Arbitrage (2012)
In Arbitrage, Richard Gere plays a powerful executive with a loving wife, kids who have followed in his footsteps, and two huge problems: an audit might catch him on embezzling, and he’s fighting with his mistress. She’s a French artist who pouts that they don’t spend enough time together; during a midnight drive, Richard falls asleep at the wheel and the car flips over. With his girlfriend dead, he panics and moves her body to the driver’s side and flees the scene.
As is the case with many “cover-up” stories, the protagonist makes a fatal error. Richard should have immediately admitted to detective Tim Roth that he had a brief affair with Laetitia Casta (Frenchie), to explain his company’s investment in her artwork and the payment of her apartment’s lease. He could have made up a sob story about how he knew it was a mistake but continued to support her professionally; then Tim wouldn’t have known he was lying.
Instead, he lied through his teeth, making Tim label him as Suspect #1. Oh well. Had the role been taken by someone less of a heartthrob, the audience would probably hope he get caught and sent to jail. However, it’s Richard Gere, and all the ladies in the audience have already pledged their undying loyalty. Yes, he cheated on his beautiful, sexy wife. Yes, he doctored the numbers in his company during an audit. Yes, he tried to buy the testimony of his alibi. But it’s Richard Gere, so of course we hope he gets away with it. If he does, surely he’ll learn his lessons, treat Susan better, and become an honest businessman. If he doesn’t, well, he can ask any lady in the audience to be his new mistress and she’ll say yes.
On the plus side, Susan Sarandon looks extremely pretty in this movie; I’m so glad the film didn’t claim Richard was unfaithful because his wife had “let herself go”. Her hair looks gorgeous and she’s still as seductive as she was forty years earlier. She also still wears her signature off-shoulder sweater – but why wear it while on the treadmill? Ladies, I don’t care how lovely she looks, don’t try to imitate her. Wear proper undergarment support when you exercise!
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. There is an “active” camera, where the cameraman follows the characters around often, and that will make you sick. In other words, “Don’t Look, Mom!”
More Susan Sarandon movies here!
As is the case with many “cover-up” stories, the protagonist makes a fatal error. Richard should have immediately admitted to detective Tim Roth that he had a brief affair with Laetitia Casta (Frenchie), to explain his company’s investment in her artwork and the payment of her apartment’s lease. He could have made up a sob story about how he knew it was a mistake but continued to support her professionally; then Tim wouldn’t have known he was lying.
Instead, he lied through his teeth, making Tim label him as Suspect #1. Oh well. Had the role been taken by someone less of a heartthrob, the audience would probably hope he get caught and sent to jail. However, it’s Richard Gere, and all the ladies in the audience have already pledged their undying loyalty. Yes, he cheated on his beautiful, sexy wife. Yes, he doctored the numbers in his company during an audit. Yes, he tried to buy the testimony of his alibi. But it’s Richard Gere, so of course we hope he gets away with it. If he does, surely he’ll learn his lessons, treat Susan better, and become an honest businessman. If he doesn’t, well, he can ask any lady in the audience to be his new mistress and she’ll say yes.
On the plus side, Susan Sarandon looks extremely pretty in this movie; I’m so glad the film didn’t claim Richard was unfaithful because his wife had “let herself go”. Her hair looks gorgeous and she’s still as seductive as she was forty years earlier. She also still wears her signature off-shoulder sweater – but why wear it while on the treadmill? Ladies, I don’t care how lovely she looks, don’t try to imitate her. Wear proper undergarment support when you exercise!
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. There is an “active” camera, where the cameraman follows the characters around often, and that will make you sick. In other words, “Don’t Look, Mom!”
More Susan Sarandon movies here!