I just saw this yesterday and wished I read through these comments because I would've stayed at home.
The beginning of the movie showed a lot of promise. Ambiguous characters, unraveling, with Mamet at the director's chair.
But that unraveling is what didn't translate at all to me. I could not for the life of me figure out why his friend commits suicide. The reason the film gives is because of a watch that was stolen or pawned, what the hell? And as far as the "climax" of the film, why did the fight to the death exist? To get money for his friend's widowed wife? Out of vengeance for his girlfriend's betrayal? To get back at the Brazilian "mafia" for setting up the fight and stealing his proverb?
If it was for the last reason stated, then great, but it just seemed way too ambiguous and exhausting to look deeper, at that point, I just wanted the movie to end. But if that's the case, it all seemed to contradict the main character's "integrity" which he seemed so intent on defending at all costs. And also, he shouldn't have gotten the Redbelt if that were the case.
The beginning of the movie showed a lot of promise. Ambiguous characters, unraveling, with Mamet at the director's chair.
But that unraveling is what didn't translate at all to me. I could not for the life of me figure out why his friend commits suicide. The reason the film gives is because of a watch that was stolen or pawned, what the hell? And as far as the "climax" of the film, why did the fight to the death exist? To get money for his friend's widowed wife? Out of vengeance for his girlfriend's betrayal? To get back at the Brazilian "mafia" for setting up the fight and stealing his proverb?
If it was for the last reason stated, then great, but it just seemed way too ambiguous and exhausting to look deeper, at that point, I just wanted the movie to end. But if that's the case, it all seemed to contradict the main character's "integrity" which he seemed so intent on defending at all costs. And also, he shouldn't have gotten the Redbelt if that were the case.