Arbitrage   Starring: Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Tim Roth, Brit Marling, Laetitia Casta and Nate Parker Distributor: Koch Media RRP: £15.99 Certificate: 15 Release Date: 15 July 2013

New York hedge-fund magnate Robert Miller appears the portrait of success in American business and family life. However, behind the gilded walls of his mansion Miller is in over his head, desperately trying to conceal an affair with French artist Julie Cote whilst racing to complete the sale of his trading empire to a major bank before his fraudulent dealings are revealed. When a tragic accident complicates things further, attracting the unwanted attention of NYPD detective Michael Bryer, and the net tightens around him, Miller realises that the suspicions of not just the police but also his loyal wife and heir-apparent have been aroused. With time running out, Miller finds himself battling not just for his reputation but also his life...

Arbitrage is an intense drama by first time director Nicholas Jarecki. The movie stars Richard Gere as hedge-fund magnate Robert Miller, who is at a pretty low point in his life. To Miller, everything is about the money and an unwise investment has meant he has had to siphon capital from another of his businesses to plug the financial gap. He's on the verge of sorting everything out - with cooked books that will allow him to sell his company to a major bank - when he is involved in a car crash that instantly kills his girlfriend. With so much riding on selling his company, Miller can't risk coming forward as the driver of the car.

The investigating police officer (Tim Roth) doesn't for a second buy that the dead woman was alone in the car, and he sets about trying to connect her death to Miller. But will Miller come clean once the sale of his company goes through, or is he telling himself that lots of innocent people will be ruined if his company isn't sold in order to avoid the risk of spending any time in jail?

The film is peppered with believable characters - all of whom are just as grey as Miller in that they only have honourable intentions when it comes to themselves. In fact the only truly honest character is Jimmy Grant (Nate Parker) who accidentally gets wound up in the events by returning an old favour. In fact Jimmy has no idea that he is covering for manslaughter and ends up being the focus of the police investigation.

The film moves along at a break-neck (no pun intended) pace hardly pausing to let you get your breath. As unlikeable as the character of Miller is, it's pretty obvious why he does what he does and, given different circumstances, it's easy for everyone in the audience to identify with the character; How would you react if you were in his shoes?

The review copy we received had two discs, which is a little odd as the content would easily have fit on a single DVD. I'm assuming that the finished retail release will be on a single disc.

Extras include an interesting, and comprehensive audio commentary with the director. At times it's hard to work out if his attention to detail in the movie is admirable or insane. The interview is worth listening to as he walks you through his background and just about every aspect of the movie making process.

Over on disc 2 we get A Glimpse into Arbitrage (11 min, 48 sec behind the scenes featurette); Who is Robert Miller (5 min, 04 sec look at the character); and six short Deleted Scenes with optional director's commentary.

It's an enjoyable, and realistically gritty drama which leaves on just the right note of ambiguity.

7

Darren Rea