3. Redbelt (2008)
Stars: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Emily Mortimer, Tim Allen, Jennifer Grey, Joe Mantegna
MMA cameos: Randy Couture, Enson Inoue, Frank Trigg, Mike Goldberg, Josh Rafferty
Cheesy tagline: There’s always a way out. You just have to find it.
Rotten Tomatoes critics score: 67
Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 65
How to watch it: Rent or buy through iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
Key review: “Ejiofor remains a supremely assured, charismatic presence, though he has his work cut out here. He is pitted against a film with a black belt in pomposity and a gold medal in preening self-regard.” – Xan Brooks, The Guardian
Synopsis: When a legendary playwright like David Mamet decides to write and direct a martial arts movie, it’s going to get some attention. Then he went out and got a really decent cast, too. A martial arts instructor played by Ejiofor has to decide whether or not to fight for money to cover some debts – something he’s opposed to. Through circumstance, he gets mixed up with some TV people, who steal one of his ideas after he consulted for them. And, of course, all roads lead to him having to fight again – just not officially – to get back his honor and some justice. Frankly, it’s not bad overall, let alone for an MMA-type movie.
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