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Redbelt
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Redbelt (2008) More at IMDbPro »

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Redbelt -- A fateful event leads to a job in the film business for top mixed-martial arts instructor Mike Terry. Though he refuses to participate in prize bouts, circumstances conspire to force him to consider entering such a competition.
Redbelt -- This is the second theatrical trailer for Redbelt, directed by David Mamet.

Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   15,348 votes »
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Director:
David Mamet
Writer (WGA):
David Mamet (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Redbelt on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
9 May 2008 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Drama | Sport See more »
Tagline:
There's always a way out. You just have to find it.
Plot:
A fateful event leads to a job in the film business for top mixed-martial arts instructor Mike Terry. Though he refuses to participate in prize bouts, circumstances conspire to force him to consider entering such a competition. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
1 nomination See more »
NewsDesk:
(93 articles)
Cate Blanchett Lands In Blackbird
 (From EmpireOnline. 15 May 2013, 12:09 PM, PDT)
Trailer for HBO's Phil Spector, with Al Pacino and Helen Mirren
 (From Worst Previews. 5 February 2013, 3:57 AM, PST)
David Mamet To Write CBS Reboot Of 'Have Gun - Will Travel'
 (From Indiewire Television. 22 August 2012, 8:22 AM, PDT)
User Reviews:
There's always an escape…Redbelt See more (110 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)

Max Martini ... Joe Collins

Matt Cable ... Academy Fighter

Chiwetel Ejiofor ... Mike Terry

Alice Braga ... Sondra Terry

Jose Pablo Cantillo ... Snowflake

Emily Mortimer ... Laura Black

Cathy Cahlin Ryan ... Gini Collins
Luciana Souza ... Singer in Bar

Cyril Takayama ... The Magician (as Cyril Takata)
Scott Barry ... Billy the Bartender

Ricky Jay ... Marty Brown

Randy Couture ... Dylan Flynn

John Machado ... Ricardo Silva

Rodrigo Santoro ... Bruno Silva
Ricardo Wilke ... Eduardo

Caroline de Souza Correa ... Monica

Tim Allen ... Chet Frank

Jack Wallace ... Bar Patron

Jake Johnson ... Guayabera Shirt Man

Dennis Keiffer ... Knife Fighter in Bar (as Dennis Keefer)

Rob Reinis ... Officer (as Robert Reinis)
Dominic Hoffman ... Detective
Michael Kenner ... Chauffeur

Mike Genovese ... Desk Sergeant

Bob Jennings ... Sammy

David Paymer ... Richard

Kimko ... Richard's Bodyguard

Joe Mantegna ... Jerry Weiss

Rebecca Pidgeon ... Zena Frank

Jennifer Grey ... Lucy Weiss
Linda Kimbrough ... Murphy

Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini ... George (as Ray Mancini)

Steve DeCastro ... Knife Fighter on Set

Ed O'Neill ... Hollywood Producer
Enson Inoue ... Taketa Morisaki

Matt Malloy ... Lawyer
Allison Karman ... Paralegal

Damon Herriman ... Official at Arena
Renato Magno ... Romero
Rico Chiapparelli ... Sanchez
Martin Desideriom ... Sanchez's Handler
Frank Trigg ... Sanchez's Cornerman
Gilbert Gomez ... Romero's Handler

Kei Hirayama ... Japanese Interviewer

Vincent Guastaferro ... Eddie Bialy
Mike Goldberg ... Himself
Jean Jacques Machado ... Himself
Josh Rafferty ... Himself
J.J. Johnston ... Ring Announcer

Christina Grance ... Ring Girl
Galen Tong ... Referee
Tony Mamet ... Fight Commissioner
Justin Fair ... Non-Smoking Attendant
Christopher Kaldor ... Official Security Guard in Blazer
Scott Ferrall ... Himself

Simon Rhee ... Bruno's Henchman
Troy Gilbert ... Bruno's Henchman

Dan Inosanto ... The Professor
Gene LeBell ... Old Stuntman
Lee Michael Cohn ... Undercard Fighter (as Lee Cohen)
Mordecai Finley ... Undercard Fighter

Aryan Morgan ... Undercard Fighter (as Arvan Morgan)
Peter Smith ... Undercard Fighter
Scott Voss ... Undercard Fighter
Chris Lisciandro ... Southside Jiu-Jitsu Academy Fighter

Tino Struckmann ... Southside Jiu-Jitsu Academy Fighter
Adam Treanor ... Southside Jiu-Jitsu Academy Fighter
Clay Woods ... Southside Jiu-Jitsu Academy Fighter
Masato Baba ... Taiko Drummer
Darren Endo ... Taiko Drummer
Kene Kubo ... Taiko Drummer
Jason Osajima ... Taiko Drummer
Byron Yamada ... Taiko Drummer
Bryan Yamami ... Taiko Drummer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jeffrey Addiss ... Celebrity (uncredited)

Joseph Alfieri ... Security (uncredited)

Douglas Barcellos ... Fighter (voice) (uncredited)
Craig Collington Bator ... Assistant (uncredited)

Ryan Everett Canfield ... Marty's Underling (uncredited)
Danielle Cooper ... Brazilian Girl in Bar (uncredited)

Hugh Fitzgerald ... (uncredited)

Jennifer Flynn ... Event Girl (uncredited)

Kevin A. Green ... Spectator (uncredited)
David Kiiskinen ... Special Ability Actor (uncredited)

Jess King ... Bar Patron #4 (uncredited)

Emily Peck ... Bar Patron (uncredited)
Sam Puefua ... The Wall (uncredited)

James Ralph ... Bartender (uncredited)

Gene Richards ... Fight Promoter (uncredited)

John Robert ... Newsman at Ringside (uncredited)

Jonathan Rossetti ... Celebrity (uncredited)
Lee Ryder ... 'Rude' Photographer (uncredited)
Eric Shackelford ... Celebrity Fight Fan (uncredited)
Daniel Cage Theodore ... Toro's Handler (uncredited)
Erin Anne Williams ... Videotech (uncredited)
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Directed by
David Mamet 
 
Writing credits
(WGA)
David Mamet (written by)

Produced by
Chrisann Verges .... producer
 
Original Music by
Stephen Endelman 
 
Cinematography by
Robert Elswit (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Barbara Tulliver 
 
Casting by
Sharon Bialy 
Sherry Thomas 
 
Production Design by
David Wasco 
 
Art Direction by
Ray Yamagata 
 
Set Decoration by
Sandy Reynolds-Wasco 
 
Costume Design by
Debra McGuire 
 
Makeup Department
Sheila Cyphers-Leake .... co-hair department head (as Sheila Cyphers Leake)
Suzanne Diaz .... makeup department head (as Suzanne Diaz-Westmore)
Lori Guidroz .... co-hair department head
Tina Hoffman .... additional makeup artist
Nancy Martinez-Morrison .... key hair stylist (as Nancy Morrison)
Scott Wheeler .... key makeup artist
 
Production Management
Luca Borghese .... post-production supervisor
Mads Hansen .... unit production manager
Ben Rekhi .... behind the scenes
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cara Giallanza .... first assistant director
Stephen E. Hagen .... second assistant director (as Steve Hagen)
Yuko Ogata .... day player additional second second assistant director
John Tagamolila .... second second assistant director
Ken Twohy .... crowds assistant director
 
Art Department
Peter Bankins .... property master
Craig Baron .... assistant property master
Kai Blomberg .... set dresser
Timothy M. Earls .... set designer
Erin Fite .... set decorating buyer
George Hess .... swing gang
Anne Hyvarinen .... lead scenic artist
David Ladish .... set dresser
Steven Ladish .... set dresser
Brian Markey .... construction coordinator
Edward J. Protiva .... leadman
Stuart Rankine .... assistant property master
Jacob Reinwand .... art production assistant
Ramsey Smith .... construction foreman
Karen Teneyck .... graphic designer
 
Sound Department
Steve Bissinger .... foley editor
Gary C. Bourgeois .... sound re-recording mixer (as Gary Bourgeois)
Anita Cannella .... foley artist
Howard Carle .... adr mixer
Steven Gerrior .... assistant sound editor
Amy Kane .... foley artist
Michael Kirchberger .... supervising sound editor
Nick Kray .... adr recordist
Paul Lewis .... production mixer
Jon Logan .... post sound intern
Mike Marino .... foley mixer
James Simcik .... adr supervisor
Roy Waldspurger .... sound re-recording mixer
Roy Waldspurger .... supervising sound editor
 
Special Effects by
Bart Dion .... special effects technician
Dennis Dion .... special effects coordinator
Mike Dion .... second special effects
Louie Lantieri .... special effects technician
Paul Staples .... special effects technician
 
Visual Effects by
David Altenau .... visual effects supervisor (as David T. Altenau)
David Beedon .... compositor
Patrick Clancey .... digital opticals
Dick Edwards .... digital compositor
Yale Kozinski .... compositor
Bob Lloyd .... compositor
Tom Mahoney .... digital supervisor (as Thomas Mahoney)
Dane Picard .... compositor
Thomas Mathai .... data manager (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Ahmed Best .... stunts
Eddie Braun .... stunts
Rico Chiapparelli .... fight choreographer
Debbie Evans .... stunt driver
Jack Gill .... stunt coordinator
Dan Inosanto .... fight choregrapher: knife fight
Bevin Kaye .... stunts
Dennis Keiffer .... stunts (as Dennis Keefer)
Jess King .... utility stunts
Tony Lazzara .... stunt performer
John Machado .... fight choreographer
Renato Magno .... fight sequence coordinator
Simon Rhee .... stunts
Anthony G. Schmidt .... utility stunts
Aaron Toney .... stunt double: Chiwetel Ejiofor (as Aaron Tony)
Jose L. Vasquez .... stunt double
Todd Warren .... stunt double: Tim Allen
Boni Yanagisawa .... stunts
Alan Zborovsky .... stunts
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Luke Allein .... assistant camera
Benny Alvarado .... lighting technician
Mike Bachman .... video assist
Michelle Baker .... film loader
Joe Chouchanian .... grip
James B. Crawford .... gaffer (as Jim Crawford)
Peter Geraghty .... second assistant camera: "c" camera
Jason Goebel .... second assistant camera: "b" camera
Barry Idoine .... first assistant camera (as Barry 'Baz' Idoine)
Michael Kenner .... key grip
Jeff Kunkel .... dolly grip
Greg Langham .... best boy electric
Jim McComas .... electrician
John Morris .... best boy grip
Chris Moseley .... camera operator: "b" camera
Scott Rathner .... first assistant camera: "c" camera
Peter Rosenfeld .... Steadicam operator
Lorey Sebastian .... still photographer
Jim Sheldon .... still photographer
Larissa Supplitt .... "a" camera second assistant
Larissa Supplitt .... second assistant: "a" camera
Michael Ursetta .... rigging electrician
Harry Zimmerman .... first assistant camera: "b" camera
 
Casting Department
Lee Michael Cohn .... adr voice casting
Kathy Kaplan .... casting assistant
Cash Oshman .... crowd casting
Judith Sunga .... casting associate
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bethany Bernhard .... set costumer
Jessica Carpenter .... set costumer
Joseph Cigliano .... set costumer
Robin McMullan .... costume supervisor
 
Editorial Department
Kenny Becker .... color timer
Steve Bowen .... supervising digital colorist
Stephen Byrne .... assistant digital intermediate producer
Yale Kozinski .... first assistant editor
Christian Prejza .... digital intermediate producer
 
Music Department
Tom Brissette .... music mixer
Brian Bulman .... music editor
Joe DiBlasi .... musician: classical guitar
Stephen Endelman .... orchestrator
Michael Farrow .... music mixer (as Mike Farrow)
Peter Gordon .... musician: flutes/shakuhachi
M.B. Gordy .... musician: percussion
Vanessa Parr .... pro tools operator
Chris Tedesco .... musician contractor
Tyler Westen .... assistant to composer
John Wittenberg .... musician: violin
 
Transportation Department
Tammi Abbatoye .... transportation office assistant
Tim Abbatoye .... transportation coordinator
Rich Bennetti .... transportation captain
 
Other crew
Anna Boudinot .... production assistant
Dante .... warm-up comic
Erin Davis .... assistant production coordinator
Srdjan Dobic .... set production assistant
Christopher Field .... production assistant
Neale Fishback .... assistant location manager
Matthew Goben .... assistant to cast
Andy Goldman .... title designer
Charles Heaphy .... production financing
Micky Hohl .... layout production assistant
Jeff Hunt .... production secretary
Kenneth Hunter .... location scout
Shea Kammer .... first assistant accountant
S. Dylan Kirkland .... assistant location manager
Meaghan Librizzi .... assistant: Mr. Mamet
Jean Jacques Machado .... assistant fight choreographer
Renato Magno .... consultant: jiujitsu
Jackson Rowe .... set production assistant
Jason Ruffolo .... key set production assistant
John Russel .... production assistant
Joe Rynearson .... production assistant: additional photography
W. Matt Stewart .... office production assistant
Pam Susemiehl .... assistant: Mr. Mamet
Trevor Tavares .... set production assistant
Katie Taylor .... assistant: Ms. Verges (as Katherine Taylor)
Marion Tumen .... script supervisor
Matthew Wersinger .... location manager
Kelley Whitis .... assistant: Mr. Ejiofor
Jerome Zelle .... assistant craft service
 

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Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
MPAA:
Rated R for strong language
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
99 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | Portuguese | Japanese
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
Certification:
South Korea:15 | USA:R (certificate #43844) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | UK:15 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Singapore:NC-16 | Netherlands:16 | Ireland:15A | Argentina:13 | South Africa:16LV | Australia:M | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:15 | Germany:12
Filming Locations:
Long Beach, California, USASee more »
Company:
Sony Pictures ClassicsSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
In the stadium fight scene, David Mamet handed out $100 bills to background in the stands if they answered trivia questions correctly in order to get them to look in the right direction and "appear" interested.See more »
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: In the program opened by Emily Mortimer's character in the tournament, a freeze frame reveals that the bios for the fighters are simply a continuous block of text referring to a fighter named "David," and the text is repeated on the left and right sides of the program.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
Mike Terry:Tie him up.
[to class]
Mike Terry:The hands are not the issue. The fight is the issue. The battle is the issue. Who imposes the terms of the battle will impose the terms of the peace. Think he has a handicap? No. The other guy has a handicap if he cannot control himself. You control yourself, you control him.
[to student]
Mike Terry:Take him to court.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "MMA H.E.A.T.: Episode #1.10" (2010)See more »
Soundtrack:
Voce Nao Me VeSee more »

FAQ

Why is the movie called "Redbelt"?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
Is this movie based on a book?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
58 out of 82 people found the following review useful.
There's always an escape…Redbelt, 9 May 2008
Author: jaredmobarak from buffalo, ny, usa

David Mamet is back with his new film Redbelt. After four years away from Hollywood, producing the television show "The Unit," Mamet has followed up his solid thriller Spartan with a drama of intelligence that only he can capture. Complete with the trademark, metered language—every word timed and delivered with precision—this tale may be billed as a mixed martial arts actioner, but it is so much more. The sport itself lends heavily to the plot for sure, but rather than with its moves and choreography, it is the underlying sense of honor that becomes the central focus. Beginning as a straight-forward drama of faith and morality, culminating into what appears to be this Jiu-Jitsu instructor's big chance at success and wealth to keep his fledgling gym in business, Mamet's story soon gets the rug pulled out from under it, fast and hard. I will admit to not having expected the sharp turn of events halfway through as everything Mike Terry has built his life upon ends up leading to his demise, eventually finding him on the edge of throwing all he believes in away forever. A film of respect and sacrifice, greed and deceit, Redbelt goes places you will not be ready for, yet it is handled deftly, causing all the machinations to fall into place and show their true worth in the progression of the story. It all happens for a reason; life sometimes deals you pain and leaves you in a choke hold about to lose air, but as Terry tells his students, there is always an escape.

I don't want to ruin anything with this film, because truthfully it caught me off-guard. Maybe the turn was hinted in the trailer, I don't remember, but it is better to go in following the plot threads and watching it all unravel. With that said, I do have a problem with the ending. Not so much the tone and end result, but in the way it all transpires. I believe it is a perfect conclusion if not played out too easily without explaining the motivations behind two Jiu-Jitsu champions and their actions. To do what they do, it would almost mean they knew what was going on with the tournament, that they knew what Terry was about to tell the world before he spoke…I just don't see how that can be true. Maybe Mamet just wanted to stick to a minimalist approach and allow it all to occur in sequence, and it is a powerful progression, it's just filled with that one problem which could have possibly been rectified, but maybe it was and I missed it. I don't want to accuse the filmmaker of a plot-hole if he actually did cover it up, I just can't remember it happening. It's the one blight on an otherwise stellar film.

The script is a huge part of the success and really that is where Mamet either flourishes or fails. At times he can be too cute or too overwrought, but at other instances he can be at the top of the industry. I generally find his smaller works, based off his own plays, as his best work, but this one is definitely on par. The ability to take us on this journey with two halves of good times and the fall from them is a feat that usually fails due to contrivances and blatant tells. Maybe I was tired or just too caught up in the acting and fight sequences, but it really surprised me in a good way; I didn't see it coming at all.

Credit should go to the performers too for keeping their end of the game high quality. You believe all involved just as Mike Terry does throughout and when it hits him, the revelation is astounding. I believe that is due to the brilliant turn from Chiwetel Ejiofor in this lead role. Supposedly he had never had any formal martial arts training beforehand, but when you see him encompass Terry, you won't believe that. He really pulls off the realism and the energy and the stoic calm of being in control at all times, not competing because that forum only weakens you. Eijiofor carries the film on his back as he enters the world of Hollywood business and behind closed-door deals before attempting to claw his way out. Despite the opportunity presented him, he never falters from the passion he has in the sport and the willingness to help anyone in need. A true hero, Mike Terry continues on his path of righteousness, pushing the anger away and clearing his mind to prevail.

The rest of the cast—consisting of many Mamet regulars like wife Rebecca Pidgeon, David Paymer, and Ricky Jay in small roles—take the words and nail each reading. Max Martini stands out as Terry's star pupil and backbone emotionally to the story; Alice Braga is good as the wife finding that standing by her man may not be the way to succeed financially in life; Emily Mortimer is fantastic as the troubled attorney who's accidental introduction to the gym puts everything into motion; and Tim Allen shows that maybe he still has some good serious turns in him if only he can get some time off from children's fare. Along with the acting comes some amazing choreography fight-wise too. The camera usually stays in close-up, but there aren't too many sharp cuts, allowing the full fight to play out as realistically as possible. Sure we get the one man fighting a gang and winning, but he never prevails unscathed, allowing us to believe what we are seeing.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Redbelt (2008)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Bad Film For General Audiences; Good Film For Esoteric Mamet Fans camerica1978
Masterful Film - Very Moving Ending... Allardyce99
Even Mamet couldn't ruin Ejiofor Decemberender
It's OK if you don't 'get it' bowltastic
For those of you who don't 'Get it'... ThikSkin
The moral... yrnej
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