David Mamet...is that you? Redbelt

[Wryan]

http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/redbelt/trailer

O.o

[megladon8]

Well, he's also currently writing a movie called Joan of Bark: The Dog That Saved France.

[Sycophant]

Well, he's also currently writing a movie called Joan of Bark: The Dog That Saved France.Yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes. Yes. Yes!

[Wryan]

Well, he's also currently writing a movie called Joan of Bark: The Dog That Saved France.

Well of course he is. That only makes sense.

[Sven]

Actually, this movie looks exactly like David Mamet. I don't know what the problem is.

[Wryan]

Actually, this movie looks exactly like David Mamet. I don't know what the problem is.

I'm not really seeing it. Although it has Ejiofor and Tim Allen!

[Sven]

I'm not really seeing it. Although it has Ejiofor and Tim Allen!

How much Mamet have you seen?

[D_Davis]

I cannot wait for this flick.

[Wryan]

How much Mamet have you seen?

Enough to wonder if a story about a "prize fighter who has stayed away from the circuit" yet is forced "to step into the ring" for the first/last/ultimate time is as familiar to Mamet territory as you clearly think it is.

[Rowland]

What was his last movie, Spartan? I thought that kinda rocked, so I'm pumped for this.

[Sven]

Enough to wonder if a story about a "prized fighter who has stayed away from the circuit" yet is forced "to step into the ring" for the first/last/ultimate time is as familiar to Mamet territory as you clearly think it is.

That's the most narrow way of seeing an artist at work as any I've come across. Lest I remind you that Mamet is responsible for such disparate films as The Winslow Boy and Heist. It's not about the scenario, it's about the execution and appropriation of style and theme. The camerawork and mood of the trailer is pungent with Mametisms. It has snappy little tough-guy soundbites. It has violence, it has badass broads. It has what appears to be a snaky plot filled with human foibles and twisty happenings.

If that doesn't convince you, it has Ricky Jay and Mantegna in it, and that's more than enough to make it Mamet's.

[Sven]

What was his last movie, Spartan? I thought that kinda rocked, so I'm pumped for this.

Really? I guess I know I'm in the minority on this one, but I can't get over how loved that movie was. Dull, dull, dull, predictable, no substance beyond its dime-novel plot (seriously, did Patterson write it?). I can't fathom its success.

[D_Davis]

If the words "David Mamet" don't instill a sense of faith in a film, I don't know what will.

The dude is fucking awesome.

It is easy to tell it's Mamet just by hearing the dialog in the trailer and the cadence and rhythm of the delivery.

[Wryan]

That's the most narrow way of seeing an artist at work as any I've come across. Lest I remind you that Mamet is responsible for such disparate films as The Winslow Boy and Heist. It's not about the scenario, it's about the execution and appropriation of style and theme. The camerawork and mood of the trailer is pungent with Mametisms. It has snappy little tough-guy soundbites. It has violence, it has badass broads. It has what appears to be a snaky plot filled with human foibles and twisty happenings.

If that doesn't convince you, it has Ricky Jay and Mantegna in it, and that's more than enough to make it Mamet's.

I'm not basing that off the apple trailer page description alone, though that's what I was quoting. That set-up is right there in the trailer. I'm sure he'll probably do it well enough that it doesn't come off as a fat cliche, but the trailer makes it look like the same story we've seen many times before.

Though, yes, Jay and Mantegna are nothing but love, far as I'm concerned.

[Winston*]

If that doesn't convince you, it has Ricky Jay and Mantegna in it, and that's more than enough to make it Mamet's.
His wife's in it too, as per usual.

[Sven]

I'm not basing that off the apple trailer page description alone, though that's what I was quoting. That set-up is right there in the trailer. I'm sure he'll probably do it well enough that it doesn't come off as a fat cliche, but the trailer makes it look like the same story we've seen many times before.

Hate to break it to you, dude, but Mamet isn't exactly the pinnacle of originality that you appear to think he is. Seriously, how many movies about The Big Con do we need? It was old hat when he hit it with House of Games.

[dreamdead]

His wife's in it too, as per usual.

She was crazy delicious in State and Main.

This could be interesting.

[Wryan]

Hate to break it to you, dude, but Mamet isn't exactly the pinnacle of originality that you appear to think he is. Seriously, how many movies about The Big Con do we need? It was old hat when he hit it with House of Games.

He doesn't have to be the pinnacle. There are plenty of movies that Mamet either directed or wrote that are ripely original in some way. I'm just sitting here hoping the trailer is only showing the cliched parts.

[D_Davis]

Hate to break it to you, dude, but Mamet isn't exactly the pinnacle of originality that you appear to think he is. Seriously, how many movies about The Big Con do we need? It was old hat when he hit it with House of Games.

Yeah, I don't go to a Mamet film expecting a breakthrough, original narrative. I go for the dialog and the execution of it all. I just love the way his films play out. They have such a unique rhythm. It's like listening to King Crimson after months of simple rock bands; it's refreshing, and pallet cleansing, but after a while its nice to go back to the normal stuff. I keep Mamet in the queue to pull up every now and again to remind myself of his brilliance.

[megladon8]

A film's premise can be unoriginal yet the film can still be great, if it's done with skill and panache.

Most crime films these days don't break any new ground at all, but the ones that are great manage to just do everything so well and so effectively that they are still way ahead of the pack.


EDIT: Just look at The Departed. It's a remake, for one. And the source material itself - Infernal Affairs - was not exactly an original story. Filmmakers have been making dual-identity cop/criminal thrillers for years, but it had its own style and rhythm.

The Departed had its own strong voice and a wonderful script.

[number8]

I don't know what Wryan's talking about either. That trailer could not be any more Mamet if it tried. It has like three dozen Mametisms in big red text, for cryin out loud.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Gotta agree. That looked like pure Mamet from start to finish. I'll see it.

[Morris Schæffer]

What a cool cast! Looks like Mamet might be attempting with Allen what he did succesfully with Steve Martin in The Spanish Prisoner.

[Ezee E]

Mamet's best film.

It's a whole lot more than just a fighter getting in the ring. It manages to avoid everything being on the line in the ring as well in a clever way.

This movie almost romanticizes the MMA approach, and shows the downside of how the beauty of it might be killed when put in the hands of the wrong people, who only see dollars, and not the art of it all. In a way, David Mamet might just be comparing MMA to his own work.

It may be put a bit much on the line for its central character, but I loved all of it.

[The Mike]

This movie almost romanticizes the MMA approach, and shows the downside of how the beauty of it might be killed when put in the hands of the wrong people, who only see dollars, and not the art of it all. In a way, David Mamet might just be comparing MMA to his own work.

I saw this too. I thought a good alternate title could have been "Redbelt, or: If Bruce Lee Could See This, He'd Kick People in the Face".

Of course, Lee's dead, so they had to use Don Inosanto for the finale, which was a touch of genius.

[number8]

Yeah, truth be told I was only expecting a noir/thriller set in the MMA world, and it is that, but I was taken aback by how spiritually devastating it is. Those last 10 minutes or so of the film is just sublime.

[Ezee E]

Yeah, truth be told I was only expecting a noir/thriller set in the MMA world, and it is that, but I was taken aback by how spiritually devastating it is. Those last 10 minutes or so of the film is just sublime.
Indeed.

Ejiofor for Match Cut Best Actor!

[Pop Trash]

Yes, this was quite good. I didn't even really care that it was kind of predictable and that everything was contrived to set up "the big fight." The execution was just kind of awesome. Plus I liked the theme of someone with unwavering integrity having to navigate his way through massive corruption and shallow sell-outs. It reminded me of High Noon in an odd way. The plot and twists I think are just a McGuffin for Mamet to get his themes out there.

Also, Ejiofor is so badass in this. I don't think I would have liked this as much if the lead actor was less than stellar, since so much is predicated on his character. But Ejiofor is awesome and then some.

Overall: 8/10

[Morris Schæffer]

Yeah, truth be told I was only expecting a noir/thriller set in the MMA world, and it is that, but I was taken aback by how spiritually devastating it is. Those last 10 minutes or so of the film is just sublime.

A pal of mine told me that the last few minutes were kinda bad in that they tried to shoehorn in far too much. I didn't ask for en elaboration, but I suppose he meant too much story or twists.

[Ezee E]

A pal of mine told me that the last few minutes were kinda bad in that they tried to shoehorn in far too much. I didn't ask for en elaboration, but I suppose he meant too much story or twists.
your friend is wrong. it works.

[Pop Trash]

A pal of mine told me that the last few minutes were kinda bad in that they tried to shoehorn in far too much. I didn't ask for en elaboration, but I suppose he meant too much story or twists.
I can kind of see this but honestly it didn't matter much to me. I guess if you get really hung up on how every plot device works, then it might bother you, but if you look at the plot as something for Mamet to lay his themes on top of, then I think it works quite well. Plus this isn't that far off from other plot twists and people getting conned like in The Spanish Prisoner or something.

[EvilShoe]

Also felt this one was really good.
The typical Mamet twists are still here, but what seperates this from his other movies is that there's a real emotional core to the movie. (Thanks to Ejiofor, who's indeed very good).