The Fractured Mirror entry: Redbelt (2008)
11 months ago
– Sat, Dec 16, 2023 at 12:30:01 PM
Redbelt (2008)
David Mamet meets MMA in the 2008 morality tale Redbelt. The moody action drama revolves around Mike Terry (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor whose strict code of ethics and morality make him an anachronism and an anomaly in a world without much regard for adorably outdated notions like honor.
Mike just wants to teach and evolve as a martial artist and a man. He wants to practice and perfect his art form without worrying about the corrupting, confining influences of money and power but living in a capitalistic society makes that difficult, if not impossible.
The problems begin when troubled lawyer Laura Black (Emily Mortimer) accidentally ends up shooting out the window of Mike’s studio with the gun of a cop who trains there.
When Mike gets a valuable watch from hard-drinking movie star Chet Frank (Tim Allen, wrestling manfully if shakily with Mamet’s staccato rhythms) as thanks for bailing him out of a jam he gives it to his police officer friend without realizing it’s hot.
Chet is so impressed by the charismatic young fighter with the far-out ideas about purity that he offers him a job on his latest film as a producer. What Mike doesn’t realize is that he’s really just a pawn in a much larger game involving wealthy parasites who want to steal Mike’s ideas and force him to betray his ideals and fight.
Mike seems shocked, yes, shocked, to discover that Mixed Martial Arts tournaments are dirty and rigged, even though he previously refused to be a part of them for precisely those reasons. Mike similarly should not be surprised when the world of show-business proves sketchy as hell as well.
Ejiofor does wonders with the stock character of the man of peace pushed into becoming a man of violence but his character is distractingly naive, particularly for a protagonist in a David Mamet film. The same is true of the film itself. The playwright turned filmmaker sure picked a strange time to get idealistic and that utterly out of place idealism is just one of this engaging but facile drama’s many unconvincing elements.
The Fractured Mirror entry: Ten Items or Less (2006)
11 months ago
– Tue, Dec 12, 2023 at 10:49:14 AM
Ten Items or Less (2006) FM
Morgan Freeman is cast against type, oddly enough, as a Morgan Freeman-like movie star in Brad Siberling’s slight but engaging 2006 character study 10 Items or Less. Freeman has played so many golden-voiced, regal authority figures that it’s strange and wonderful to see him play a role much closer to his actual self. The change has liberated Freeman, who also executive produced. He’s seldom, if ever, been so playful and silly.
In a delightful bit of self-parody, Freeman plays a famous movie star known for working with Ashley Judd. He’s been out of the game for four years but is contemplating making a low-key comeback in a low-budget independent film. To help him decide whether or not to take the role he decides to do some research at a grocery store.
There he meets Scarlet (Paz Vega), a beautiful twenty-five year old cashier at the 10 Items or Less lane who fascinates the movie star with her earthy beauty but also her will, spunk and strength of character.
When Freeman’s movie star is unable to secure a ride home he ends up spending a blissful afternoon with the gorgeous much younger woman. Scarlet’s world fascinates Freeman’s protagonist because it is so wildly different from his own charmed life.
Freeman’s affable thespian is dazzled by a visit to Target and other everyday wonders of a world much less glamorous and exclusive than the one that he inhabits. Vega has great chemistry with her legendary costar but this is the Morgan Freeman Show all the way. Freeman is clearly having tremendous fun letting go of all of that grace and gravitas for something much lighter and more fun. His enthusiasm is both palpable and infectious.
The Fractured Mirror entry: The Death Kiss (1933)
11 months ago
– Sat, Dec 09, 2023 at 11:35:12 AM
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The Fractured Mirror entry: May December (2023)
11 months ago
– Sun, Dec 03, 2023 at 06:06:57 PM
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
Buy my books part 2: The Buy my Bookening
11 months ago
– Sun, Dec 03, 2023 at 06:05:27 AM
Hey you beautiful people,
As a small businessman who writes books that would make great gifts (particularly my Weird A-Coloring to Al coloring books) Christmas time is supposed to be the best and busiest time of the year.
That's why I wanted to get The Fractured Mirror done by November of this year.
I wasn't able to make that happen because I wanted to take my time and do the best possible job.
I told myself that I'd still manage to sell some books even without a new one out.
It has been a solid week, however, since I've sold so much as a single copy of a single one of the six or seven books in my store. I'm trying not to obsess about it but it doesn't feel good or give me faith that I'll be sell even an exceedingly modest amount in the future.
So if you would consider buying one of my books from my store it would be much appreciated. I need the money but more than that, it would mean a lot to me psychologically. That way I could answer the angry voice in my head that says, "Nobody will ever want anything you have to offer, ever, with, "At least one person wants at least one thing I have to offer."
I'm temporarily out of hardcover copies of The Joy of Trash, because I'm so pessimistic I didn't order enough copies but there should be more in in about a week. Otherwise, everything else is in stock and looking for a good home at https://www.nathanrabin.com/shop
