1981 was a very rough period for New York. Crime rates were at an all-time high, and heinous acts like murder and rape were being committed more so than any of the previous years. Director J.C. Candor takes audiences back to this time, reliving the most dangerous year in the city’s history to show you how achieving the American dream is one thing, but keeping it going is a much more daunting task. “A Most Violent Year” tells the story, in this time of uncertainty and chaos, about one immigrant man who chose to dream big and how much it truly costs to dream that big.
“A Most Violent Year” starts with a man and a woman getting suitcases of money from an armored car in a parking lot all while a robbery is going down just outside a toll booth on a New York highway. We soon learn how these two events are connected but not before being introduced to Abel (Oscar Isaac) and his wife Anna (Jessica Chasten). On the surface, they look like the perfect American family. Abel has a beautiful wife, lovely daughters, and a dog. He runs a successful business which he is about to expand and has just bought a big house in a wealthy suburban neighborhood. However, the things begin to unravel with his home almost being invaded, his trucks are robbed at gunpoint, the bank bails on him for an important loan, and the DA is planning on indicting him which involves a police raid during his daughter’s birthday party. Now with his back against the wall and the vultures circling above Abel must find a way to survive.
Despite the main character’s massive effort to not be a criminal, he finds himself in the same predicament as one. The police are after him, and his competitors take advantage of his vulnerability. As he tries to survive his morality and principles are chipped away again and again until the righteous man who only wanted to work with what he owns is now taking dirty money and giving away precious equity. Every time he tries to do the right thing to fix a problem he falls deeper into the hole. Abel begins to drown in quicksand, and it seems like it will never end, a feeling many of us go through in our day-to-day lives.
Oscar Isaac delivers another memorable performance as the film’s main protagonist Abel. His style and poise are reminiscent of a young Al Pacino as Michael Corleone in “The Godfather.” His portrayal of an outsider reluctantly entering the shadowy side of things continually forces the viewer into his shoes, wondering how far they’d go if it were all on the line. The man doesn’t need much dialogue to sell you on his character’s motivations. He brilliantly conveys Abel’s feeling through mostly facial expressions, mainly in his eyes delivering that piercing gaze. Isaac’s cool demeanor and surgical discipline keeps the audience guessing and shrouds what he’ll do next in mystery, keeping them enthralled throughout the film’s runtime.
Opposite Isaac is the always flawless Jessica Chastain. How she doesn’t even receive an Oscar nomination for this part is almost a crime and dare I say a tragedy. Her Brooklyn accent and Lady Macbeth approach makes her a force to be reckoned with every time she’s on screen. She sells her dominance so well it’s almost intimidating. Chastain is as fierce as she’s ever been and when she finally let’s go, not only can you feel the intensity in your bones but you can feel chills go up your spine. Jessica’s portrayal of crime princess turned supporting spouse with a twist is arguably one of her most underrated roles and should be revered as a solid gangster performance.
J.C. Chandor is continually improving his ability to captivate audiences with his compelling execution of a dramatic narrative. The way he immerses us in his stories is truly a spectacular thing, and he continually outdoes expectations. The film is cut together nicely with some slick editing from Ron Patene. Bradford Young provides some beautiful cinematography that gets better every frame. He is able to masterfully capture the ’80s aesthetics and gritty New York Backdrop, which are some great examples of visually stunning production design executed by John P. Goldsmith. Also, helping the plot flow from start to finish is the brilliant score composed by Alex Ebert.
It may feel scary to jump into this one, but when it feels scary to jump that is exactly when you jump. Otherwise, you’ll miss out on an excellent film for the rest of your life. And that is something I can’t let you do. “A Most Violent Year” is a solid choice for anyone wanting to experience an intense slow burn drama that is as relatable as it is entertaining. This thought-provoking award winner is one that needs to be placed on top of any moviegoers watch list.
