Redbelt - April 2008

Redbelt - April 2008

A fateful event leads to a job in the film business for top mixed-martial arts instructor Mike Terry (Ejiofor). Though his refuses to participate in prize bouts, circumstances conspire to force him to consider entering such a competition. Mike Terry (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is the chief instructor at the Southside Jiu-jitsu Academy. Although a talented fighter, he refuses to compete in professional bouts: "Competition weakens the fighter." Instead he trains dedicated students in the art of self-defense: bodyguards, cops, soldiers. At his brother-in-law's club one evening, Mike saves a famous action star (Tim Allen) from a severe beating. His defense of Frank leads to a job in the film industry, but other events conspire to force Mike to participate in a prize fight. An American samurai film set the world of mixed martial arts, David Mamet's "Redbelt" is a story about the limits of a single man's integrity.
Set in the west-side of Los Angeles fight world, a world inhabited by bouncers, cage-fighters, cops and special forces types, Redbelt, is the story of Mike Terry (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a Jiu-Jitsu teacher who has avoided the prize fighting circuit, choosing instead to pursue an honorable life by operating a self-defense studio with a samurai’s code. Terry and his wife Sondra (Alicia Braga), struggle to keep the business running to make ends meet. An accident on a dark, rainy night at the Academy between an off duty officer (Max Martini) and a distraught lawyer (Emily Moritimer) puts in motion a series of events that will change Terry’s life dramatically introducing him to a world of promoters (Ricky Jay, Joe Mantegna) and movie star Chet Frank (Tim Allen). Faced with this, in order to pay off his debts and regain his honor, Terry must step into the ring for the first time in his life.

Directed by David Mamet
Produced by Chrisann Verges
Written by David Mamet
Genre: Action / Drama
Rating: R
Release date: April 25, 2008

Casts:

• Tim Allen as Chet Frank
• Emily Mortimer as Laura Black
• Chiwetel Ejiofor as Mike Terry
• Alice Braga as Sondra Terry
• Max Martini as Joe Ryan
• David Paymer as Richie
• Rebecca Pidgeon as Zena Frank
• Caroline de Souza Correa as Monica
• Jose Pablo Cantillo as Snowflake
• Ricky Jay as Marty Brown
• Randy Couture as Dylan Flynn
• Cathy Cahlin Ryan as Gini Collins

Terry and his wife Sondra (Alice Braga) struggle to keep the business running to make ends meet. An accident on a dark, rainy night at the Academy between an off duty officer (Max Martini) and a distraught lawyer (Emily Mortimer) puts in motion a series of events that will change Terry's life dramatically introducing him to a world of promoters (Ricky Jay, Joe Mantegna) and movie stars (Tim Allen). Faced with this, in order to pay off his debts and regain his honor, Terry must step into the ring for the first time in his life.