Redbelt

Aroview: Upright and mature David Mamet offering examines the principles behind jujitsu through a small-time, but respected martial arts instructor whose honour and integrity are put to severe test.

Silencing the strained dialogue and shape-shifting narrative turns of his best known work (although the complications that arise here are far from straightforward), writer/dir. Mamet maintains a forthrightness in character and tone that only comes unstuck towards the very end. Still, anchored by a sensitive lead performance (Ejiofor, with gravitas), and a seriousness towards martial arts seldom seen in movies, this comes recommended as Mamet’s least stagey and self-conscious film to date.