield’s Rating: 9.5/10
A great movie that explores the core of martial arts! Reminds me of the type of movie Bruce Lee would want to make. I wish more writers/directors like David Mamet would make martial arts movies… he definitely added something fresh to a tired genre. Sweet review, JJ!
Excellent review! You provide great insight into this film. I need to finally sit down and watch it soon. I’ve long thought Chiwetel Ejiofor to be one of the most underrated actors of his generation. He’s the kind of actor who can elevate the material he’s given and he always turns in a dignified performance even in dreck like “2012.”
Whoa, this film is way over-rated. I thought this film to be boring, the lead actor was not that good. The martial arts was not impressive, and I did not care much for the story. I was not impressed, and if this is what MA films are today, I retire from them.
i have a feeling you were expecting wall to wall action, which this movie doesn’t have. most of its action lies in the dialogue and the characters’s noble belief in what he teaches. the lead was amazing!
I just felt dissapointed with it. I guess it was just not my cup of tea, and I’m usually opened minded.
I watched this movie tonight. In all honesty, I enjoyed reading JJ’s review more than I enjoyed watching the movie. Ha! David Mamet has a particular way of writing dialogue and when it works, it works. When it doesn’t work, it completely pulls me out of the movie. I would say “Redbelt,” for me, was a case where Mamet’s particular approach did not work.
If you cut all the times someone repeated the last line they just said or repeated someone else’s last line, you could probably excise half the dialogue in this movie. The scene where Chiwetel is talking to the wife of his cop friend and asking if he’s at the club or if they’re going to the mountains…to me, that is the height of Mamet’s cryptic nonsense.
There were some great performances tucked into the film and I enjoyed the overall story, but the dialogue and some of the plot twists really broke my suspension of disbelief.
Great review JJ! I watched this one a life time ago and found it very compelling. This was a movie of one man’s triumph through his belief in his own ideals and code of honor. This was more of a drama with a martial arts back drop, I’m surprised Chiwetel has not had more high profile action roles on the market.
The are some things are not correct in the review, it is very common to find this kind of confusion, here some facts:
1) Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu(BJJ) is not Jiu-Jitsu (Japanese) the martial art created for samurais to be used in the case they couldn’t use their sword (katana). The one showed in the movie clearly comes from Brazil. Jui-Jitzu is still alive in Japan.
2) In Japan, Jiu-Jitsu evolved to Judo(1882), a martial art and a sport with a guiding principal: Minimum effort with Maximum efficiency. All the techniques that didn’t follow this principal were eliminated.
3) Jigoro Kano the founder of Judo, sent his disciples to different parts of the world to spread Judo. Mitsuyo Maeda went to Brazil and taught the Gracie family, Helio Gracie developed Gracie Jiu-Jitsu as an adaptation from Judo. At that time Judo was best known as Kano’s Jui-Jitzu. Kano created the belt color system.
I didn’t like the movie either.