Comments on: Movie Review – Redbelt (2008) http://commentarytrack.com/2008/05/25/review-redbelt-2008/ movie reviews, news and discussion Sun, 20 May 2012 05:18:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: leomoviegoer http://commentarytrack.com/2008/05/25/review-redbelt-2008/#comment-461 leomoviegoer Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:56:59 +0000 http://commentarytrack.wordpress.com/?p=726#comment-461 Did anyone notice the Ed O'Neill out of frame cameo? He himself a blackbelt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mamet regular. Also another viewer I saw it with found it ironic that for man known for his dialog, there is none for the last ten minutes of the film. It's a really good movie that is in my early top ten for '08. Did anyone notice the Ed O’Neill out of frame cameo? He himself a blackbelt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mamet regular. Also another viewer I saw it with found it ironic that for man known for his dialog, there is none for the last ten minutes of the film. It’s a really good movie that is in my early top ten for ’08.

]]> By: miriam http://commentarytrack.com/2008/05/25/review-redbelt-2008/#comment-460 miriam Thu, 29 May 2008 21:55:47 +0000 http://commentarytrack.wordpress.com/?p=726#comment-460 I can only wish good writing was more widely appreciated. This one flashed through the theaters so quickly I never had a chance to see it and I'll have to wait for the DVD. I'm still catching up with some of Mamet's earlier work that way since his fan base is as small as it is devoted. Two of my favorites are 'State and Main' and 'The Winslow Boy', which are interesting variations on your theme of uncompromising protagonists. He does bend more than a little in the first and is the happier for it; in the second he bends not a fraction and triumphs, though not without great cost and the help of others. I can only wish good writing was more widely appreciated. This one flashed through the theaters so quickly I never had a chance to see it and I’ll have to wait for the DVD. I’m still catching up with some of Mamet’s earlier work that way since his fan base is as small as it is devoted. Two of my favorites are ‘State and Main’ and ‘The Winslow Boy’, which are interesting variations on your theme of uncompromising protagonists. He does bend more than a little in the first and is the happier for it; in the second he bends not a fraction and triumphs, though not without great cost and the help of others.

]]> By: Helen http://commentarytrack.com/2008/05/25/review-redbelt-2008/#comment-459 Helen Sun, 25 May 2008 20:12:55 +0000 http://commentarytrack.wordpress.com/?p=726#comment-459 A fine film and one that repays close attention. I look forward to a second viewing. Ejiofor's performance is really excellent in a challenging role. The supporting players deliver the Mametian dialogue with aplomb. The climactic fight, waged in a corridor of the arena instead of in the ring and decidedly non-thrilling in the way it is presented, is a particularly interesting scene. It is emblematic of the way Mamet has rewritten the traditional narrative of the boxing movie. Corruption in the "sport" is all-pervasive; victory or defeat inside the ring would be equally meaningless. Jiu Jitsu to Mike Terry is a code of conduct and guide to life, such that the importance of the physical contest lies in its expression of intellectual and moral choices. A fine film and one that repays close attention. I look forward to a second viewing. Ejiofor’s performance is really excellent in a challenging role. The supporting players deliver the Mametian dialogue with aplomb.

The climactic fight, waged in a corridor of the arena instead of in the ring and decidedly non-thrilling in the way it is presented, is a particularly interesting scene. It is emblematic of the way Mamet has rewritten the traditional narrative of the boxing movie. Corruption in the “sport” is all-pervasive; victory or defeat inside the ring would be equally meaningless. Jiu Jitsu to Mike Terry is a code of conduct and guide to life, such that the importance of the physical contest lies in its expression of intellectual and moral choices.

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