Review of Arbitrage (2012) by Jerry R — 14 Apr 2013

Richard Gere plays Robert Miller, a successful investment trader living the high life, but whose risk-taking in his personal and professional life is closing in on him. It is more than a simple cat-and-mouse game with the police (Tim Roth plays the detective determined to bring him down), with the complexitites of family loyalties woven in.

But the weak link in believability is the character Jimmy, a young black man who bails Robert out of his most harrowing moment and appears willing to take the fall for it rather than turn Robert in. Considering how obnoxious Robert is to him, it's hard to imagine Jimmy's distaste for being a "snitch" would explain his willingness to go to prison for Robert's sins.

Yet even this character adds depth to the story, showing a working-class sensibility and integrity in stark contrast to Robert and his milieu. I liked the ending, with no easy resolutions wrapped up in a too-neat package.

Not so much a thriller as a character study.