A Most Violent Year

This film has a most misleading title. There is very little violence and it doesn't take place over a year. But J.C. Chandor's latest film is a tense and enthralling film about a legitimate businessman who is trying to make a life in a business that is full of crooks.

The film is set in the industrial areas of New York in 1981. Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac) owns a heating oil company and is looking to expand his business so that he is able to ship the oil straight to his warehouses instead of buying them through a middleman. Lately his company has been plagued by the hijacking of his trucks and he thinks it is his competitors, all of whom run less than legitimate business. Despite urging from his wife Anna (Jessica Chastain), Abel refuses to retaliate through violent means. This is due to his company being investigated by Assistant District Attorney Lawrence (David Oyelowo).

Writer/director Chandor has truly proven himself with this film. His previous two films Margin Call (a film about the 24 hours leading up to the Global Financial Crisis) and All Is Lost (a film starring only Robert Redford, who plays a man lost at sea) were both critically acclaimed but didn't get wide recognition from the public due to their esoteric nature. A Most Violent Year follows in this ambiguity and as such might see the same scorn from general audiences. However, this film is masterfully written and delivers on so many levels. The film doesn't lay all its cards on the table on the table from the outset, instead choosing to reveal backstory as it becomes relevant. It becomes apparent that Abel does not hold any criminal ties, despite the vibe that he does. Instead the real power is held by his wife Anna, who you see holds more power than he does.

The film has some very tense scenes which culminate in extremely violent actions, but they come from people who you least expect and are intended upon the unexpected, which really throws you on the back foot. As soon as I realised that this wasn't a straightforward crime drama, I was kept guessing as to what would happen. The whole time you are hoping that Abel comes through the events using his legitimate means.

The film is superbly shot by cinematographer Bradford Young and really captures the feel and look of New York in 1981. The production design is also remarkable. Anna's dresses are all vintage Armani, the cars are all of the era with late 70s Lincolns and the skyline of New York is transformed to be identical of how it was in 81. Alex Ebert's score is rousing and punctuates the tension that is rippling throughout the film.

For me, Oscar Isaac seems to be getting better and better with each film I see him in. Here, you can see the immensely frustrated businessman, with pressure coming at him from all angles. His performance is perfectly revealing and shows Abel's weaknesses as the film progresses. Jessica Chastain's character is likewise revealing and slowly becomes a terrifying character as you discover what she is capable of. David Oyelowo is just a superb chameleon and is fantastic at wholly becoming each character he plays. Albert Brooks is amazing as Abel's lawyer and Elyes Gabel is fantastic as one of the drivers who is constantly getting hijacked.

J.C. Chandor's A Most Violent Year may not be as exciting for some people due to its misleading title, but it ends up being a scary and tense film about a man who just wants to take the most right path in life.