A little word from the little bird

David Mamet has written some fairly good films ( The Verdict, The Untouchables, Homicide, Oleanna, The Spanish Prisoner, Wag the Dog, Glengarry Glen Ross and of course Hannibal- well you can't hit home-runs with every swing of the bat) and even directed a couple of keepers (Spartan and State and Main). But just last night I watched a fascinating little movie called Redbelt. 

This film centred around a ju-jitsu instructor and his student who become embroiled in the high-stakes world of fixed mixed martial arts competitions. The tone and tempo of this movie are as tightly controlled as the moves of an expert fighter. Everything is connected and set in motion by something else. Action Reaction. Just as each punch has a counter or every hold an escape each act or line a character gives forces the others to counter in a specific way. The competent loner with the intractable code of ethics or behaviours has a long and glorious history in cinema (Thief and Le Samourai are just two that leap immediately to mind here).

Redbelt is a fascinating exploration of the martial world and its place in a modern setting, as well as the honourable man who will not veer from his path no matter the consequences. 

"Even if one's head were to be suddenly cut off, he should be able to do one more action with certainty."-Ghost Dog

S