2. Arbitrage
A Richard Gere movie that didn't get enough respect? For me, that sums up his career. Gere, when surrounded with the right director, and more importantly, the right role, is a fantastic actor. I may be criticized for that, but I cannot see how anybody can watch Internal Affairs, The Hoax and Primal Fear without seeing the talent he has. Admittedly he may have more duds than studs, but we can now add Arbitrage to the list of great Richard Gere movies. Gere plays a wealthy executive who has made some bad bets on the market, and is cooking the books in his own company so he can close a deal and cash out with a massive payday. So a relatable, sympathetic character right? Add to that he is having an affair with a younger woman, while playing happy families at home and you're probably wondering why we would want to spend time with such a man. Gere plays the character brilliantly, a ruthless businessman and a nice but flawed human. The film plays out fantastically, at an appropriate pace, as the walls begin to close in on Gere. Nicholas Jarecki directs his first feature brilliantly, with a maturity beyond his years. I felt like this flew way under the radar, and was nowhere to be seen around awards season. I'm not sure if it will gain a reputation in the coming years, but it certainly should. It was one of the best movies of 2012, and featured fantastic overlooked performances all around. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7suf1yAWLy4