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Arbitrage
2012 107 min United States of America, Poland R 16+
★7.0
Drama, Thriller
Director: Nicholas Jarecki
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
A troubled hedge fund magnate, desperate to complete the sale of his trading empire, makes an error that forces him to turn to an unlikely person for help.
Budget:
$12M
US Gross:
$7.92M
Worldwide:
$35.5M
Starring
Richard Gere
Actor
Susan Sarandon
Actor
Brit Marling
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 2013
— Best Actor (Drama)
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2012
— Golden Shell
Key opinion
Arbitrage is a character-driven thriller that centers on the moral decay of a wealthy businessman struggling to maintain his empire after a fatal mistake. While some viewers find its deliberate, low-action pacing to be dull, others praise its tense atmosphere and nuanced exploration of elite impunity.
| Acting | The central performance by Richard Gere is widely credited for grounding the film, effectively balancing the protagonist's cold calculation with a desperate, humanizing charisma. | |
| Theme | The film succeeds as a sophisticated character study, eschewing action-heavy tropes in favor of exploring the psychological tension and ethical contradictions of the ultra-wealthy. | |
| Pacing | Opinions on the film's pacing are divided; some critics appreciate the quiet, deliberate tension, while others find the slow, low-stakes progression tedious and unengaging. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is viewed through a polarized lens; while some laud its focus on moral ambiguity and realistic financial stakes, others dismiss the plot as predictable or unnecessarily convoluted. | |
| Ending | The ending remains a point of contention, with some viewers finding its bleak, non-judgmental resolution unsatisfying or anti-climactic. |