Film review: Arbitrage (7 out of 10)

The fact that all I saw of the film-making process was some posters saying roads would be closed the following day doesn’t really strengthen my case.

However, it was a pleasant surprise that Arbitrage provided much more entertainment than just working out which parts of the Big Apple I’d seen.

Richard Gere, after a few less than riveting roles, is back with a vengeance, with the whole film revolving round his character. In fact, he is in just about every scene.

He plays billionaire Robert Miller who is the epitome of success, with all the trappings such wealth brings.

But he harbours some guilty secrets and one lapse in concentration sees his whole world under threat.

Susan Sarandon adds her own undoubted skill as Miller’s wife and Tim Roth is particularly convincing as a dogged detective, intent on uncovering Miller’s wrongdoings.

Nate Parker deserves a mention in his role as Jimmy Grant, an acquaintance of Miller’s who gets caught up in a whole mess of trouble.

Some of the money aspects mentioned were a bit too complex for me (apparently arbitrage is a form of financial dealing) and the film’s ending left me hanging somewhat, waiting for the loose ends to be tied.

However, writer and director Nicholas Jarecki provides some good tension and leads us through Miller’s story well.

Overall, this is a well-crafted film that holds the attention, although audiences may be disappointed by the abrupt finish.

Film details: Arbitrage (15) 107mins

Director: Nicholas Jarecki

Starring: Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Tim Roth, Nate Parker.

Screening courtesy of Cineworld Crawley

Steve Payne