Writer-director David Mamet's "Redbelt" is a martial arts drama for the art-house crowd. It's an intriguing near-miss that keeps you wondering where it's headed with its quirky mix of brawn and brains.

Macho guy that he is, Mamet has learned the martial arts hybrid known as jiu-jitsu. "Redbelt" goes into scholarly detail about how Brazilian fighters transformed a basically Japanese fighting skill that has ended up in a rough L.A. neighborhood being taught by an ethically strong man, Mike Terry (Chiwetel Ejiofor).

Even though Mamet's story eventually runs off in crazy and even implausible directions, the movie always remains grounded in the stoic performance by Ejiofor ("Dirty Pretty Things," "American Gangster"). At that private academy, Terry imparts philosophical lessons as much as self-defense moves. Actual combat is viewed as a last resort, and Terry avoids confrontations to such a degree that he won't even enter martial arts competitions.

His nobility may be admirable, but it doesn't pay the bills. He's barely able to maintain his academy until unforseen circumstances force Terry to reconsider his determination to stay out of the prize-money ring.

Sharing this American hero's house if not his frugal habits is his Brazilian wife, Sondra (Alice Braga), a fashion designer who wouldn't mind having more money in their bank account. In fact, she comes from a family of Brazilian martial arts fighters who enjoy the good life provided by competing in the ring.

Mamet's densely woven script contains developments that viewers should discover for themselves, but suffice it to say that Terry's life is complicated by the sudden appearance of characters including a cop taking martial arts lessons (Max Martini), a troubled lawyer (Emily Mortimer), a tough fight promoter (Ricky Jay), a vicious loan shark (David Paymer), a slimy movie producer (Joe Mantegna), a Hollywood action movie star (Tim Allen), and the movie star's wife (Rebecca Pidgeon, aka Mrs. Mamet).

Some of these actors have worked with Mamet on numerous stage and film projects, so it's not surprising that they operate so smoothly here. Those who aren't part of what amounts to a repertory company mostly fit in with ease.

You know that the fine actor Ejiofor will be absolutely convincing as the martial arts instructor, but it's a pleasant revelation to see Allen playing it straight as the action movie star; there's not a wink or a giggle from him as he takes on the deliberately dull role of a middle-aged celebrity who wants advice on how to get more youthful kick in the movie he's currently shooting.

Although the eclectic cast is able to inhabit the same L.A. landscape, there are stilted moments owing to a script in which Mamet's trademark profane dialogue alternates with more poetically crafted lines. Like the movie as a whole, the script's extended conversations bounce uncertainly from the gutter to the philosophical heavens and back again.

It doesn't help any that dramatic twists late in the proceedings are a bit of a stretch. In that respect, it's too bad that a film that usually has a firm understanding of its gritty environment nearly succumbs to a borderline silly climax that seems like a non-ironic pitch to the "Rocky" crowd.

Mamet shoots a crucial fight at the end in such a technically clumsy manner that it's not even clear what's happening in a good guy vs. bad guy showdown. Although the film earns points for bending our expectations of the martial arts genre, it loses points when you can't see how the big fight is fought. Grade: B-

"Redbelt" (R) opens Friday, May 9 at area theaters.

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