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Tough film for tough financial times
Source: Agencies |
September 16, 2012, Sunday
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GREED is good, until it isn't anymore. "Arbitrage" is a guilty-pleasure thriller for these tough economic times.
In directing his first feature, writer and documentarian Nicholas Jarecki shows great command of tone - a balance of sex, danger and manipulation with some insiderish business talk and a healthy sprinkling of dark humor to break up the tension. His film is well-cast and strongly acted, and while it couldn't be more relevant, it also recalls the decadence of 1980s Wall Street, shot in 35mm as it is, with a synth-heavy score from composer Cliff Martinez.
"Arbitrage" is a lurid look at a lavish lifestyle that allows us to cluck disapprovingly while still vicariously enjoying its luxurious trappings.
Richard Gere stars as Robert Miller, a billionaire hedge-fund magnate who, at the film's start, is magnanimously sharing his wisdom in an interview with CNBC's Maria Bartiromo. As he turns 60, Robert would seem to have it all - looks, wealth, a loving family and respect among his peers. Yet he always wants more, and feels emboldened by the different rules that seem to apply in his world.
So he "borrows" US$417 million from a fellow tycoon to cover a hole in his portfolio and make his company look stable as it's about to be acquired by a bank. This is otherwise known as fraud. And despite the loyalty and support of his smart, beautiful wife (Susan Sarandon), he has a hot (and hot-headed) French mistress on the side (former Victoria's Secret model Laetitia Casta).
But his life explodes in his face over the course of a few fateful days.
What's surprising about "Arbitrage" is that Jarecki never judges this man nor tries to steer our feelings. Gere is so charming that he kind of makes you root for his character to get away with it all.
Teetering on the brink of serious trouble actually makes Robert nastier and more demanding. As one character puts it: "You think money is gonna fix this?" Robert responds: "What else is there?"
In directing his first feature, writer and documentarian Nicholas Jarecki shows great command of tone - a balance of sex, danger and manipulation with some insiderish business talk and a healthy sprinkling of dark humor to break up the tension. His film is well-cast and strongly acted, and while it couldn't be more relevant, it also recalls the decadence of 1980s Wall Street, shot in 35mm as it is, with a synth-heavy score from composer Cliff Martinez.
"Arbitrage" is a lurid look at a lavish lifestyle that allows us to cluck disapprovingly while still vicariously enjoying its luxurious trappings.
Richard Gere stars as Robert Miller, a billionaire hedge-fund magnate who, at the film's start, is magnanimously sharing his wisdom in an interview with CNBC's Maria Bartiromo. As he turns 60, Robert would seem to have it all - looks, wealth, a loving family and respect among his peers. Yet he always wants more, and feels emboldened by the different rules that seem to apply in his world.
So he "borrows" US$417 million from a fellow tycoon to cover a hole in his portfolio and make his company look stable as it's about to be acquired by a bank. This is otherwise known as fraud. And despite the loyalty and support of his smart, beautiful wife (Susan Sarandon), he has a hot (and hot-headed) French mistress on the side (former Victoria's Secret model Laetitia Casta).
But his life explodes in his face over the course of a few fateful days.
What's surprising about "Arbitrage" is that Jarecki never judges this man nor tries to steer our feelings. Gere is so charming that he kind of makes you root for his character to get away with it all.
Teetering on the brink of serious trouble actually makes Robert nastier and more demanding. As one character puts it: "You think money is gonna fix this?" Robert responds: "What else is there?"
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