Friday, September 21, 2012

Arbitrage


The word arbitrage is defined as the simultaneous purchase and sale of the same securities, commodities, or foreign exchange in different markets to profit from unequal prices. That’s about as breathy a definition as the financial plot of Nicholas Jarecki’s new thriller. Thankfully for us, Jarecki proves to be expert at handling and explaining the financial complexities that his anti-hero, billionaire Robert Miller (Richard Gere), gets wrapped up in.

Oh, and there’s more. Arbitrage is far more than a convoluted financial drama – that’s just what its plot is rooted in. But at its heart, this is a film about a man collapsing. Because he has to keep up appearances everywhere he goes, his outer shell displays exuberant poise. But inside. But inside, he’s crumbling.

For a guy like me (who enjoys knowing next to nothing about the fuckedupness of the American financial system), detailing the plot of Arbitrage will be an exercise in futility. But here goes.
Robert Miller is in trouble. His company is currently being audited before it is sold off to the highest bidder. Problem is, because a recent copper mine deal went bad, Miller is trying to hide the fact that his company is missing nearly half a billion in revenue. If the auditors find the gap, Miller will be ruined. On top of all this, Miller and his mistress get into a car accident, in which his mistress is killed. So, at the risk of embarrassing his family, Miller leaves the scene of the accident and attempts to pretend that it never happened.

Now, obviously, there’s a lot going on here, seemingly more than there needs to be. Once Jarecki introduced Miller’s girlfriend, I was very apprehensive as to where we were going. The financial stuff is enough, why add the complication of lovers torn? With all this in mind, I proudly assert that Jarecki achieves a steadfast balance between the two plots. Miller’s crashing business is the perfect backdrop to his crashing life. The script is terse, and solid, but, admittedly, none of this would work if it wasn’t for a remarkable lead performance from Richard Gere.

As Miller, Gere is forced to convey multiple emotions, usually at the same time. As mentioned earlier: cool face, cascading stability. And to say Gere hits his marks is a vast understatement. The screaming, the crying, the loving, the wailing in pain – the man is perfect here. He alone makes the movie worth it.
But he certainly has some help. Brit Marling (a raw, true talent) plays his daughter and business partner with wit and ferocious confidence, while Susan Sarandon takes the rich desperate housewife role to wondrous new levels. Both Tim Roth, as a sleazy cop trying to take Miller down, and Nate Parker, as an innocent kid trying to help Miller out, only add to the film’s conviction.

Arbitrage isn’t perfect. But after writing that sentence, I’m honestly hard pressed to point out glaring faults of the picture. Could its pace been a little more rapid? Maybe. It’s tone a tad darker? Perhaps. But that’s being nit picky. This is an engrossing family thriller that will most definitely be time well spent. Maybe the film as a whole isn’t perfect, but many of the performances sure as hell are. B+

20 comments:

  1. Glad you liked it so much!

    "But after writing that sentence, I’m honestly hard pressed to point out glaring faults of the picture." Love that point. For me, maybe I could find some faults if I really searched, but I don't want to. It's such a fundamentally well-made film that I think it would be really nit picky to criticize it much.

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    1. Right on man, obviously I completely agree with that sentiment. It really is a solid, engaging thriller, and the performances were flawless. Glad you liked it too!

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  2. I didn't love this like everybody else in the world seemed to, but it was an entertaining enough piece to watch, mainly due to the performances given by everybody involved. Not a huge fan of Gere, but he's good here and plays his character a lot darker than we've seen from him before. Nice review Alex.

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    1. I'm not a huge fan of Gere either, actually. I thought his work (and everyone else's) in Chicago was mediocre at best. But when Gere is on (as he is here and in Unfaithful) the man is on. He made the movie worth it.

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  3. I'm not sure if I'll see this but I do like Richard Gere. I recently read an article about him on Entertainment Weekly where he talks about his work. Yes, he's been in bad movies and he was bad in those. Yet, he has enough great films and performances that does make him an icon. Days of Heaven, American Gigolo, An Officer and a Gentleman, Internal Affairs, Pretty Woman, Primal Fear, Unfaithful, Chicago (didn't care for the film but I did like him in it), and I'm Not There. That's a good filmography.

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    1. Oh yeah, for sure, dude has dished out some fantastic performances. I'll tell you, if you're on the fence about seeing this flick, Gere definitely makes it worth it, no doubt.

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  4. Great review Alex. Pretty much sums up most of my feelings. I didn't love it though but similarly I found little to actually fault except perhaps a slow pace.

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    1. Yeah, when I read your review, it seemed like we were spot on with this one. Hoping Gere gets a nom, but he's got some tough competition.

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    2. So many good Actors this year it seems! Will be tough but he would be deserving.

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    3. Phoenix in The Master is the best I've seen so far. Shit blew me away.

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  5. Love this review. I've been keeping an eye on this one, so I might check it out on Amazon Instant Video soon.

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    1. I think Amazon or iTunes is the way to go here... not really worth scouting it out at an indie theater, you know?

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  6. Great review! I'm definetly going to catch this on DVD, Sarandon is always so great and Gere can do wonders when he has interesting character to play and it seems it's just the case here.

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    1. Thanks! Yep, Gere is fantastic here. He and Sarandon definitely make the movie worth it!

      Unrelated note: although I disagree with nearly everything you said in your Girls post, that comment thread you have going is just priceless. I think it's so silly that people are criticizing your opinions. You have a very lacerating writing style, and if people don't dig it, I suppose they shouldn't read it...?

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    2. Hell, they even made that dancing movie with Jennifer Lopez worth, though to be fair it might have been Tucci and Jenkins's appeal :)

      I'm fine with them criticizng as long as they simply won't to share their views and ask me to elaborate on the things I wrote. But the comments that really piss me off is when people take stuff like this personally and start rambling about their own insecurities as if I somehow offended them personally. Hey, it's just a TV series - chillax.

      It may be the question of ettiquette - there are plenty of Prometheus reviews I read where I disagreed with everything someone said, but I simply didn't comment. Some says it has plot holes...well, I much rather try to prove on my own blog that it doesn't the start a pointless discussion which has 99% of changing into pointless fight.

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    3. Couldn't agree more. It's the same thing with all of the negative reviews for Shame, or Earrings, for that matter. People can hate what they hate, and love what they love. Who am I to tell someone their opinion is wrong?

      I think many people who frequent comments sections could use a good chillaxing every now and again.

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  7. Solid review. I might actually visit the newly discovered indie cinema in my area. Here owned in Unfaithful, so I'd be interested to see him again.

    As for backlash (you and Sati's conversation) , try not loving TDKR. Yeesh.

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    1. Yeah man, I recommend this one for sure. Can't wait to hear what you think.

      Oh christ, I bet you received an online ass kicking for not digging that flick. I loved the TDKR, but, again, why the hell would I argue that your opinion is wrong? It's just so... petty.

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  8. On board with you on this one 100%, sir. In fact, I couldn't have said it better. This is a B+ film all the way, really nicely done. And Gere is just one of those actors I can never tire of. He's right at home here.

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    1. Nice man! Glad you like the review. Nothing wrong with the film at all, but nothing overly superb either. Gere, however, is fantastic. How cool would an Oscar nom be?

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