Craig Daily Press

Craig — Most movies about the subject of martial arts are either unnecessarily violent or unsuccessful in conveying the philosophical nature of the discipline, but the drama “Redbelt” is an astute look at the topic.

Former soldier Mike Terry (Chiwetel Ejiofor) runs an academy which teaches the specialty of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, a fighting style that emphasizes self-defense through grappling techniques. His dedication to the sport is incontrovertible, but the school is struggling to turn a profit, much to the annoyance of his fashion designer wife Sondra (Alice Braga). An accident involving his top student (Max Martini) and a wayward woman (Emily Mortimer) results in damage to his school that he cannot afford to fix. When he attempts to borrow some money from a friend, he winds up saving the life of movie star Chet Frank (Tim Allen). Frank is so grateful, he approaches Mike about employing his teaching method in a movie he is filming. However, just when it seems that Mike’s financial woes are over, a new problem presents itself, forcing him to do the one thing he always has avoided in his pursuit of the purity of jiu-jitsu: fight in competition.

Ejiofor gives another steadfast performance as Mike; the remarkable star of “Children of Men” and “Talk to Me” is just as dedicated to his craft as his character is to his field. Allen is a bit of a surprise, not only due to the comedian’s unexpected turn towards the serious, but also because of Chet Frank’s limited utilization in the film. Mortimer gives a great showing as neurotic attorney Laura Black, who starts to get more involved in Mike’s life following her encounter with his pupil, policeman Joe Ryan, competently played by Martini. Also appearing are David Paymer, Jennifer Grey and a number of martial arts celebrities.

As a student of Jiu-Jitsu, writer/director David Mamet has an obvious appreciation for the values set forth by the practice, such as unwavering perseverance and the use of an enemy’s power against him, both of which play into the subtext greatly. Mamet’s ability to flush out the deeper elements of fighting is no shock. Best known as a playwright of theatrical fare like “Glengarry Glen Ross,” “Oleanna” and “Edmond” (all adapted for the screen as well), his observations on masculinity and the male ego are something to behold. However, his newest has its drawbacks as well. Some portions of the story are bizarrely slapped together, and two of Mamet’s most frequently cast actors (his wife Rebecca Pidgeon and long-time collaborator Joe Mantegna) are shunted aside, leaving the audience to wonder how badly they were really needed in the first place.

For any of its faults, “Redbelt” is a welcome change of pace from recent movies such as “Never Back Down,” which give martial arts a bad name in their dumbed-down portrayal of the custom.