Arbitrage

Simply put (well, not really), the definition of the financial term arbitrage involves taking advantage of differences in different prices on different financial markets. As written it should be risk free. In reality, a bit of bad luck could mean a swift fall from grace. So that’s the title (not very well) explained and though the businessman in Nicholas Jarecki’s film is starting to feel the heat following some unwise financial decisions this aspect of the production is actually a metaphor for some unwise decisions in the man’s personal life. These include such things as having an affair, involuntary manslaughter and fleeing the scene of an accident. Hmm, who is this chap? He doesn’t seem like much of a good egg! His name is Robert Miller and thanks to a cracking performance from Richard Gere, it’s somewhat amazing that come the end of the film you almost feel sympathy for him. This is in effect a character study telling the story of the fall from grace of a man who has it all but still wants even more. In other hands you’d have little sympathy for Miller, but Jarecki’s smart script has enough moments of ambiguity on the morality front you begin to question just who the real villains of the piece are. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is a slow burning drama mind as the plot has plenty of thriller elements. This is the classic screenplay of just when the main character thinks he has got all bases covered along comes another problem to solve. On the acting front Susan Sarandon (as Millers’ wife) and Brit Marling (as their daughter) have minimal screen time to make an impact, though Tim Roth (digging out the American accent) has some fun as the world weary (though sly) cop on Millers tail. This is Jarecki’s first feature length non-documentary film and it’s an accomplished debut. Roll on his next production I say (mooted to be a detective story set in a future where fuel is running out).

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict

A film that virtually nobody will go to watch in the cinema (that title and a bland poster hardly helping its cause), but for those that do venture in this is a nice little thriller / drama hybrid.  Rating: 7/10.