ARBITRAGE

 Drama

F.Y.I.

Arbitrage

Definition Financial

The technique of simultaneously buying a commodity at one price in one market and selling it at a higher price in another market to profit from the spread between the two prices. Although the price difference may be small, arbitrageurs typically trade in huge volumes so they can make sizable profits.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Richard Gere: billionaire hedge fund manager Robert Miller

Susan Saradon: his wife Ellen

Laetitia Casta: art gallery owner Julie Cote

Brit Marling: the Miller’s daughter Brooke, the company CFO

Stuart Margolin: the company lawyer Syd Felder

Nate Parker: Jimmy Grant, son of Miller’s retired chauffeur

Tim Roth: NYPD detective Bryer

REVIEW

Trying to wrap up the sale of his company to a larger one Robert Miller soon finds he’s got more problems than that. This well-written story brings out one of Gere’s best performances (if not his very best) as he tires to sort things out. In fact the acting is uniformly good and the pacing excellent.

Not wanting to give away anything I will not dwell too much on the plot other than to say that this is one of the few thrillers that does not rely upon car chases to keep our interest. How refreshing.

CLASSIFICATION

 for profanity, sexual content and drugs.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY

• Ellen helps Robert with his tie and from one shot to another the knot is up or down from it’s previous position.
• Robert storms in the office and immediately locks the door but when he goes to leave he opens the door without having to undo the lock.
• Ellen’s workout t-shirt is off her right shoulder when viewed from the front but back up where it belongs when seen from behind.
• The toll to cross the Triborough Bridge is posted as $6.50 and Syd hands the toll booth person a bill and only gets back the requested receipt but no change.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN EXPRESS

 IMAX Documentary

REVIEW

Building a railroad across Canada was an ambitious project. So was the making of this film that according to the press release took more than five years to complete. But the results are nothing short of spectacular: from the close-up shots of the immense driving wheels of the huge engine to swooping aerial views of the magnificent landscape the film is visually stunning. The original musical soundtrack blends in well with the sound of the engine as it storms across the continent.

The narrative gives a first hand account of the problems the builders had to face, not only financial but the hardships of construction under difficult conditions. Fascinating stuff.

CLASSIFICATION

THE MASTER

Drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Joaquin Phoenix: World War II Naval Officer Freddie Quell

Philip Seymore Hoffman: Lancaster Dodd, founder of “The Cause”

Amy Adams: his wife Peggy

Ambyr Childers Dodd’s daughter Elizabeth

Rami Malek: Clark, her betrothed

Jesse Plemons: Dodd’s eldest son Val

Laura Dem: Helen Sullivan, one of Dodd’s wealthy supporters,

REVIEW

This film is clearly geared to the more discerning mature viewer, primarily because Freddie’s violent and erratic behaviour is disturbing to watch. But he is not alone: some of what others do is unsettling as well.

Some members of the audience will regard Freddie’s sexual fantasies as repulsive and nearly everyone will find the movie too long at 2 hours and 17 minutes.

However, those willing to hang in are sure to agree that Freddie’s performance has all the earmarks of Academy Award nomination. As usual Hoffman does a very credible job of it and Adams shows she really can act. However good acting alone does not make a good movie.

CLASSIFICATION

 for sexual content, graphic nudity and language.

ARGO

Drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Ben Affleck: CIA Specialist Tony Mendez

Bryan Cranston: his supervisor Jack O’Donnell

John Goodman: Hollywood make-up artist John Chambers

Alan Arkin: Hollywood film producer Lester Siegal

Victor Garber: Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor

REVIEW

A slightly altered version of the events that took place in Iran with the taking hostage of American diplomatic personnel in 1978 does not diminish the impact of the rescue attempt. Careful attention to period detail (except for a couple of instances as noted below) and great acting bring the events to life. Even knowing the real outcome, the tension is palpable as you can never be sure how Hollywood will handle the facts. Riveting stuff.

CLASSIFICATION

 for language and some violent images.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY

• The famous Hollywood sign was erected in 1923 to advertise a new housing development and was never intended to be permanent. It deteriorated so badly that in November 1978 it had to be completely refurbished, a year before these events took place.

                                       

SPOILER ALERT FOR THESE NITPICKS

• Depending upon the load, winds, field elevation and altimeter setting the takeoff speed of a 747 is between 275 and 335 kilometres per hour which is much faster than any normal road vehicle.
• As seen on Mythbusters, the rearward blast from a jet engine is powerful enough to topple over a school bus so the three pursuit vehicles directly behind engine number 4 could not last very long in that position.

P.S.

Ben Affleck is an exception to Ralph’s Rule of Redundancy which states:

 “Any film where one person takes on more than 2 key positions (Affleck is Producer, Director and Star) has a major shortcoming: the absence of independent critical judgement that results in something less than it might have been.”

ROBOT AND FRANK

 Drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Frank Langella: Frank, a crusty septuagenarian

James Marsden: Frank’s son Hunter, an attorney

Liv Tyler: Frank’s daughter Madison

Susan Sarandon: local librarian Jennifer

Jeremy Strong: library trustee Jake

REVIEW

“Set in the not too distant future”, this simple tale of an aging Frank is a bit sad as we see the effect his failing memory has on his family. However spurred on by the assistance of a robot, Frank shows some of his former spunk. Langella does a great job, nicely balancing the different personality traits the role calls for.

However this charming little film is ruined by the ending: the transition to the bucolic setting is too abrupt, totally out of sync with the rest of the film that unfolds at an unhurried pace. And then the final scene, well it needs to be rewritten big time: as one moviegoer was heard to say “it’s a real cop out leaving things that way”. I agree.

CLASSIFICATION

 for some language.

TO THE ARCTIC 3D

 Documentary

REVIEW

This latest IMAX documentary covers some very familiar ground: global warming and the daily struggle just to survive in this harsh environment. By focusing on a mother polar bear and her twin seven-month-old cubs their plight becomes evident but the solutions are not.

Meryl Streep narrates with feeling and Sir Paul McCartney has written some new songs that almost overwhelm the viewer. But not quite, as the majestic landscape rivets our attention as the background to a serious problem.

Although the producers have avoided including anything of a gory nature, that does not mean to say the film is without some sense of pending doom. By contrast, the cubs provide more than a few moments of levity so it’s a nice balance.

CLASSIFICATION

PREMIUM RUSH

Action thriller

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Joseph Gordon-Levitt: NYC bicycle messenger Wilee (as in Wile E. Coyote)

Dania Ramirez: Wilee’s ex-girlfriend Vanessa

Jamie Chung: Vanessa’s roomie Nima

Assif Mandvi: Raj, company dispatcher

Michael Shannon: NYPD Detective Robert Monday

Wolé Parks: Manny, another bicycle messenger

Christopher Place: NYPD bicycle cop

REVIEW

Clearly not an Academy Award candidate, it is nevertheless interesting enough watching a group of “kamikaze” bike riders do their thing along the streets of Manhattan. To crank up the action (as if there is not enough) a rogue cop wants to get his hands on the premium rush package before it gets delivered. Let the fun begin.

The crisp editing keeps things moving along and the unusual routes these delivery people take result in some comic moments to lighten things up, just in case you’re taking things too seriously.

  

CLASSIFICATION

for some violence, intense action sequences and language.