The universe of playwright-turned-director David Mamet is filled with sharks, con artists, petty criminals, and other characters of pathetic desperation, which makes the upright hero of Redbelt such a fascinating enigma. A teacher at an L.A. jujitsu academy, he is really a noble warrior-saint who clings to his code of honor in a world that does not respect such things. And, while the film celebrates this strength right to the end, it also has an undercurrent of sadness in its depiction of the costly nature of such nobility. Like any Mamet film, corruption is everywhere, but Redbelt is the first to show us the kind of unsullied spirit that can resist it, albeit not easily and not without a price. (Hollywood Jewel 16, Waco, TX)