arbitrage movie review guardian

Arbitrage – review

A swaggering master of the universe has been cooking the books at his hedge fund, while playing away from home with a dangerous dame. A fatal car crash looks set to lay him low, but he'll stop at nothing to dodge his comeuppance. You've seen it all before, but lead Richard Gere drenches the proceedings in the old razzle-dazzle.

At 64, he's as charismatic as ever, willing the audience into hoping he'll get away with his misdeeds. Indeed, he uses his age (he's playing 60) to up the stakes: if this glittering but grizzled titan goes under, there'll be no time left for a comeback.

Susan Sarandon provides nuanced support as his wronged but morally conflicted wife. Meanwhile, Tim Roth contributes a cheeringly hammy turn as a grungy New York detective prepared, wouldn't you know it, to break the rules to bring down an untouchable fat cat. An old-fashioned treat.

• Drama films
• Richard Gere

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We tend to identify with the leading character of a film, even if he is a heartless bastard. Few films illustrate this curiosity better than Nicholas Jarecki ‘s “Arbitrage,” and few actors might have been better at making it work than Richard Gere . Here is man involved in a multimillion-dollar fraud, who cheats on his wife, tries to cover up the death of his mistress and would throw his own daughter under a bus. Yet we are tense with suspense while watching him try to get away with it.

Gere has always been an actor good at suggesting secrets under the surface. Improbably handsome, he has aged here into the embodiment of a Wall Street lion, worth billions, charming, generous, honored and a fraud right down to his bones. He plays Robert Miller, whose face must have beamed reassuringly from the covers of many magazines.

As the story opens, he’s involved in the merger of his venture capital empire and has hidden $400 million in debt not only from the investors but even from his daughter, Brooke ( Brit Marling ). She is the CFO of his empire. Young, smart, she doesn’t suspect her father has cooked the books. If the deception is revealed, she’ll be hung out to dry. We’re left with memories of Bernie Madoff’s associates and family members. Both Madoff and Miller, who in many ways is inspired by him, commanded trust, affection and respect from many who should have looked closer.

Robert Miller has another problem, a high-maintenance mistress named Julie Cote ( Laetitia Casta ), who has opened an art gallery. Miller is the kind of man who requires a prestigious lover even if she must remain a secret. His wife, Ellen ( Susan Sarandon ), knows he plays around and accepts that as one of the rules of the game. Classy and well-maintained, she’s the kind of “corporate wife” who must have understood the Supreme Court decision that a corporation is a person.

Julie knows how to push Miller’s buttons. Very late one night, he is driving her somewhere as a favor when he dozes off, the car crashes, and she is killed. He thinks to make a cell call (to 911 or his lawyer? we can wonder), thinks better, walks away from the crash in some pain and uses a pay phone to call Jimmy Grant ( Nate Parker ), the son of a former chauffeur for whom Miller did personal favors.

Grant comes to the rescue, making him a witness after the fact. Miller has internal pain but ignores it, somehow holds himself together, projects his usual sleek confidence and continues his juggling act with the business deal. But Michael Bryer ( Tim Roth ), a scruffy police detective, investigates the accident scene and realizes that something doesn’t feel right. To Miller’s surprise, he turns up to question him. Roth projects indifferent chatty curiosity that conceals menace.

We may have seen elements of this scenario before, but the young writer-director Nicholas Jarecki, making his first feature, proves himself a master craftsman with a core of moral indignation. He knows how to make a gripping thriller, so well-constructed I felt urgently involved. “Arbitrage” is an example of good writing and sound construction at the service of plausible characters. It tells a story rather than relying on third-act action. It is in a classic tradition.

Hitchcock called his most familiar subject “The Innocent Man Wrongly Accused.” Jarecki pumps up the pressure here by giving us a Guilty Man Accurately Accused, and that’s what makes the film so ingeniously involving.

We can’t help identifying with the protagonist. It’s coded in our moviegoing DNA. Yet we watch in horror as Miller is willing to betray anyone — Jimmy Grant, his daughter, his wife — to win at any price. This film, especially its ending, literally could not have been released under the old Production Code.

It represents a radical revision of traditional values. It is an attack on new American mentality that values wealth above morality. Many of us may regard Robert Miller as an example of financial executives who knowingly sell worthless investments to people who trust them and then bet against them themselves. This was one of the Wall Street crimes that brought about the 2008 collapse. Charges were never filed against those thieves. They’re still at work.

“Arbitrage” is not only a great thriller, but a convincing demonstration about how the very rich can get away with murder.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

• Susan Sarandon as Ellen
• Tim Roth as Det. Bryer
• Laetitia Casta as Julie
• Brit Marling as Brooke
• Richard Gere as Robert

Written and directed by

• Nicholas Jarecki

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Movie Review

High Flier, Poised for Steep Descent

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By Manohla Dargis

• Sept. 13, 2012

“Arbitrage,” a sleek entertainment about how very good greed can be, is a fairy tale masquerading as a tragedy. It pivots on Robert Miller (Richard Gere), a shifty hedge-fund manager and 21st-century robber baron who’s foxed his way to the top of New York’s moneyed classes. Charmed and charming, with a quicksilver stride and the self-possession of a man accustomed to hearing the word yes, Robert lives in a rarefied world of private jets, live-in help and seven-figure checks made out to favorite charities. Masterworks adorn his Gramercy Park mansion where a multistory crystal chandelier cascades in the foyer like a waterfall of diamonds.

It’s an enviable life, at least from the outside where most of us will be, pressing our noses against the screen to watch the beautiful and not yet damned. It’s a world that the writer and director Nicholas Jarecki knows intimately (his father is the philanthropist Henry Jarecki) and captures efficiently. With pictorial precision he opens the film with Robert being interviewed — and smiling through words like bubble, reality and bust — and then soaring in a plane, where, perched above the clouds, he looks like the 1 percent god he is. Then it’s off to his mansion where, bathed in golden light, he blows out the candles on his 60th birthday and doles out kisses to his wife, Ellen (Susan Sarandon), and daughter, Brooke (Brit Marling).

The story starts to come into focus when Brooke, after playfully flashing a copy of Forbes at Robert (he’s the cover boy), asks why he’s selling the company. That’s important information, as is his leaving the party to join his lover, Julie (Laetitia Casta), a character Mr. Jarecki unwisely tries to turn into an emblem of Robert’s duplicity. Yet even more instructive is how Robert waves away the magazine when Brooke shows it to him, as if embarrassed by its display or superior to it. His little wave, like the cut of his suits and luxurious hair, make the point that he isn’t Donald Trump. Robert inhabits wealth; he doesn’t flaunt it. His is a kingly provenance, and that gesture is a sign of his power.

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Gere Humanizes A Steely 1-Percenter In 'Arbitrage'

Jeannette Catsoulis

Robert Miller (Richard Gere) struggles to hide his financial indiscretions from his daughter (Brit Marling) in Arbitrage . Myles Aronowitz/Roadside Attractions hide caption

• Director: Nicholas Jarecki
• Genre: Drama
• Running Time: 100 minutes

Rated R for language, brief violent images and drug use

With: Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Tim Roth, Brit Marling

(Recommended)

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Credit: Roadside Attractions

'Simple As That'

Anyone looking for a moral high ground — or any high ground at all — in Arbitrage will be sorely disappointed. And that's only one of the reasons that Nicholas Jarecki's family-and-finances drama, handsomely photographed by Yorick Le Saux, is so appealingly adult.

At a time when filmmakers might be under some pressure to punish the 1 Percent, Jarecki (who also wrote the script) chooses instead to remind us that making and keeping scads of cash is rarely accomplished by the fainthearted or the foolish.

Robert Miller (Richard Gere) is neither. A Manhattan investment whiz who amassed his billions through sweat and smarts, Robert has a loving, low-maintenance family and a volatile, high-maintenance French mistress (Laetitia Casta).

He also has a $400 million hole in his firm's accounts that requires off-book plugging to finesse a critical audit linked to the pending sale of his company.

And there's more: a nervous creditor wants a loan repaid, his wife (an under-utilized Susan Sarandon) needs a check for one of her many charities ("It's only $2 million!"), and his daughter and CFO (Brit Marling) is sniffing around the cooked books. So much for the film's first 10 minutes.

Unfolding in somber tones and among hard surfaces, Arbitrage has the slickness of new bank notes and the confidence of expensive tailoring. Even when a violent car accident causes Robert's troubles to multiply and the film to drift uneasily into thriller territory, Jarecki holds steady, keeping his pacing attuned to Gere's silver-fox composure.

It's the kind of marvelously contained performance that made the actor so riveting in The Mothman Prophecies and so potent as the betrayed husband in Unfaithful . Always at his best in the eye of the storm, Gere excels at characters who gain our sympathy precisely because it would never occur to them to ask for it.

Miller and his socialite wife (Susan Sarandon) keep up appearances by keeping active on the charity circuit. Myles Aronowitz/Roadside Attractions hide caption

Miller and his socialite wife (Susan Sarandon) keep up appearances by keeping active on the charity circuit.

Neither amoral nor cynical, Robert follows his own code: that of the boardroom and the clubhouse, of deals negotiated in the backs of limos and in sleek hotel rooms. When he tells his daughter, "I'm the patriarch," the term means something to him; the familial responsibilities and buck-stops-here ethic encoded in it are the reasons he takes care of business even if it means ignoring life-threatening injuries. And when he slides around the legal system (personified by Tim Roth as a desperately tenacious detective), it's not bribes that grease his way, but goodwill earned from past kindnesses.

Robert may be entitled and ruthless, but it's the police who stoop to falsifying evidence; he may be serially unfaithful, but it's with his wife's tacit consent. The character is fascinating because Jarecki refuses to judge him (or to make it easy for us to do so), painting a complex personality who's used to the tightrope and doesn't fear the fall.

In Arbitrage, as in life, wealth creates the rules and decides who gets to play the game. "You think money's gonna fix this?" asks an alibi witness when Robert tries to give him a substantial gift. "What else is there?" Robert wonders, and it's a testament both to the writing and the performance that his mystification appears painfully genuine. (Recommended)

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Movie Review: In Arbitrage , Richard Gere Makes Us Root for a Madoffian Villain

For all his leading man looks, Richard Gere has always been an uncomfortable presence onscreen: confident, sure, but strangely tense, even in supposedly laid-back roles like Pretty Woman and Dr. T and the Women . Writer-director Nicholas Jarecki puts the veteran actor to brilliant use in the insanely gripping Arbitrage , a drama about the manic, desperate calculations beneath the successful, seemingly calm veneer of a Wall Street bigwig standing on the precipice of total personal and financial ruin.

Gere plays Robert Miller, a venture capitalist dubbed “The Oracle” for his legendary ability to pinpoint successful investments. When we meet him, he’s trying to negotiate the sale of his company, celebrating his birthday with his loving family — his wife (Susan Sarandon) is a noted philanthropist, and his daughter (Brit Marling) is his CIO — while also trying to keep his French mistress Julie (Laetitia Casta), a budding gallerist, happy. The ease with which he drifts between these different, conflicting worlds suggests that Miller is pretty good at hiding things, at the workaday duplicity of living a double, maybe even a triple, life. Sure enough, it turns out that his company is in a deep, deep hole, and he’s been cooking the books to make it more attractive to potential buyers: He needs the sale to go through so that his losses can be covered. Then he decides to take Julie, who is feeling neglected, on an impromptu late-night trip to the country. But he falls asleep at the wheel, wrecks the car, and accidentally kills her. Fleeing the scene, he begins to set in motion an elaborate attempt to cover up his crime — at least just long enough to make sure the sale of his company goes through.

Arbitrage does something quite bold, in that it asks us to sympathize with a guy who would ordinarily be a villain, either in real life or in another movie. And I don’t just mean that the film elicits from us a kind of vague sympathy for how far he’s fallen; rather, we genuinely want to see this pseudo-Madoffian character emerge victorious. Hard-working cops, the innocent daughter, the honest-to-a-fault minions, the rightfully skeptical potential business partners, even the long-suffering wife — in another movie they’d be the ostensible heroes, the whistleblowers or innocent victims, but here they’re all obstacles to Miller’s ability to get away with his misdeeds. The film dares to make us want to see them knocked down.

There are holes in the plot, to be sure, but somehow we don’t mind, because for all the unbearable tension of Jarecki’s script, the central attraction here is the man in the arena: Gere has been a punchline so often that it’s kind of startling when he gets a chance to really act. Which is to say: Here he gets to show real desperation instead of just doing that Richard Gere thing where he sticks out his jaw and breathes really deeply. And he gets to show real anger instead of just … well, doing that Richard Gere thing where he sticks out his jaw and breathes really deeply. Maybe it’s just that the part finally fits the actor’s characteristically strange brand of confident discomfort: In one hilariously suspenseful late scene, Miller, almost moments away from collapse, sits down with a rival and negotiates a business deal with almost mythic boldness and bluster.

In the way it places us smack-dab at the center of an amoral universe, Arbitrage is not unlike Robert Altman’s Hollywood comedy The Player , in which Tim Robbins played a studio honcho who accidentally killed a screenwriter and got away with it, much to the audience’s figurative cheers. Of course, Altman was working in satire, and his film concluded with a big phony ending and a big phony American flag, rubbing our noses in our own complicity. Arbitrage does no such thing — admittedly, its ending isn’t as happy, though it is somewhat unexpected — but its refusal to do so is a different kind of condemnation in its own right. Confidence, whether genuine or false, the movie seems to say, is everything.

• movie review
• richard gere
• susan sarandon

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Culture | Film

Arbitrage - film review

The credit crunch, which began five years ago and isn’t over yet, has pretty much defied the imagination of feature film-makers. The 2010 documentary Inside Job tackled the subject most effectively, exposing the way deregulation allowed the banking system to become one gigantic Ponzi scheme, even though its ambush interviews didn’t reach the big players.

In comparison, the rapidly produced Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps, also from 2010, completely failed to get to grips with the crash — poor old Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas again) was never quite as vile as the real bankers. Better was Margin Call (2011), directed by JC Chandor, set inside a Wall Street investment bank in crisis, with Jeremy Irons laying it on thick as the fearsome CEO cynically ditching the firm’s toxic holdings whatever the cost.

Arbitrage is subtler. It presents a plutocratic New York hedge-funder, Robert Miller (Richard Gere), facing crisis in both his financial and personal life as he turns 60. After the 2008 crash his firm is concealing debts it can’t cover and his only hope is to sell it to a big bank before the truth emerges in an honest audit.

Although presenting himself as happily married (to Susan Sarandon), a good father and a great philanthropist — “It’s taken me 60 years to truly understand what’s important: it’s you guys” — he is maintaining a young and demanding mistress on the side (glammy Laetitia Casta). While he’s stealing some time with her, disaster strikes — and rather than face the consequences and endanger the bank deal, Miller opts to cover his tracks here too, calling upon the services of a sincere young man (Nate Parker) who feels obligated to him for previous support.

But Miller hasn’t counted on the determination and toughness of the NYPD detective investigating his case (Tim Roth, doing his shambolically slouchy act all over the place, like an escapee from a much broader film).

Arbitrage is the practice of buying in one market and selling at an advantage in another simultaneously — in theory making a risk-free profit, although there is always the possibility that part of the exchange will fail or the market move before the deal can be done.

Miller is a man who has made a fortune by taking such calculated risks — and now he is doing that with his family and the police, as well as his money and reputation. The film is, at heart, a character study — and Gere (now 63, playing a little younger) is quite brilliant as Miller. It’s surely his best ever performance. “I’m a patriarch — that’s my role and I have to play it,” he says, and, injured, sagging, looking ever more slit-eyed, that’s what he does to the end.

Gere holds the balance between seeming affectless and sympathetic, charming and repellent. You both want him to survive and to be exposed. Though he’s still confident and charismatic, it’s all beginning to crack, while any morals he once had have evaporated. Gere himself has made an interesting comparison for the part: “Robert Miller is incredibly charming, almost like Bill Clinton, and that’s part of the manipulation — the ability to control every situation …”

Arbitrage is the first feature film written and directed by Nicholas Jarecki, a New Yorker whose parents are commodities traders, and he has given this world of wealth and luxury, commonly caricatured, unusual authenticity on a relatively low budget. The film looks good too, having been shot by Yorick Le Saux, the cinematographer who has worked extensively with Olivier Assayas.

And if it was a coup to recruit Richard Gere to a debut project, it was hardly less astute to cast the editor of Vanity Fair, Graydon Carter, who has investigated financial scandal and been involved in film production but has never previously acted, as Mayfield, the powerful banker whom Miller must persuade to buy his company there and then. That’s a risk that pays off — this key scene works a treat.

The plot depends a little crassly on a freak accident (a seatbelt would have saved the day, just as it might with Diana). But no matter. Arbitrage is a slick, intelligent psychological thriller that works to connect public and private immorality.

Of course, it is unfair that Gere can still play such an attractive and powerful figure when there would be no such role for a woman of his age. But there it is. Forget Douglas and Irons: among the old foxes still marauding the henhouse, he’s the tops.

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Arbitrage Review

01 Mar 2013

107 minutes

On the eve of his 60th birthday, hedge fund mogul Robert Miller (Richard Gere) tries desperately to conceal accounting irregularities from his company’s buyers, an accidental death from the cops (Tim Roth) and an infidelity from his wife (Susan Sarandon). It’s a classy affair (the film, not the infidelity), and an auspicious debut from writer-director Nicholas Jarecki. It’s also a testament to Gere’s finely-tuned performance that Miller remains sympathetic throughout the unfolding drama, despite the many mistakes he has made and the casual cruelties his God-given sense of entitlement leads him to inflict on the people around him, including those he loves.

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Review: arbitrage.

From Liberty Valance to Daniel Plainview, Hollywood has always loved a good bastard.

From Liberty Valance to Daniel Plainview, Hollywood has always loved a good bastard, and Richard Gere’s powerful, deceitful, and charming New York City tycoon Robert Miller, the towering figure at the center of Nicholas Jarecki’s stirring Arbitrage , more than fits the bill. Miller dominates every dialogue-heavy scene with his Gordon Gekko-like presence and Machiavellian pragmatism, playing the virtuous, Mark Twain-quoting family man one minute, only to slither off and fuck his European art-collector mistress (Laetitia Casta) the next. A delicate balance of ego and illusion, his formidable public persona is founded on his outward projection of success, wealth, and loyalty. Arbitrage chronicles in fine detail the extended moment when this white-collar lion loses control of this juggling act.

At its core, Arbitrage is a taut moral tale spun in motion by the escalating lies Miller spews in business, marriage, and family. Throughout the film’s crisp opening act, the threat of imprisonment and poverty weighs heavily on the character’s shoulders. His venture capital business is in the midst of a high-profile merger, projecting an image of confidence despite the fact that its bank accounts are stuffed with fraudulent monetary backing. But Miller’s high life goes into a full tailspin when he flees the scene of a brutal car accident that leaves his aforementioned lover nearly decapitated on the side of an upstate New York road. The impending police investigation by an equally cunning cop (Tim Roth) adds more ripples to an already spinning narrative whirlpool.

Watching Miller wriggle out of one bad situation after another is invigorating, mostly thanks to Jarecki’s sharp script and excellent direction of the talented cast. The way Miller manipulates his daughter, Brooke (Brit Marling), a naïve do-gooder and acting CFO of his failing company, is especially disturbing considering the deep generational bond the two are supposed to share. Jarecki sets their pivotal standoff in Central Park (reminiscent of the equally heated climax in Wall Street ), lingering on both characters’ calculated words, which brim with an undercurrent of rage. Here, we realize family matters only when it’s convenient and financially beneficial to Miller, and the toll of his self-sustaining actions is both damaging and substantial.

If the film covers well-tread territory (a morally bankrupt player trying to prolong his own influence), it does so with pinpoint control of mood and theme. While each confrontation, a new layer of pressure is added onto Miller’s crumbling sense of reality, his resistance to change and brazen tenacity evokes the cockroach-like durability and survival instincts we’ve come to associate with most recession-era extortionists. Gere’s gripping performance is just as much physical as it is verbal. We see the man’s smooth face (doctored up with makeup in the first scene) age rapidly, revealing wrinkles, baggy eyes, and other physical signs of exhaustion as the film progresses. Post-accident, Miller even suffers from internal bleeding for a long stretch of time, adding another layer of tension to the mix. Though this ailment mysteriously remedies itself a few scenes later (one of a few glaring plot holes), Miller’s cover-up of his own potentially life-threatening injury becomes another example of the self-destructive extent he’ll go to in order to hide the truth.

Fittingly, Björk’s lyrics “I see who you are/Behind the skin” echo over the final moments of Arbitrage , one last reminder that Miller’s comeuppance won’t necessarily manifest itself in monetary loss, but in the destruction of his personal legacy. Permanent isolation from family is his penance. But does he feel the sting of this emotional exile? Arbitrage doesn’t force easy answers in the form of moral epiphany. Instead, we are left with a deeply conflicted man willing to compromise everything to retain the illusion. As Miller stands upright in front of an adoring crowd at a posh gala honoring his life’s work, it’s clear the man is ready to start anew with fresh pawns, more unsuspecting souls who only see the glimmer of success resonating off his outer layer of skin. This bastard, like so many before him, attracts people like moths to a flame, never thinking twice as he watches them burn.

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Time Out says

The financial thriller is a tricky thing to get right: there’s only so many times a devious elderly white man in a suit can toss around phrases like ‘hostile takover’ and ‘corporate bias’ before it starts to become confusing or dull. ‘Arbitrage’ is the debut feature from documentary director Nicholas Jarecki and it successfully mitigates potential tedium with a combination of twisty plotting, rock-solid performances and a slippery sense of morality gone askew.

Richard Gere is hedge fund manager Robert Miller, whose lovingly paternal exterior hides a heart of solid steel. A road accident leaves Robert in an ethical quandary and he uses every means at his disposal to try and get off the hook – partly motivated by his being on the verge of a long-anticipated merger. Aided by a chillingly blank and charming performance from Gere, Jarecki strolls this moral tightrope with surety. We despise Robert for his misdeeds while at the same time we revel in his triumphs, forcing us to question our own responses to a financial crisis started by men with equally great hair, and just as few scruples. 

Release Details

• Release date: Friday 1 March 2013
• Duration: 107 mins

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Arbitrage Reviews

Without Richard Gere at the center, Jarecki’s film wouldn’t work so well.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 27, 2022

It offers timely questions and enough entertaining mystery to play off of our tough economic times.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 14, 2022

In many ways, Arbitrage is the awards contender it may have first appeared to be. It is deep and meaningful and one of the most intelligent movies of the year.

Full Review | Mar 11, 2021

Arbitrage is an ultimately timid work that has its heart half in the world it purports to disparage.

Full Review | Feb 28, 2021

Arbitrage is a mechanically sound and consistently entertaining film, with some noteworthy performances. However, after the film concludes, it's hard to find anything to be enthusiastic about it.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Jul 8, 2019

Pointed but not polemical, [Nicholas] Jarecki's allegorical film moves along steadily, buoyed by an eerie and modern score, as it traces the fault lines of one man's delusions.

Full Review | Feb 26, 2019

Jarecki surprisingly manages to draw out a sense of sympathy for his protagonist.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 9, 2019

Arbitrage is unlikely to become a blockbuster, but it is clever, keeps us guessing and, in its credible depiction of the world of high finance, is more than a little chilling.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Jan 31, 2019

Studios rarely makes this type of film anymore; it's a solid thriller.

Full Review | Jan 26, 2019

his movie is a real treat, and even surprises with moments of genuine humor.

Full Review | Original Score: 9/10 | Dec 20, 2018

Arbitrage is packed with tension from start to finish.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 20, 2018

Gere is outstanding. He's always looked good in a suit and had the ability to promise the world with one look, but these talents don't compare to his talent to portray a self-centered jerk... This is Gere at his best.

Full Review | Oct 20, 2018

... even though Arbitrage winds up seeming awfully familiar, through Jimmy's deepening dilemma it offers insight into something rarely touched on in American cinema: what it's like to be used by the 1 percent.

Full Review | Sep 4, 2018

So slyly and craftily entertaining even though it probably doesn't bear close scrutiny, I didn't much care. It wasn't epic. It didn't ask me to ponder the meaning of life. And it's good.

Underneath the surface is a hauntingly urgent requiem on the American Dream and the moral fabric of the country.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Aug 26, 2018

As someone who is susceptible to melodrama, I enjoyed much of Arbitrage.

Full Review | Jan 9, 2018

Pleasing twists and moral dilemmas abound.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 5, 2017

Arbitrage is not about greed or frustration or police corruption. It's not about family bonds or loyalty or racial discrimination. But all those elements are incorporated into this multi-layered, suspense-laden film.

Full Review | Feb 3, 2017

Gere, who appears in nearly every scene of Arbitrage, turns in the best performance of his career, conveying with supreme skill and remarkable restraint the exquisite agony of Miller's desperation.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Dec 12, 2016

Does the privilege of powerful men always lead to lust and lies? No. But the phrase 'Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,' is well depicted in 'Arbitrage.'

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 28, 2016

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Movie Review: Arbitrage (2012)

• Charlie Juhl
• Movie Reviews
• 4 responses
• --> October 8, 2012

Happier times.

Robert Miller (Richard Gere) is guilty of multiple felonies including involuntary manslaughter and investment fraud, but he is not really an evil man. In fact, the audience is on his side in Arbitrage ; you want him to win and get away with it all. You feel this way not because you’re callous and root for the villain, but because the film’s writer/director, Nicholas Jarecki, creates complex situations whereby innocent people will be hurt if the culpable party goes down. You root for the powerful billionaire instead of the persistent detective or any do-gooding truth seekers.

The Millers are a very powerful and wealthy New York City family. The patriarch, Robert, runs an investment firm who saw the housing bust coming. The rate of return they earn for their investors appears to be on Wall Street’s leading edge. Robert’s wife, Ellen (Susan Sarandon), is involved in multiple charities, is looking forward to retirement, and turns a blind eye to the secrets she is not supposed to know but seems to have a deeper insight of than most suspect. Their pride and joy is their brilliant daughter Brooke (Brit Marling) who is the Chief Information Officer at the investment firm. Robert has it all, family, successful business, friends; however, we learn quite quickly it is built on a foundation transforming very quickly from stone to sand.

The investment firm is involved in some very creative bookkeeping. This is not to the Bernie Madoff level, but it is noticeable. Robert made a bad bet and a lot of money is gone at the wrong time. His firm is going through an audit because a prospective buyer is about to buy the company and provide Robert and his family a very comfortable rest of their lives. If the audit, or even worse, Brooke discovers the missing money, Robert can kiss all of his hard work goodbye and say hello to a prison cell for the next 20 years. If this were Robert’s only problem, though, maybe he could devote his full attention to it, but he is about to become very distracted.

Contrary to his frequent proclamations and speeches, Robert does take his family for granted because he has a mistress. Julie (Laetitia Casta) is a fledgling artist but is doing fine because her entire life is subsidized by Robert’s affections and money. On a spur of the moment trip one night to atone for his chronic punctuality problems, Robert falls asleep at the wheel, the car flips, and Julie is dead. This is not a spoiler because 1.) the preview of Arbitrage gives it away and 2.) the vast majority of the plot relies on it. Robert is not the first billionaire in a movie with a dead mistress, but he lacks a true Mr. Fix-It. He cannot be at the scene of the crime because all of the police attention will scare away his company’s buyer and then he will have both the fraud charges and the manslaughter charges.

Robert calls Jimmy (Nate Parker). Jimmy is probably the one black guy Robert knows and for some awkward reasons, Robert thinks Jimmy will be cool enough to drive upstate, pick him up, and not snitch to the cops about it. The cop on the case though is Detective Michael Bryer (Tim Roth) and he is no fan of billionaires. Det. Bryer knows about the affair, knows Robert was the driver, and knows Jimmy went and helped him out. Jimmy is not talking though so the detective turns the screws by charging him with obstruction with an attached ten years in prison to threaten Jimmy to roll over on Robert.

The mistress.

How many problems can one guy really deal with? Robert has the audit, the dead mistress, and the accomplice who can walk free if he just tells the truth about what happened. All of these events are effectively juggled by the script, the direction, and the actors. Every scene has some suspense attached to it because if the wrong person finds out about any of the enormous secrets circling Robert’s head, then it’s all over. Arbitrage is Jarecki’s first director credit; he was the executive producer on the great 2008 documentary “ Tyson .” His debut work is so strong that his next effort will most likely garner a lot of attention.

Thoughtful and complex adult dramas of this caliber do not come along very often; therefore, do yourself a favor and go check it out. In fact, head to the bar afterwards, order your drink of choice, and sit back and think about it. Then look up the definition of Arbitrage — it turns out it is a real and most fitting word.

Tagged: fraud , investigation , mistress

I like movies and they like me right back. You can find out how much by visiting my personal site Citizen Charlie .

Movie Review: The Gatekeepers (2012) Movie Review: Beautiful Creatures (2013) Movie Review: Warm Bodies (2013) Movie Review: Parker (2013) Movie Review: Mama (2013) Movie Review: 5 Broken Cameras (2011) Movie Review: Gangster Squad (2013)

'Movie Review: Arbitrage (2012)' have 4 comments

October 9, 2012 @ 7:46 am Suede

If possible I’d have Laetitia Casta as my mistress to.

Log in to Reply

December 14, 2012 @ 4:44 pm coughey

10 years ago.

October 9, 2012 @ 10:56 am Jago

the perks of being a 1%er.

November 28, 2012 @ 11:02 pm Howard Schumann

“the audience is on his side in Arbitrage; you want him to win and get away with it all.” Maybe you do, but please don’t speak for me. I certainly do not root for those whose morals extend only to what makes them richer, regardless of the human consequences, especially for a Madoff type like Miller, an arrogant one-percenter who is typical of the corrupt Wall Street tycoons that sent the economy into a tailspin in 2008.

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Home » Review » Movie » Arbitrage

Arbitrage is a pleasure to watch and keeps you entertained the whole way through. The script is sharp and concise, nearly to a fault.

Nicholas Jarecki’s Arbitrage is a riveting thriller that works without being wholly original, instead it relies on a solid script backed by a fantastic lead performance by Richard Gere. Similar to what Margin Call was last year, the film is economically relevant, featuring a corrupt business leader, a ‘1%er’, who does whatever it takes to prevent his company from tanking. From the very beginning to the end, Arbitrage is gripping film that uses its runtime effectively, making the runtime fly-by.

Robert Miller ( Richard Gere ) is a high profile CEO of Miller Capital. The opening sequence has him landing from his corporate jet and entering his luxury penthouse. A bellhop greets him with presents for the children that accompany his birthday party, which he pretends to be surprised about. Even though Robert is a CEO, he is a very likeable guy, one that you proudly stand behind when working underneath him. We find out that his daughter, Brooke Miller ( Brit Marling ), works as the Chief Financial Officer for the company and that her father had just decided to sell the company earlier that day. She playfully, but with a serious tone, asks him why he would want to sell a company that is doing so well. He brushes it off as just being at a point in his life where he is ready to let go of the company, but there is a strong sense of an ulterior motive.

Robert leaves his birthday party telling his wife, Ellen Miller ( Susan Sarandon ) that he needs to go to his office to finish up some of the paper work. He enters his limo but his destination is not his office. Instead he visits the residence of a woman who he clearly has an attachment with. The two exchange a few words then passionately begin to make love. He is a charmer who hides behind his friendly smile to live a double life.

Things take a drastic turn when Robert and his mistress ( Laetitia Casta ) are on their way out of the city one night. Robert falls asleep behind the wheel and crashes into the median causing the vehicle to flip. He walks away with just a few scratches, but unfortunately his mistress is dead in the passenger seat. Naturally, his first instinct is to call 911, but he refrains from doing so after thinking about what the implications would be for both his career and personal life.

The script in Arbitrage is sharp and concise, nearly to a fault. Most of the supporting characters were not developed because of the film’s concentration of the main plot. Supporting characters have heavily implied backstories, but the film never went beyond the surface on any of them. So I appreciated the script for the most part but having such a tight focus does have its trade-offs.

Having said that about the supporting characters, Marling was alright but did not have a particularly memorable role. Susan Sarandon laid low for most of the film, until the very end where she made a grand finale performance. But the true star of the film is of course Richard Gere (the role felt written for him though apparently it was originally for Al Pacino). Gere delivers a performance that may be his best to date, or at the very least, the best in a long while. He is a flawed character but one you find yourself rooting for even though you probably should not be.

Arbitrage is not a terribly original story, a prolific man gets into trouble and attempts to sweep it all under the rug while seeking pity from both his family and the audience, but it is one that is well crafted. It is an effective thriller with some minor faults that act more like speed bumps than showstoppers. Arbitrage is a pleasure to watch and keeps you entertained the whole way through.

Arbitrage Movie review

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Arbitrage Ending Explained: What Happens to Robert?

Arbitrage ending has the fans in doubt, and we are here to clear it all out. The film was released in 2012. It has the main genre of crime and drama. Nicholas Jarecki directed the movie. The filming for the entire project was done in New York City. We can say that the film is a modest box office success. It was made on a budget of 12 million dollars. Upon its release in the theatres, the film managed to earn about 35.5 million dollars. The story of this film is simple yet has a lot of twists to it.

We see a hedge fund manager in the lead role. He is obviously trying to get to retirement before any problems break out. We have a closer look at his personal and professional lifestyle as well and how he manages the challenges thrown at him. The cast includes actor Richard Gere reprising the role of Robert Miller. He is the lead character and a wealthy man who desperately wants to retire. Although, he has a story to settle before he can go off the grid. Then we see Susan Sarandon enacting the character of Ellen Miller. She is the wife of Robert, who is quite suspicious of her husband’s activities.

Tim Roth does the part of Detective Bryer. He is trying to get Robert to agree to his crimes and is finding clues against him. Brit Marling reprises the role of Brooke Miller. She is their daughter of Robert and is helping him with his hedge funds and various loans. Then we see Laetitia Casta enact the character of Julie Cote.

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While driving upstate, Miller dozes off after having such a hectic schedule and crashes the car. This kills Julie on the spot. Given that he himself is injured, Miller tries to get out of the vehicle and calls the police. He then escapes the burning car with Jimmy, who helps him escape. After this, Robert burns all the evidence that might potentially convince the police that he is the criminal.

What Happens to Robert?

Later, his lawyer advises Robert to turn himself in because the secrets and lies that will be needed to cover up this story are going to increase and will always be a headache. A detective approaches Miller, who is trying to catch him for manslaughter. As for his wife, Ellen, she is seeing an upstate lawyer because she has a hint of his activities. As for Brooke, she sees the company papers where it is obvious that Miller’s committee is a fraud and confronts him.

In the ending, we see that Ellen has also confronted her husband about the death and agrees to lie if Miller sends all his money to daughter Brooke and her NGO. Later, at a party where Miller is retiring, he approaches the podium where the scene is cut off, and the film ends. We can assume that Miller finally has revealed his secrets, given that Mayfield has already given him the payment for his company, and the sale is completed.

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I am Preksha Sharma and am a writing enthusiast from Bhopal, MP, India. I love drama and shows and that's what I write about at Otakukart. I like daze-core and archive fashion and drinking overpriced lattes. You can reach me at [email protected]

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Arbitrage Movie Ending Explained

Arbitrage Movie Ending Explained: 7 Interesting Facts

Released in 2012, “Arbitrage” is a gripping financial thriller directed by Nicholas Jarecki. The film follows the story of Robert Miller, a wealthy hedge fund manager played by Richard Gere, who finds himself entangled in a web of deceit, corruption, and murder. With its complex plot and thought-provoking ending, “Arbitrage” leaves viewers with several unanswered questions. In this article, we will delve into the movie’s ending, providing a comprehensive explanation along with seven interesting facts surrounding its production and reception.

1. The Plot Summary and Ending:

“Arbitrage” revolves around Robert Miller, a successful businessman facing financial and personal turmoil. As his fraudulent business practices are on the verge of collapsing, Miller becomes involved in a fatal car accident that claims the life of his mistress, Julie (played by Laetitia Casta). To cover up the incident, Miller convinces Jimmy Grant (played by Nate Parker), the son of his former chauffeur, to take the blame. However, as the investigation unfolds, Miller’s daughter Brooke (played by Brit Marling), who is also his CFO, uncovers his financial fraud. In a shocking twist, Brooke confronts her father and threatens to expose him. The movie ends with Miller seemingly getting away with his crimes, leaving viewers questioning the consequences of his actions.

2. The Symbolism of the Watch:

Throughout the film, Robert Miller’s watch holds significant symbolism. The watch represents time, wealth, and the illusion of control. Miller’s watch is shown as a reflection of his character and the lengths he is willing to go to maintain his facade of success. The timepiece also serves as a reminder of the ticking clock, symbolizing Miller’s dwindling time to escape the consequences of his actions.

3. The High-Stakes World of Finance:

“Arbitrage” provides a glimpse into the high-stakes world of finance, showcasing the cutthroat nature of hedge fund management. The film explores the moral dilemmas faced by those in positions of power, where the pursuit of profit often outweighs ethical considerations. The characters’ actions and motivations reflect the dark underbelly of the financial industry, highlighting the lengths individuals will go to protect their wealth and reputation.

4. Critical Acclaim and Box Office Success:

“Arbitrage” received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. It garnered praise for its taut screenplay, compelling performances, and intricate plot. Richard Gere’s portrayal of Robert Miller was particularly lauded, earning him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. Despite being an independent production, the film achieved commercial success, grossing over $35 million worldwide.

5. The Influence of Real-Life Scandals:

The movie draws inspiration from real-life financial scandals, such as the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme and the downfall of Enron. The parallels between these infamous cases and “Arbitrage” add depth to the film’s narrative, further exposing the dark side of the financial world.

6. Imaginary Professional Quotes:

– “The ending of ‘Arbitrage’ is a reflection of the moral ambiguity that often plagues the financial industry. It forces us to question the boundaries of right and wrong when it comes to wealth and power.” – Financial Analyst

– “The watch symbolizes the illusion of control that many individuals in finance strive for. Miller’s reliance on the watch throughout the film signifies his desperate attempt to maintain a sense of power.” – Wealth Manager

– “One of the film’s strengths is its ability to highlight the ethical gray areas in the financial world. It sheds light on the conflicts of interest and the blurred lines between personal and professional lives.” – Compliance Officer

– “Richard Gere’s performance as Robert Miller is captivating. He seamlessly portrays the complexities of a morally ambiguous character, making him both relatable and detestable.” – Film Critic

7. Common Questions and Answers:

Q1: Does Robert Miller face any consequences for his actions?

A1: The movie leaves Miller’s fate open to interpretation, suggesting that he may have evaded legal repercussions, but potentially faces personal and moral consequences.

Q2: What role does Brooke play in the story?

A2: Brooke, Miller’s daughter and CFO, serves as the moral compass of the film. She uncovers her father’s fraudulent activities and confronts him, challenging his actions.

Q3: What is the significance of Miller’s relationship with Julie?

A3: Miller’s relationship with Julie highlights his vulnerability and the lengths he is willing to go to protect his reputation. Her death becomes a turning point in the story.

Q4: How does the film explore the theme of greed?

A4: “Arbitrage” delves into the destructive nature of unchecked greed, showcasing the consequences faced by individuals who prioritize personal gain over ethics.

Q5: Why does Miller involve Jimmy in covering up the accident?

A5: Miller manipulates Jimmy’s loyalty to his father, exploiting their relationship and leveraging it to protect himself from the accident’s consequences.

Q6: Did “Arbitrage” receive any awards or nominations?

A6: While Richard Gere was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance, the film did not receive any major awards.

Q7: Is “Arbitrage” based on a true story?

A7: Although the film draws inspiration from real-life financial scandals, it is not directly based on any specific true story.

Final Thoughts:

“Arbitrage” offers a captivating exploration of the moral complexities within the financial industry. Its thought-provoking ending leaves audiences contemplating the consequences of unchecked ambition and the blurred lines between right and wrong in the pursuit of success. With its stellar performances and gripping narrative, “Arbitrage” remains a must-watch for those intrigued by the dark underbelly of the financial world. As financial analyst John Doe aptly stated, “The ending of ‘Arbitrage’ forces us to reevaluate our understanding of morality in the realm of wealth and power. It’s a captivating reflection of the real-world dilemmas faced by professionals in the industry.”

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Common Sense Media Review

Intelligent, grown-up thriller has some violence, drugs.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Arbitrage -- a grown-up thriller set in the world of high finance -- will likely be of more interest to parents than to most teens. There's one major violent scene (a car crash with a dead body and blood), as well as some threatening and arguing. Language is fairly strong, with…

Why Age 17+?

Several uses of "f--k," plus the "N" word, "a--hole,&qu

A secondary character snorts cocaine in one scene; she may or may not be a habit

The main character is cheating on his wife, and viewers see kissing and implied

This isn't a violent movie, but there's one shocking scene with a car cr

Several Zappos boxes are shown.

Any Positive Content?

A character learns that lying to his family -- even while trying to protect them

The main character is interesting; he does some abominable things, but when he k

Several uses of "f--k," plus the "N" word, "a--hole," and "goddamn."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

A secondary character snorts cocaine in one scene; she may or may not be a habitual user. Adult characters drink wine and/or scotch at parties or at dinner. Secondary characters are shown smoking cigarettes.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

The main character is cheating on his wife, and viewers see kissing and implied sex between him and his mistress.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Violence & Scariness

This isn't a violent movie, but there's one shocking scene with a car crash, a dead body, and blood; it's an event that changes the main character's life. Otherwise, the movie has many scenes of arguing and threatening, especially in the scenes involving the main character and a relentless police detective.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Positive messages.

A character learns that lying to his family -- even while trying to protect them -- ends up costing him a great deal more than if he had told the truth. This lesson comes late in the story, but it does come.

Positive Role Models

The main character is interesting; he does some abominable things, but when he keeps information from his family, he does so to protect them and to keep from hurting them. Overall, he earns viewers' sympathy, and he does seem to realize that what he's doing is wrong; it's just too late for him to turn back. The movie also has some strong female characters, specifically the main character's daughter, Brooke.

Parents need to know that Arbitrage -- a grown-up thriller set in the world of high finance -- will likely be of more interest to parents than to most teens. There's one major violent scene (a car crash with a dead body and blood), as well as some threatening and arguing. Language is fairly strong, with about a dozen uses of "f--k" and a few uses of the "N" word. The main character (played by Richard Gere ) has an extramarital affair and is seen kissing and having implied sex with his mistress. The mistress is shown snorting cocaine at one point. Adult characters drink scotch and wine at social gatherings; some characters smoke cigarettes. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (1)
• Kids say (1)

Based on 1 parent review

Amazing Movie, Great for teens.

What's the story.

Hedge fund tycoon Robert Miller ( Richard Gere ) has made some bad deals and is secretly trying to sell his company before it goes under. He desperately doesn't want his wife ( Susan Sarandon ) or his daughter, Brooke ( Brit Marling ) -- who works for him -- knowing about the trouble. After work, he goes to see his mistress (Laetitia Casta), who dies in a horrible car crash when Robert falls asleep at the wheel. He decides to leave the scene, hoping to avoid any more negative attention. But a relentless police detective ( Tim Roth ) has Miller pegged and seems determined to try anything to get a conviction. Meanwhile, Miller's entire defense hinges on a young man named Jimmy ( Nate Parker ), who has yet another secret connection to Miller.

Is It Any Good?

Writer/director Nicholas Jarecki makes his feature debut with this refreshing movie, a combination of intelligent, grown-up writing and entertaining, audience-pleasing filmmaking. ARBITRAGE focuses on well-drawn, mature characters making emotionally truthful decisions, but at the same time, they face some very tense, larger-than-life situations. Oddly, most of the scenes are built around character interactions; there are only a handful of "thrill" moments.

This allows for very intense, focused performances, especially by Gere as the tormented lead, but also by Sarandon as his wise wife. Up-and-comer Marling has a few powerful scenes with Gere, challenging his authority, and Roth is relentless and ferocious as the detective. The movie's main drawback, however, is that it feels like it could have gone further in either direction; it might have benefited from either more depth or more thrills.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about Arbitrage 's violent events. Which feels more intense -- the car crash sequence or the scenes in which Detective Bryer confronts the main character? Why?

Is Robert Miller right to hide his activities and problems from his family? Could they have helped? Should families tell each other everything?

Are there any role models in this movie? Why would we root for Robert Miller when he's made so many bad choices?

What does this movie have to say about the current financial crisis?

Movie Details

• In theaters : September 14, 2012
• On DVD or streaming : December 21, 2012
• Cast : Brit Marling , Richard Gere , Susan Sarandon , Tim Roth
• Director : Nicholas Jarecki
• Inclusion Information : Female actors, Bisexual actors
• Studio : Roadside Attractions
• Genre : Thriller
• Run time : 100 minutes
• MPAA rating : R
• MPAA explanation : language, brief violent images and drug use
• Last updated : June 20, 2023

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Arbitrage movie review: bernie madoff move over.

by Shanee Edwards

Shanee Edwards

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When a man takes risks with his family, is there any way to hedge his bets? Richard Gere strikes like a king cobra as New York hedge-fund mogul Robert Miller, a man who believes his money and power can buy him anything. But in this morality tale about the one percent, he discovers a daughter’s love and respect cannot be bought.

Perfect for fans of Richard Gere

My computer’s dictionary defines arbitrage as: “the simultaneous buying and selling of securities, currency, or commodities in different markets or in derivative forms in order to take advantage of differing prices for the same asset.” In simple terms, it refers to the ability to gain risk-free profit at zero cost. And therein lies the theme of the movie — is there any real profit when people are treated as commodities?

Billionaire Robert Miller ( Richard Gere ) is poised, confident and respected by his family. His financial whiz of a daughter Brooke ( Brit Marling ) worships the ground he walks on and plans to take over his business when he retires.

His wife Ellen ( Susan Sarandon ) spends her time fundraising for charity, living the so-called perfect life of a New York socialite despite her knowledge that Miller is having an affair with an impulsive French artist named Julie (Laetetia Casta).

Perhaps influenced by real-life events such as the Bernie Madoff scandal, Miller has also committed fraud and needs to sell his business before he is found out.

To complicate things further, Miller finds himself responsible for the death of his mistress and makes the choice to cover it up, desperately hoping he can use his money and influence to make all the bad things go away.

Richard Gere kills it as the icy megalomaniac who can’t discern between his roles as father and boss. In his mind, people are mere employees and he alone controls their every move.

Susan Sarandon plays the good wife who doesn’t make waves over her husband’s infidelity, but puts her foot down over Miller’s crass treatment of his daughter. Sarandon dazzles as this complicated woman.

Bottom line: This movie is a glimpse into a high-stakes chess game, where money is the king and family are mere pawns. It’s not exactly uplifting, but the scene where Sarandon confronts Gere is worth the price of admission.

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Movie review: Arbitrage

Richard Gere in Arbitrage. Photo / Supplied

In the world of high finance, arbitrage (rhymes with "mirage") involves trading the same commodity between two markets where the price is different and keeping the change.

As a film title, it may lack marquee appeal but it's the perfect word to describe the kind of moral creative accounting that Robert Miller (Gere) uses to get through the bluff-and-call business meeting that is his life.

The dark knight at the centre of this sleek, shadowy thriller, Miller's a mega-rich Wall St titan whose adoring wife (Sarandon) helms his philanthropic endeavours. His daughter (Marling) is a brilliant market analyst who heads his senior management team.

He's about to make another few gazillion by selling his business, but by the time we find out that he's been cooking the books, we've seen that his impeccably stitched life is rather frayed around the edges.

He's two-timing his wife with a neurotic French artist (Casta), and when a car accident leaves him in a position a sharebroker might describe as seriously exposed, the risk needle moves right into the red zone.

Director Jarecki, who also wrote the screenplay, crowds the film with incident and complication - at times almost to a fault - but it all knits together handsomely.

When Miller turns for help to a young black man, Jimmy Grant (Parker), the son of a former chauffeur, whom he's taken under his wing, the way in which charity can corrode the currency of human relations suddenly comes sharply into focus.

As things unravel, the plot moves like someone walking just a little too fast for comfort, keeping us - and Miller - constantly off balance.

There's a whiff of Shakespearean tragedy about this film, although it's hard to discern any redeeming features among Miller's multiple tragic flaws.

He's amoral all right, but not in the caricatured way that Wall Street 's Gordon Gekko was, even if he tells us early on that only five things matter in life - "M, O, N, E and Y."

"You think money's going to fix this?" Jimmy asks him at one point; "What else is there?" he replies, and it's not a question. He's incapable of seeing that in the war he's waging, the rules of engagement put his soul and the lives of others at risk.

Tim Roth has a superb turn as a dishevelled and disreputable Columbo-style detective but it's Gere's film and he does a fabulous job of being mesmerisingly watchable even as his teflon coating starts to peel.

It's a Bonfire of the Vanities for the world after Lehman Brothers, but it wears its deeper significance with remarkable lightness. Catch it if you can.

Stars: 4/5 Cast: Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Brit Marling, Tim Roth, Laetitia Casta, Nate Parker Director: Nicholas Jarecki Running time: 102 mins Rating: M (offensive language) Verdict: Bonfire of the Vanities for 2012

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