A troubled Business Magnate Robert (Richard Gere) is on the verge of selling-off his company when he finds his focuses derailed when he gets himself into a downward spiral as a result of his own personal choices. A deadly mishap occurs, which if uncovered, could irreversibly destroy his life and Family. His endless drive to save himself from drowning comes at all costs, consuming fully his Wife Ellen (Susan Sarandon), his Daughter Brooke (Brit Marling), his Mistress Julie (Laetitia Casta) and a Man he is indebted with protecting, Jimmy (Nate Parker).
First-time Director/Writer Nicholas Jarecki more than ably gets the job done and them some in Arbitrage, a thrilling and intense Rollercoaster Ride inside the mind of a Man who at once ruthless, is always bone-chillingly composed and dare I say, irresistible? Other than a few odd choices in the Music and Scoring Department (sometimes less is more), much about this Film is superb.
Although Gere has thrown-in a perpetual string of Clunkers since a dynamic back-to-back duo in 2002’s Unfaithful and Chicago, he absolutely sizzles here. If it weren’t for a year already crammed with top caliber performances in the Best Actor category, he would be more of a standout in these early stages of Awards Season.
Marling as Robert’s Daughter and a voice of reason, is absolutely phenomenal, mirroring some of her Father’s coolness, while Tim Roth grates on our nerves just enough in his persistence to make us root for our morally-flawed Hero.
Arbitrage isn’t so much an Essay on Ethics as it is a Story about Survival in a world where one can only depend on oneself. VVS Films releases Abritrage on Friday, September 28, 2012.
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