Watchdog

Redbelt, 99 minutes.

The world premiere of David Mamet's new film kicked off the Tribeca/ESPN Film Festival and opens widely Friday.

The backdrop is mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and it was described to me as an "American Samurai" movie.

Chiwetel Ejiofor is effective as the honor-bound coach who is dragged reluctantly into the competitive arena, and Alice Braga is luminescent as his Brazilian wife with a less-than-nice family.

Tim Allen plays a movie star. Randy Couture plays a TV commentator.

Some plot points are confusing, which apparently is not uncommon in Mamet films, and there are elements of sports movie cliche.

But I found it entertaining, and it's another step for MMA into the mainstream sports and entertainment culture.