Something of a cross between Wall Street and an episode of Columbo, Nicholas Jarecki’s Arbitrage makes the most of its attributes (a very strong cast, effective New York City locations) while minimizing its liabilities (a first time director, some plotting sleight-of-hand). It’s not the great tension-filled thriller it might have been, and the ironies the writer-director had hoped for seem like rather obvious observations rather than eye-opening revelations. But it’s reasonably entertaining throughout and features some dynamite performances.
Arbitrage (Blu-ray)
Directed by Nicholas Jarecki
Studio: Lionsgate
Year: 2012
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 1080p AVC codec
Running Time: 107 minutes
Rating: R
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 English
Subtitles: SDH, Spanish
Region: A
MSRP: $ 24.99
Release Date: December 21, 2012
Review Date: December 14, 2012
The Film
3.5/5
Robert Miller’s (Richard Gere) world of financial power is on the verge of collapsing around him. He’s had to take out a potentially perilous loan of $ 412 million to keep his investment corporation afloat while doctoring the books and attempting to keep it from his daughter Brooke (Brit Marling) who’s chief financial officer of the firm. A sale of the company will allow him to repay the loan with interest, but the sale won’t happen if an ongoing audit turns up the subterfuge. On top of those worries, Robert wrecks his car while on a weekend rendezvous with his mistress Julie Cote (Laetitia Casta) killing her, but again, he must hide his involvement in the accident because an investigation might prevent the firm’s sale from transpiring. To hide this, he must make his wife Ellen (Susan Sarandon) and family friend Jimmy Grant (Nate Parker) innocent dupes of his involvement in the accident. When Detective Michael Bryer (Tim Roth) comes sniffing around, Miller’s potentially ruinous public and private lives teeter on the edge of exposure.
First time director Nicholas Jarecki has written an interesting and involving scenario for the film making his protagonist just charming and affable enough to generate audience sympathy (aided immeasurably in his casting choice of Richard Gere) as to his capture while also showing us his selfish, grasping underbelly thus keeping us constantly on the fence about whether we want justice to triumph over the multiple lies. The Columbo element is strong in the movie as we squirm along with Gere as the police and his daughter pick away at his deceits. But the decision about whose side we're on might have been even more confounding had Jarecki not built into his screenplay a last act revelation that tips our rooting interest firmly to one side of the ledger. That act plus the epiphany that one character has which reveals it are the basic weaknesses of an otherwise tight and efficient script. Jarecki’s direction is straightforward and business-like with few flourishes and with pacing that only occasionally flags.
With only one major exception, the performances are all aces. Richard Gere is really excellent walking the tightrope between doting father and ruthless businessman while never quite giving up ownership of his various treacheries but not showing any guilt about them either. Susan Sarandon isn’t given much to do as the knowing wife though she does have a couple of needle-edged confrontations at the end that show us the performance power at her command. More interesting is Brit Marling as Miller’s daughter. With her pride at stake and her reputation on the line due to her father’s double dealings, she and Gere share the film’s most electric exchange as father and daughter are finally revealed to one another. Tim Roth does a fine job with the dogged police detective out to bring down the rich and famous, and Stuart Margolin as Miller’s lawyer is terrific as the man who does what he can to stop him legally. Nate Parker has a generous supporting role as the friend who comes through for Miller when common sense tells him he shouldn’t, and he does a marvelous job throughout. Only Laetitia Casta’s performance as a clichéd mistress character, impatient at sharing her lover with his wife and eager to make a name for herself in the art world, doesn’t much impress.
Video Quality
4/5
The film has been framed at 1.78:1 and is presented in a 1080p transfer using the AVC codec. Contrast is the transfer’s weak link seeming a shade or two too light oftentimes and thus limiting the depths of the black levels. Color isn’t deeply saturated, but it’s more than adequate for the purposes of the storytelling, and flesh tones are natural. Sharpness is generally good though there are some soft focused close-ups of the leading man that rather stand out. The film has been divided into 16 chapters.
Audio Quality
4/5
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound mix is a good, solid effort without distinguishing itself. There is only a moderate amount of ambiance of the New York City locations to be found in the front soundstage with some slight spillover into the rears. Cliff Martinez’s spare background score does sound very good throughout. Dialogue has been well recorded and has been placed in the center channel where it’s always easily discernible.
Special Features
3/5
The audio commentary is by writer-director Nicholas Jarecki. With this being his first film as a director, his enthusiasm is engaging as he chatters on about every aspect of the production. He offers good background information on the two-year journey to get the film made and emerges as a likable presence throughout.
All of the bonus material is presented in 1080p.
“A Glimpse into Arbitrage” is the first of two EPK featurettes featuring some of the major members of the cast and crew: director Nicholas Jarecki, producers Laura Bickford and Robert Salerno, and actors Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Tim Roth, Brit Marling, and Nate Parker basically having a love fest praising each other’s contributions to the movie. It runs 12 ¾ minutes.
“Who Is Robert Miller?” gives us 7 minutes with director Nicholas Jarecki and actors Nate Parker, Susan Sarandon, Brit Marling, and Rochard Gere describing the character of Robert Miller and all of them praising Richard Gere’s performance and professionalism.
There are six deleted scenes which can be viewed separately or in one 10 ¼-minute grouping. There is also the option to turn on director’s commentary for the clips which explains why they were cut.
There are promo trailers for Killer Joe, Margin Call, Friends with Kids, Winter’s Bone, and Chicago.
In Conclusion
3.5/5 (not an average)
Arbitrage is an entertaining if not especially deep probe into the financial machinations of an investment banker with few scruples and an even less guilty conscience about his actions. Outstanding performances and an above average script keep interest bubbling for the length of the film.
Matt Hough
Charlotte, NC
