Richard Gere in Arbitrage does for Brioni what he did for Armani in American Gigolo. He looks good in a suit. On Sunday night for the new movie’s East Hampton premiere, he wore a blue denim shirt, his signature look out east. The film, written and directed by Nicholas Jarecki, is suit specific, Brioni donated, which is why when Gere’s character Robert Miller burns one to cover up a scandal, it hurts. Playing a rich and powerful mogul is not a stretch for Gere. Married to Ellen (Susan Sarandon), Miller appears to be an upstanding family man, a model billionaire, involved in charities. In the film’s reality, Miller is involved in some high stakes shady dealings with another big time player (Graydon Carter in a standout performance). Honesty is beside the point.

Hunted by an upstate cop (Tim Roth), who has a great scene with a judge played to perfection by Tibor Feldman, Miller stays cool. After a car crash that kills Julie (Laetitia Casta), his art dealer girlfriend, Miller wants to hide evidence including a wound to his abdomen. This detail may stretch credulity, perhaps becoming this film’s Achilles’ heel. On the other hand, it is fun to watch these able actors work out the machinations of this layered story. 

An after party at the home of Leila and Mickey Straus’s, hosted by the Peggy Siegal Company and Brioni, featured an outdoor feast of paella and watermelon. Among the celebrants: Chuck Scarborough, Pia Lindstrom, Steve Kroft, Maria Bartiromo who has her own cameo, Joe Pintauro, Susan Lacy, Judy Hudson, Ross Bleckner, Billy Sullivan, Russell Simmons, Jon Bon Jovi, Bob Balaban, and Michael Lynne. Having completed the Pink Floyd revival tour, Roger Waters greeted Gere with Laurie Durning; recently wed, he quipped, she made an honest man out of me.

Regina Weinreich

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