Posted by Eric Stumpf
Nicholas Jarecki's "Arbitrage" opens at the Saratoga Film Forum at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8 and Friday, Nov. 9. The film will also be shown at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11.
Arbitrage is a dramatic Wall Street thriller packed with intricacies, eloquence and Oscar worthy performances. Robert Miller, played by Richard Gere, is a highly successful hedge fund magnate in New York City. He lives a lavish lifestyle with his loving wife (Susan Sarandon) and intelligent daughter (Brit Marling). However, behind this veil of success lies an unfaithful, dishonest and guilty man.
Miller is in too deep, attempting to cover up fraud with a giant business deal whilst keeping his fiery affair with French art-dealer Julie Cote (Laetetia Casta) under wraps. Miller almost escapes blame until a deadly accident simultaneously crumbles his stable world and catches the interest of detective Michael Bryer, played by the ever-excellent Tim Roth.
Arbitrage is a clever film that keeps you guessing, thanks to its excellent script written by first-time director Nicholas Jarecki. It is an excellent character study of the different morals and ideals that exist within Wall Street. Dialogue is sharp and the film has been well thought out, based on various true events and stories from Wall Street. Richard Gere provides his usual high caliber acting, and Nate Parker's portrayal of Jimmy Grant is especially successful.
The film was shot on location, showcasing Wall Street and the buildings, restaurants and great halls truly frequented by the elite, giving it a more grounded feeling of reality.
Roger Ebert of Chicago Sun-Times raves, "Hitchcock called his most familiar subject 'The Innocent Man Wrongly Accused'. Jarecki pumps up the pressure here by giving us a Guilty Man Accurately Accused, [making] the film so ingeniously involving."
Relevant Majors: Business, Criminal Law, Dramatic Arts, History and Philosophy.
Stay tuned for next week's review of "Searching for Sugar Man," coming to the Film Forum on Nov. 16.
A one-night-only screening of the 1924 silent version of "Peter Pan" will also be held at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 17. The film will be accompanied by a live score from Seattle harpist Leslie McMichael. Should be really a nice evening.