DirkH’s review published on Letterboxd:
Part of Dastardly Difficult December: film nr.98
This was a rather surprising film for me. I did not know much about it, other than that is had gotten some positive reviews and supposedly had Richard Gere giving one of his best performances.
In essence, the story is rather simple and straightforward. Rich man could lose it all because of a stupid mistake. That's really the gist of it. What makes this film so good is the character of Robert Miller. I was never quite sure if I should like him or hate his guts. He is such a complex character that you are automatically invested as enigmas are meant to be solved. And what this film does really well is never completely give away what kind of man he really is, it is open for debate, a debate to be had by the viewer.
Gere is fantastic here, aided by an excellent supporting cast. He manages to be frail, human, intimidating, charming and sleezy. He gives Miller the qualities a man of his wealth and power probably would have and ha me completely convinced. He made Miller real and as Miller's character is the strength of this film, it is no understatement to say that Gere carries it.
There was an underlying motif that I would have liked to have seen explored a bit better and that was the moral ambiguity that comes with power and money. The script hints at this, at the fact that money trumps the law and doing what is morally right. Sure, we get the perspective of the rich, but I would have liked to have seen more of the flipside of that coin. It is there, but not enough.
Having said that, it is a minor complaint. This is a very well made film, with an interesting plot and excellent performances. Most certainly recommended.