WAMG First Look: David Mamet’s ‘Redbelt’

I love David Mamet! If there is one person who can take ANY subject matter and write a first-class script, its David Mamet. Easily one of the greatest writers of our time, Mamet has the ability to span the gamut on genre film-making and he does so pulling from issues of contemporary concern and then masterfully crafts a script that is so perfect it doesn’t seem natural. Mamet is with dialogue as Nolan Ryan is with strike-outs … untouchable. [I’m a baseball fan, so sorry if you got lost there.] Redbelt is Mamet’s newest film, due out on May 2, 2008 in a limited US release. Redbelt is an action-drama centered around the professional mixed-martial arts business and follows an MMA instructor, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor (American Gangster)  who finds himself forced to break his vow to participate in prize bouts. Mamet has enlisted  some of his veteran actors, including Joe Mantegna (House of Games), David Paymer (Ocean’s Thirteen), Rebecca Pidgeon (The Spanish Prisoner)  and Ricky Jay (The Prestige), but has also cast comedian Tim Allen … which I found surprising. I can only assume that Mamet found something hidden in Allen and, perhaps, this will be a career-saving break-out performance. Hey, I’m just speculating here. Also of interest, is that Mamet is smart enough to know if you’re going to make a movie about a professional sport, don’t rely on actors to realistically portray the sports top athletes. No … you get the real thing. The  Redbelt cast also includes Randy Couture. Check out the trailer here.