A fight without finish

In 'Redbelt,' David Mamet and jujitsu come together, and the result is a draw.

May 2, 2008

David Mamet and jujitsu come together in "Redbelt," and the result is a draw. Chiwetel Ejiofor is the martial-arts instructor who refuses to commercialize his warrior code. Naturally, it's only a matter of time before we watch him duke it out in an Ultimate Fighting spectacular. In the movies, pure-in-heart pacifists almost always take up violence as a way of renouncing violence. Mamet toys with this existential dilemma but his heart – or fist – isn't in it. (R, for language.)