David O'ConnellRedbelt
September 24th 2008 02:54
David Mamet’s latest film as writer-director is about one man’s attempt to stand up for integrity as his idealistic world is slowly eroded through his association with some nefarious characters and their ulterior motives.
Chiwetel Ejiofor is Mike Terry, instructor and owner of a Jui-Jitsu/martial arts academy. He has a minimal income it seems but isn’t concerned, believing that everything will work itself out with his resourceful designer wife Sondra (Alice Braga) by his side.
Two events will trigger a change in perspective for Mike however, and lead him down a labyrinthine path of deception, greed, and corruption in which his outlook on life will be irrevocably altered.
Firstly, a disturbed, frantic lawyer, Laura (Emily Mortimer) will enter his academy one night and, in a brief tussle, discharge a dormant pistol belonging to Mike’s best student and policeman Joe (Max Martini).
Then, later that night, going in search of Joe to the club where he works as a bouncer, Mike will intervene in a brewing altercation between raucous patrons and a fading movie star, Chet Frank (Tim Allen), who later expresses his gratitude by inviting Mike and his wife to dinner.
Both episodes have far reaching implications for Mike as his illusions are shattered by another tragic event down the line and a series of betrayals, his ally’s emerging from the most unlikely places.
Mamet eschews the usual staccato rhythms in his dialogue, only briefly flirting with his trademark style; his usual deftness for intricate plotting is present again however, with a slew of characters sharing overlapping lives, a complex series of cause and effect set into action in the early scenes.
Though fight scenes are to the fore in the third act of the film they’re merely a context, the philosophy behind them the most important thing to Mike and his moral perceptions of the world – it’s not about winning but prevailing, maintaining respect and honour and believing that there’s no grasp, both real or metaphorical, that cannot be eluded.
The emerging Ejiofor has great presence as an actor and he gives a convincing portrayal as a decent but impractical man. He’s ably supported by a typically well chosen support cast, including Tim Allen as the impenetrable, drunken Hollywood star, and regulars Ricky Jay, Joe Mantegna and Mamet’s wife Rebecca Pidgeon in small roles.
The end of the film does let it down somewhat and feels a bit like artifice in a way, an elaborate construct that doesn’t really survive close scrutiny in terms of believability; Mamet has manipulated reality in his own unique way to great effect so often that he deserves a little leeway however, and the result is certainly an entertaining film, never coming close to his finest films of the past, like House of Games and The Spanish Prisoner, but one worth seeing nonetheless.
A trailer:
And a Fox news story with Mamet talking at a training session for the actors:
Chiwetel Ejiofor is Mike Terry, instructor and owner of a Jui-Jitsu/martial arts academy. He has a minimal income it seems but isn’t concerned, believing that everything will work itself out with his resourceful designer wife Sondra (Alice Braga) by his side.
Two events will trigger a change in perspective for Mike however, and lead him down a labyrinthine path of deception, greed, and corruption in which his outlook on life will be irrevocably altered.
Firstly, a disturbed, frantic lawyer, Laura (Emily Mortimer) will enter his academy one night and, in a brief tussle, discharge a dormant pistol belonging to Mike’s best student and policeman Joe (Max Martini).
Then, later that night, going in search of Joe to the club where he works as a bouncer, Mike will intervene in a brewing altercation between raucous patrons and a fading movie star, Chet Frank (Tim Allen), who later expresses his gratitude by inviting Mike and his wife to dinner.
Mike comes to the aid of movie star Chet Frank (Tim Allen)
Both episodes have far reaching implications for Mike as his illusions are shattered by another tragic event down the line and a series of betrayals, his ally’s emerging from the most unlikely places.
Mamet eschews the usual staccato rhythms in his dialogue, only briefly flirting with his trademark style; his usual deftness for intricate plotting is present again however, with a slew of characters sharing overlapping lives, a complex series of cause and effect set into action in the early scenes.
Though fight scenes are to the fore in the third act of the film they’re merely a context, the philosophy behind them the most important thing to Mike and his moral perceptions of the world – it’s not about winning but prevailing, maintaining respect and honour and believing that there’s no grasp, both real or metaphorical, that cannot be eluded.
Mike shows the troubled Laura (Emily Mortimer) a few moves.
The emerging Ejiofor has great presence as an actor and he gives a convincing portrayal as a decent but impractical man. He’s ably supported by a typically well chosen support cast, including Tim Allen as the impenetrable, drunken Hollywood star, and regulars Ricky Jay, Joe Mantegna and Mamet’s wife Rebecca Pidgeon in small roles.
The end of the film does let it down somewhat and feels a bit like artifice in a way, an elaborate construct that doesn’t really survive close scrutiny in terms of believability; Mamet has manipulated reality in his own unique way to great effect so often that he deserves a little leeway however, and the result is certainly an entertaining film, never coming close to his finest films of the past, like House of Games and The Spanish Prisoner, but one worth seeing nonetheless.
A trailer:
And a Fox news story with Mamet talking at a training session for the actors:
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Am dying to catch this, but I think its only playing in Melbourne, right?
i did a review for House of Games a while back and Glengarry Glenross too. Just click the titles if you want to read them.
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Glengarry GlenRoss is my favourite work of his too.
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
One screen in Melbourne, eh? Doesn't seem like it'll get to Sydney then...
Comment by Jarrah
Back to the Eighties
I wanted to see it because I do BJJ and II thought the film was great but cut terribly.
The editor definitely got something wrong I think. There are several plot points left to boil, and some arnt explained very well.
There is one notorious scene that people have been talking about near the end.
I saw it a few months ago, but I remember it was near the end and several months or weeks had gone by in the film and it didnt segue into it very well at all, leaving some viewers scratching their heads.