Roger That

Here's Roger Ebert on David Mamet's Redbelt:

It never really pulls itself together into the convincing, focused drama it promises, yet it kept me involved right up until the final scenes, which piled on developments almost recklessly. So gifted is Mamet as a writer and director that he can fascinate us even when he's pulling rabbits out of an empty hat

This encapsulates the problem with many film critics (who gave Redbelt a 70 positive score at Rotten Tomatoes) and Mamet. They're so impressed with his theatrical credentials that they put up with ridiculous plots and dialogue that would guarantee a thumbs down from anyone else.