A quiet drama about honor and integrity being trampled down by the cruel business practices taking over and exploiting the world of martial arts. Writer/director David Mamet does minimal explaining and almost no hand-holding which will leave a large portion of the audience scratching their heads (for example the red belt nowadays is mostly used in competitions by one out of two opponents). At the same time, he will repeat a few ideas several times to make sure the viewer doesn’t miss them later on. Let me just say the ending is not what one would expect from a Hollywood movie and the final curtain drops on a single focused note.
Excellent performances from main and supporting cast members. I especially admire the measured take on the experienced and unwavering central character Terry played by always mesmerizing Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Since the movie came out the world of MMA has evolved, but the main takeaway remains: The MMA in general is far removed from the various traditions it draws from.
Source: Letterboxd
Info: IMDb
Life of Uri 