Redbelt is what happens when you put an intellectual in charge of an action movie, for good and ill. David Mamet (Glengarry Glen Ross) writes and directs this roundabout tale of a jujitsu instructor (Chiwetel Ejiofor) whose noble instincts are tested when he comes into contact with the movie business and the fight game.

Star rating ***
Dir: David Mamet
With: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Emily Mortimer, Tim Allen

Redbelt is what happens when you put an intellectual in charge of an action movie, for good and ill. David Mamet (Glengarry Glen Ross) writes and directs this roundabout tale of a jujitsu instructor (Chiwetel Ejiofor) whose noble instincts are tested when he comes into contact with the movie business and the fight game. A classy cast, including Emily Mortimer, plus comedian Tim Allen raising his acting game, are given deep, Mametian things to do and say, like: "Let the wheel come around." While much of the dialogue would be more at home in the theatre, distinguished performances, from Ejiofor in particular, make Redbelt worth the effort.