JohnDoe
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Coming Soon: David Mamet’s Redbelt
Preview: David Mamet Redbelt
Due in Australia: August 7th 2008
Released in Australia August 2008
The thought of yet another martial arts film that tells of one man fighting the impossible odds, throwing hands for his life is not exciting. That is until you read that it is written and Directed by the ever probing David Mamet (Glengarry Glenross, House of Games, State and Main)
On the surface Redbelt has a familiar plot. A lone wolf, mixed martial arts instructor named Mike Terry ends up as a bodyguard to the stars. Refusing to compete in the ring, his exceptional skills see him fighting offers to enter the pro circuit.
David Mamet directs a scene in Redbelt
Rest assured though that this sketch will merely be a clothes line designed to hang the players from. Confident in refusing sentimentality his are carefully fractured screenplays driven by character. Examining the machinations of internalised struggle, often flawed dominant males.
Flair like this is what sets Mamet apart. He is superb at taking genre films then removing any trace of dialogue that reiterates the form. The magic is in what he doesn’t say. The espionage thriller Spartan is a great example. In it Val Kilmer is trying to find a kidnapped girl, trick is that at no time does the dialogue directly mention she’s the president’s daughter. Instead he assumes we are familiar with the conventions and hence replaces reference with inference.
Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor (American Gangster), Emily Mortimer (Bright Young Things) , Joe Mategna (House of games), Ricky Jay (State and Main)and David Paymer.
Expecting something more a kin to Ghost Dog than Bloodsport, John Doe anticipates some inspired observations and gritty truths about a much glamourised world.
Watch the Redbelt Trailer
Here is a clip of David Mamet on the set of the Film.
Just because it’s so funny and on the martial arts tip – Here it seems the mussel from Brussels Jean Claude Van Damme has no where left to go but self parody therapy. This is the trailer for JCVD a mockumentary that tries to deconstruct what it’s like to walk in the shoes of Mr Van Damage.
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I wouldn't have given this a second glance except that Mamet's name is attached. I am expecting more substance than the usual kick and punch fare, possibly in a similar way to how David Cronenberg deconstructed the vigilante genre mythos in A History of Violence.
Blood Sport was just a remake of Enter The Dragon, even though it claims to be based on a true story. Fun movie when your 12 years old but teh first time you see what Asian martial Arts cinema can do it is impossible to go back to the west.....thats why I rank Ghost Dog as a revelation. Distinctly American yet driven by eastern philosophy.
I haven't heard any early word on the street to know if DM brings the weight I expect, but fingers are crossed.
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Another martial arts movie *yawn* as you say... but I am going to watch this one because you said the Director would do it some justice (as far as adding depth) from the angle of:
I will let you know what I think, especially if it flops in the mainstream *chuckle* and I like it.
Lilla ...
Film & TV on DVD
Have you seen many of Mamet's works? If not I suggest Glengarry Glenross as a great place to start.
she and some friends are members of the Max Martini forum and that is why they became extra's.
they loved it.