Redbelt

The curtain opens on the unassuming façade of a Jiu-Jitsu academy, where Mike Terry (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is immersed in a intense training session. His unique approach to instruction involves a peculiar pre-match ritual: each participant draws one of three marbles, two shrouded in darkness and one bathed in radiance. The stakes are high, as the individual who selects a black marble must confront an unforeseen handicap, reminiscent of a board game's twist of fate. Joe (Max Martini), a driven police officer seeking to attain a black belt, draws the unlucky black marble and is forced to face his opponent with hands bound in front of him, much like a prisoner shackled by circumstance. Despite his valiant efforts, Joe ultimately succumbs to the pressure, unable to break free from a devastating choke hold. Mike's consolatory words cut deep, however: had Joe focused his energy, he could have escaped the grasp.

Meanwhile, Laura (Emily Mortimer) navigates the torrential rain, her desperation to reach a pharmacy before its closure consuming her thoughts. Her attention is divided between the treacherous road conditions and her urgent phone call. In a moment of inattention, she collides with a parked truck, sending her on a quest to locate the owner. As she wanders into the Jiu-Jitsu academy, Mike is in the midst of demonstrating the perils of Joe's police-issue shoulder holster in a real-world fight scenario. Joe's chivalrous attempt to relieve Laura's distress sets off a chain reaction when she inadvertently seizes his momentarily abandoned firearm. The consequences are dire: a shattered window and an air of tension hangs heavy over the studio.

Mike and Joe decide to conceal the truth, aware that the authorities could view Laura's actions as attempted murder. Instead, they attribute the damage to the whims of nature, framing it as an act of God that isn't covered by Mike's insurance policy. This sudden turn of events sparks a heated debate between Mike and his wife, Sondra (Alice Braga), regarding their financial situation. It transpires that the academy is on the brink of bankruptcy, with Sondra's fashion business serving as the sole lifeline. Her brother, Ricardo (John Machado), a mixed martial arts champion, becomes an increasingly viable option for securing a loan to keep the academy afloat.

As Mike enters Ricardo's club, he's struck by the unique atmosphere, a result of Bruno (Rodrigo Santoro) and Sondra's other brother co-owning the establishment. The lack of a bouncer is particularly noteworthy, given that Joe was supposed to be working as security to earn extra cash for his family's mounting medical expenses. With Ricardo unavailable, Mike meets with Bruno instead, taking in the sounds of a charismatic magician performing an impressive sleight of hand demonstration. The bartender shares some juicy gossip about Joe quitting due to Bruno's failure to compensate him fairly.

In the club office, Bruno and fight promoter Marty Brown (Ricky Jay) are deep in conversation about orchestrating a high-stakes mixed martial arts match between Ricardo and Japanese legend Morisaki (Enson Inoue). Marty drops hints about fixing the outcome of the bout, but Bruno is ambivalent, weighing the pros and cons. This tense discussion is interrupted by Mike's arrival, who presses Bruno for answers about his failure to pay Joe a fair wage. Bruno's response is shrouded in mystery, citing future plans that never materialized, while also attempting to persuade Mike to participate in the undercard of the upcoming fight, which promises a lucrative payout of $50,000. However, Mike remains steadfast in his commitment to his samurai-like code, rejecting the idea that competition is merely a means to an end.

Their conversation is cut short by Bruno's sudden attention to the security monitors, which reveal none other than Chet Frank (Tim Allen), a fading Hollywood action hero, entering the club without an entourage. Chet makes a clumsy attempt at flirting with a woman at the bar, only to be rebuffed by her offended boyfriend. When things escalate into a physical altercation, Mike intervenes, effortlessly subduing the attackers.

The next day, a messenger arrives at Mike's doorstep bearing a lavish watch and an invitation to dinner from Chet Frank, who is grateful for Mike's timely intervention in the bar fight. Mike promptly passes the watch on to Joe, advising him to pawn it for much-needed cash. As he reflects on his actions, Mike feels a sense of responsibility, having inadvertently led Joe into a situation where he was exploited by Bruno.

As Mike arrives at the academy the next morning, he's greeted by the sight of Laura meticulously repairing the window she'd shattered the previous evening. Her contrite expression gives way to a sheepish grin as she hands him an enrollment form for his class, apologizing once more for her erratic behavior. This small act of redemption sets the tone for the day ahead.

That evening, Sondra's flair for fashion catches the eye of Chet's wife, Rebecca Pidgeon, who proposes an informal business deal to purchase a substantial quantity of dresses from Sondra's company. As they converse, Mike finds himself drawn into a discussion about his teaching philosophy with Chet, who is so impressed that he invites Mike to visit the set of his latest film project the next morning. Before parting ways, Sondra urges Mike to share his unique marble drawing training method with Jerry Weiss (Joe Mantegna), Chet's business associate, who sees immense potential in using this concept as a clever gimmick to draw a crowd and generate buzz for their competitive fighting venture.

The following day, Mike arrives on the movie set, where he encounters a familiar face - a colleague of his from the military. As they chat about the project, Chet's tardiness affords Mike an opportunity to explore the set and strike up a conversation with the stunt choreographer responsible for the film's impressive hand-to-hand combat sequences. Mike's extensive knowledge of military tactics impresses Chet, who is so pleased that he extends an unexpected offer: co-producing the film. Jerry invites Mike to dinner later that evening to discuss the details, and Mike returns home to share the news with Sondra, then begins faxing his training methods to Jerry for incorporation into the movie.

That afternoon, Mike meets with Laura for a private lesson, only to be met with a revelation that sheds new light on her troubled past. Her vulnerability in the face of trauma is palpable as she shares the harrowing experience of being raped while held at knifepoint. Initially skeptical of Mike's ability to help her overcome these demons, Laura begins to exit the studio, but Mike seizes the opportunity to demonstrate his training methods firsthand, using a rubber knife to illustrate an escape route from such a precarious situation. As the weight of her emotions becomes too much to bear, Laura cathartically sobs, finally finding a measure of release.

Later that day, as Mike prepares for his beginner's class, Joe appears at the studio, bearing news that has left him reeling: he's been temporarily suspended from duty after attempting to pawn off a stolen watch. Mike is shocked and dismayed by this revelation, vowing to rectify the situation and restore Joe's good name.

As Mike sits down for dinner with Jerry, he insists on addressing the issue of the pilfered timepiece before delving into other matters. Jerry's expression turns ashen as he learns of the theft, prompting him to excuse himself to make a phone call and rectify the situation. His departure leaves Mike perplexed, and when he returns home, Sondra is equally bewildered. The phone numbers provided by Chet's wife have mysteriously been disconnected, leaving Sondra in a state of panic as she'd already committed $30,000 to fabric orders based on their oral agreement. Her financial woes are further exacerbated by the fact that she'd borrowed the funds from a loan shark (David Paymer), adding an element of urgency to her predicament.

As Mike navigates this crisis, he finds himself pondering the peculiarities of fate when he stumbles upon Marty Brown and Bruno touting the upcoming mixed martial arts match between Ricardo and Morisaki on television. The promotional gimmick involves incorporating Mike's distinctive marble drawing technique into the undercard bouts, a prospect that sparks both curiosity and concern.

In an effort to rectify his financial woes, Mike turns to Laura, seeking her expertise in crafting a case against the fight promoter for allegedly pilfering his idea. However, this endeavor is hampered by the lack of concrete evidence linking Marty Brown to Mike's concept – until Jerry Weiss makes a sudden appearance at Marty's office, addressing him as his new partner and thereby establishing a direct link between Jerry, Mike's idea, and ultimately, Marty.

This revelation allows Laura to prove theft and conspiracy to defraud, but Marty's lawyer retaliates by threatening to expose incriminating evidence if the lawsuit is not dropped. Specifically, he claims to possess an empty shell casing with Laura's fingerprints, which allegedly implicates her in an attempted murder of an off-duty cop – a crime Mike would have been complicit in covering up by bribing the officer with a stolen wristwatch.

Upon learning of this precarious situation, Joe takes his own life, leaving Mike feeling overwhelmed and responsible. He visits Joe's widow to offer condolences but finds her inconsolable, consumed by anger and financial despair as she struggles to pay mounting bills. Feeling morally obligated to help, Mike is forced to confront the reality that his principles may need to be sacrificed for the sake of his family's well-being.

In a desperate bid to alleviate his financial woes, Mike decides to abandon his moral compass and participate in the upcoming undercard fight, willing to risk everything to ensure his loved ones are protected.

As Mike steps into the arena, he's met with an unexpected spectacle: the marble drawing has been transformed into a mystical ritual, replete with an elderly man donning a ceremonial mask and accompanied by the pulsing rhythms of tribal drummers. Furthermore, his mentor, The Professor, is present, watching the proceedings with an air of quiet authority. As Mike navigates the arena's corridors, he catches a glimpse through an open dressing room door of the enigmatic magician from Bruno's club, now masquerading as an elderly Asian man. With a flourish, the magician showcases his sleight of hand skills in the mirror and secretly switches the marbles, revealing that the fight is rigged. Undeterred, Mike confronts the conspirators - Marty, Jerry, and Bruno - who confirm his suspicions and unveil their sinister plan to manipulate Ricardo's loss to Morisaki for a lucrative rematch.

The conversation takes a darker turn as Mike accuses them of being complicit in Joe's tragic demise. Jerry laments the unfortunate circumstances, blaming Mike for naivety in gifting someone as esteemed as Chet Frank. He also reveals that Sondra was the one who informed them about Laura's fateful decision to shatter the window. Bruno rationalizes her betrayal by explaining that his sister is too intelligent to remain with someone unable to provide for her.

As Mike exits the arena, he encounters Laura, their conversation hushed but intense. The encounter concludes with a resounding slap from Laura, echoing through the space. Undeterred, Mike re-enters the arena, resolved to expose the fixed fights. Security guards attempt to intervene, but Mike evades them one by one. Eventually, Ricardo engages him in combat, and they clash in the corridors as the audience and camera crews take notice. Morisaki ultimately gains the upper hand, pinning Mike in a precarious choke hold. Just as all seems lost, Mike draws inspiration from The Professor's presence and reverses the hold, emerging victorious.

In the aftermath, Morisaki presents Mike with his coveted ivory-studded belt, previously referred to as a treasured national artifact of Japan. As Mike basks in this newfound recognition, he's approached by The Professor himself, who bestows upon him the revered Redbelt, signifying Mike as his one worthy protégé.