brilliantly acted and directed film.Robert Miller Richard Gere is a multi-billionaire hedge fund magnate whose errors in investing judgment are catching up with him. He is the patriarch of a family that consists of his supportive and adoring wife Ellen Susan Sarandon, as beautiful and brilliant as ever , a son who is so unimportant that we never get to know him, and a beautiful bright daughter Brooke Brit Marling, an actress to watch closely who is Miller's sidekick in his trading empire. Miller's flaws show from the beginning: he has an artist mistress Julie Laetitia Casta with whom he secretly cavorts, an investment in Russian copper on which he spends his clients' money to acquire before the investment falls through, he owes money to an angry loaner who pressures him to pay off his huge debt, etc. Troubles are compounded when Miller suggests to Julie they take her car and go to a seaside summer home to get away and during that trip Miller accidentally wrecks the car and Julie is killed. Miller calls Jimmy Nate Parker, another brilliant characterization , the son of a man Miller befriended in the past, to pick him up. And there the trouble begins. A persistent but crooked detective Tim Roth, superb! causes problems as he investigates the death of Julie and from there Miler must try to put together the broken pieces of his life by selling his company whose worth is questionable to escape both his imprisonment for fraud and Jimmy's imprisonment for obstruction of justice. How all this weaves together with his wife and his daughter is left in a manner that makes the audience wonder what will happen next - should the story proceed.Richard Gere gives probably the finest performance of his career: he has too frequently been overlooked for his memorable roles in movies. Likewise Susan Sarandon, Brit Marling, Nate Parker, and Tim Roth create characters we will never forget. The supporting cast is populated with the likes of Graydon Carter yes, of Vanity Fair fame , Stuart Margolin, Felix Solis, Reg E. Cathey, Curtiss Cook, Bruce Altman and many more. The music that highlights moments in the film is from such disparate singers as Billie Holliday and Bjork whose 'I See Who You Are' serves as an apropos closure during the film's final credits. It may be tough to witness the way the corporate world works, but few films have done a better job at pulling back the curtains to let us view those things we'd rather not acknowledge. Grady Harp

dark and pessimistic yet gripping drama.Richard Gere, in what is probably one of the best performances of the year, plays Rob Miller, a major hedge fund manager. It's obvious from our first glimpse of him that he's hiding something. Turns out he's fixing his books to keep his company afloat, and is in the midst of an affair with an art dealer who happens to also be a client of his. Despite his trickery and deceit though, Gere's Miller has quite the charm and likability. One of the first scenes shows Miller discussing with his daughter who is also his CFO the sale of the company and it's assets. He cites spending time with his family as a factor for stepping away from the business. Is he telling the truth, or just using that to cover the fact he needs to sell the business to avoid prison time? Even after we learn of his fraud, it still seems plausible that his main concern is to protect his family.Of course from experience of watching movies, we know what to expect. An accident occurs, and Miller's lover is killed. It's at this predictable point though, where the film really takes off, in both Gere's performance and the film's precision. Miller weights his options, ultimately deciding his best move is to flee the scene, reasons being to be protect his family, as well as his business. As I said, anyone who watches movies knows where the story has to go, and Miller soon finds himself under investigation by homicide detective Michael Bryer, a well-casted Tim Roth.Arbitrage is not a movie about decision making as much as it is about the motives behind them1. While it does give off a pretty heavy anti-rich feel, it's one of the better movies in recent years in terms of portraying it's rich protagonist in two-dimensions. His actions are clearly wrong, yet we as the audience are not crying out for blood. Perhaps he is not being entirely selfish in his actions. Or maybe he is. It's difficult to come to a conclusion.

learn some interesting facts about his past. He has built a fortune because he loves what he does, and he is very good at it. He's no angel, but compared to people we have seen in the news and recent films dealing with the economic crisis, he shows a good balance of humanity and the necessary and cold tenacity which keeps him going in the business world.Things become complicated, as he must now find a way to deal with the aftermath of an accident and a death. He seems to have the support of important in his life. Some alibis might be automatic. Others will undergo the test of loyalty, and most importantly, the driven investigative skills of a certain detective who will do just about anything to capture his bad guy.The plot thickens, with unexpected twists, and our interest continues as Miller must eventually make a decision in order to protect a certain party. It's at this moment that we get our biggest shocks, and the film will probably have a few arguing about its resolution. In my opinion, it's a good ending, one that is not so simple, which might lead to a sequel, only if it retains the same level of quality, but not because it is a product of research or an unexpected box office bonanza. The film is very well made, with better than average acting, and challenging the viewer to understand the differences and similarities between two different worlds. The big question is are more similar than we think? or Is the gap too wide to ever close it? Whatever you decide, get ready for a thrilling ride.

Gere is in perfect form, personifying a complicated man who for once sees the results of his narcissistic actions. While his empire crumbles, his personal life goes the same way. Every scene Gere is in brings to light just how powerful an actor he is. But an actor would be nothing without a powerful script. The author of the film's screenplay is also the film's director, Nicholas Jarecki, the co-author of the 2009 film adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis film "The Informers". In his largest film yet, Jarecki keeps with themes of arrogance that comes with power. The script moves at a brisk pace, keeping your attention and leaving you nearly breathless once you've reached the conclusion. Cinematography and setting blend easily into the background of these character's actions. New York City is brought to live, as she has countless times before, as the epicenter and culmination of the good and the bad. But what sets the screen apart from any other NYC-set film is the fact that nothing seems to be done to make NYC any more like NYC. The film's version of the city is exactly how it is in real life. Susan Sarandon, still as beautiful as ever, steals her scenes as Miller's powerful wife. As does Brit Marling and especially Nate Parker, newcomers full of promise. The sole weak spot is, surprisingly, the performance of Tim Roth, the detective. His character starts the film with a Brooklyn-type accent. In his second scene Roth seems to attain his native Cockney accent, then lose it as the film progresses. He ends with a bizarre jumble of both."Arbitrage" is an intelligent, engaging thriller about the depths of bad decisions made from the arrogance of power. It is a must-see of the 2012 film season.

was a, ah, a french? this is a very watchable movie. gere and all of the other supporting actors, they all did a great job. all of the face-to-face blood boiling argues, questioning and quarrels were done so real, the actor who played the daughter is very very good, very impressed.

everyone is actually playing him even though he thinks he's the one in charge. Arbitrage reminds of Disclosure, in that the intensity of it doesn't come from action but from the escalating drama, the talented actors and the plot. You don't know whether to hate Robert Miller or feel sorry for him, because even though he's doing bad things he doesn't have bad intentions. And Richard Gere pulls it off without a hitch, his first major role in years, one of the finest acting jobs to come out of Hollywood in many, many moons. Richard Gere definitely deserves an Oscar nod for this one.

that seemingly simplistic foundation springs forth a disastrous series of errors of near Shakespearian proportion, ultimately avoidable as they all turn out to be. We first meet with hedge fund manager Robert Miller as he hounds his subordinate to track down the CEO of a rival corporation for a final authorizing signature that will conclude the sale of his firm. Unbeknownst to everyone but him and his accountant, Miller has committed fraud and cooked the books to hide a disastrous investment in a Russian copper operation. Through this sale he can more than cover his losses and retire a multi-millionaire, but after another mistake this time on a far more personal level his transgressions at work pale in comparison. It is through Gere's remarkable performance that we come to sympathize with a man who is not only a liar and a fraud that uses those he loves and dispose of those he needs without a second thought, but who also descends into something far worse: a murderer at least in the eyes of the law . However, we can see deep down he loves his family, will right all financial wrongs with the sale of his business without anyone being hurt and mostly had non-malicious intentions when fleeing the scene of his crime. We become so caught up in this character's predicament and the world in which he thrives is so equally callous and ugly he comes off as part saint despite being everything an average person despises – he is the one percent and essentially rides above the law. Having given up his mantle of A-list leading man some time ago, Gere, instead of rushing headfirst into subpar roles that would keep him somewhat in the spotlight, has become a superb actor in his own right choosing interesting projects from The Hoax to The Hunting Party. His performance in Arbitrage is perhaps his best work ever, exuding charisma, spewing malice and emanating explosive energy at the perfect junctures. Jarecki's script and Gere's work is the perfect marriage of actor and material. The supporting cast is equally superb. Susan Sarandon does a great deal with limited screen time as Robert's wife, as does Brit Marling as his daughter and unofficial partner at the firm. Tim Roth does his evil thing without missing a beat as a determined and justice-blurring cop though his accent slips a few times and relative unknown Nate Parker as a past connection of Robert's who plays an pivotal and emotionally potent role in the deception does scene-stealing work. Conjointly as is the case with ludicrous revelations and senseless violence, in most thrillers a last-act imposition occurs, stripping any good will that may have been awarded and leaving nothing but a sour taste. Arbitrage has a perfect – perfect – ending and is immediately preceded with two fascinating examinations of character in both Miller's wife and the buyer of his firm. The overarching theme amongst these catharses is that money rules all, but the execution and timing of both comes off as nothing close to hollow. It is easy to fathom certain viewers being bored or put off by the deliberate pacing and stylistic choices Arbitrage makes, but that is no fault of this tense and involving film but rather of the spoiled, ADD generation that can't make it through 100 minutes of cinema without multiple shootouts, riveting as it all is. As the antidote to bland Hollywood white-knuckle escapism, Arbitrage is the sublime archetype, substantive and lasting and proving that smarts and dedicated performers can drive a compelling narrative.

character as the society wife who knows more than you think, but in the end has her own set of priorities. Britt Marling plays the daughter who aspires to build her own career only to be forced to confront disillusionment in the "real world" and make some tough choices. Richard Gere, as Robert Miller, is the epitome of a Wall Street "master of the universe" whose finely balanced life is on the verge of collapse. Much has been written about the psychology of self-destruction that leads someone in power almost invariably male to risk so much for so little. Gere captures that mindset beautifully. Nate Parker is the black kid, whose father has a history with the family, and whom Miller shamelessly embroils in the mess that he has created. Parker gives a great performance. Finally, Tim Roth is outstanding as the NYPD detective who is sick and tired of the big Wall Street guys escaping justice and is desperate to nail Gere - too desperate as it turns out.Arbitrage is slick, American filmmaking that delivers on what it promises. No more, but no less.

accident when Robert was driving and Brooke finds his father in fraudulence. Now Robert Miller has to struggle against two people: detective Michael Bryer Tim Roth and his own daughter and none of them is going to step back. I am not going to tell how well Gere's character manages this but I can definitely tell you that Richard, as an actor, did a great job. Possibly it's the best performance of his career. Anyone can name his memorable roles but this one is no doubt the best. He delivers an emotional, stressed and very precise acting and looks very natural which makes his work really brilliant. But the best part of this movie is Nicolas Jarecki. It's not easy to write and direct the film at the same time, especially when it is your first time. He wrote a beautifully crafted script and transferred it professionally on the screen. The more you watch bigger the tension gets and you want to know whether it will end up in a good way. The writer has intelligently stuck surprising details throughout the story and that made whole movie more dynamic.So, I found Arbitrage to be an attractive, smart and well produced movie and believe that it could be a perfect star for Nicolas's directing or writing career.