Movie Review: Arbitrage

In financial parlance, Arbitrage refers to the practice of purchasing and selling assets by taking advantage of a price discrepancy between two or more markets. Though profits are bound to be expected, the practice is generally considered to be risky. In the movie too, Robert Miller is an arbitrageur who must ensure the smooth sailing of his assets - his firm and family - when unforeseen circumstances threaten to derail them, thus imperiling his fame and reputation. And he is armed with one weapon to prevent this tragedy. Money.

Depicting the dark and murky side of Wall Street is not new to Hollywood. But what makes Arbitrage a first-rate watch is its treatment. With a watertight screenplay in place, first-time director Nicholas Jarecki does a masterful job of guaranteeing enough thrilling moments, while Cliff Martinez's (of the superlative Drive) hypnotic music score and Yorick Le Saux's stunning camera work keep the film eminently watchable.

Susan Sarandon as Miller's wife who keeps family as her top priority despite knowing her husband's ways, Brit Marling as his daughter and the company's CFO who finds the irregularities, and Nate Parker as the black man who Miller turns onto for help shine in their respective parts. But the movie ultimately belongs to Richard Gere, who breathes life into the character of Robert Miller with such earnestness that it's impossible to not root for him despite the flawed character he plays on screen. Competently conceived (although somewhat eclectic in nature), Arbitrage is a must-watch drama thriller!