The real attraction here is Chiwetel Ejiofor. The more I see of him, the more I am impressed. He has wonderful screen charisma, and his performance here is electric. He brings Mike Terry to vivid life, a compelling character who you want to see succeed. There are many opportunites for him to turn his back on his ideals and take the easy way to a profitable end, and watching him navigate the treacherous waters is fantastic. He has many decisions to make, none of them easy and questions remain over whether or not he made the right choice. All of this builds to a conclusion that made me say, "Wow!"
The supporting cast have interesting stories as well; in particular Max Martini (The Unit) as Joe Ryan, the troubled police officer who believes 100% in protecting the honor of the dojo. Another interesting secondary character is Emily Mortimer (Lars and the Real Girl) as Laura Black, the lawyer with personal issues; she plays a major factor in moving the story along. Finally, there is Tim Allen who does a fine job in limited screentime as the movie star.
David Mamet's script is strong when it comes to the Mike Terry character. There are also a lot of interesting points as the plot unfolds; it is not until afterwards that you find yourself questioning motives. Overall, the screenplay is good, but could have been better. Still, Mamet's work is at the very least worth checking out. On the other hand, his directing is rather pedestrian, nothing particularly special. It would be interesting to see his screenplay directed by someone with a more visual style.
Bottom line. This may not be Mamet's best work, and it may have some big plot issues in retrospect, but it is still an interesting film and one that is definitely worth spending a couple of hours with. If nothing else, you will find a strong performance from Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Recommended.
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