A Most Violent Year (2014)

A Most Violent Year isn’t a horror film, it doesn’t depict a dystopian world. A Most Violent Year is set in real life New York City in 1981, officially regarded as one of the most dangerous, violent and crime ridden points in American History. In 1981 alone, over 120,000 there were more reported robberies in New York City than any other time since records began. Yet more worrying was the fact that there was over 2,100 murders reported in that year alone, not even Freddy Krueger could send more shivers down my spine than when I first heard that. With such alarming statistics and high profile crimes being committed throughout that era, naturally Hollywood had conjure up a story to place against such a chaotic backdrop. That’s where J. C. Chandor comes in, a man with a short filmography including Margin Call and All is Lost to count among it, but certainly Chandor is a man of quality over quantity. And A Most Violent Year is nothing short of quality, with stunning cinematography and nostalgia inducing set designs and boasting an excellent cast; Jessica Chastain, Oscar Isaac and David Oyelowo, all of which have also been Oscar nominated at some point in their careers. “My husband is a good man, don’t mistake his honesty for weakness. He deserves respect.” As I have already alluded to, New York City of 1981 was a very dark place and the film certainly centres on this. Oscar Isaac plays Abel Morales a family man who owns a rapidly expanding heating oil company. However unfortunately his company trucks used for transporting the oil are being constantly plagued with hijacking from armed criminals. But while his rather steely wife insists he fight fire with fire, Morales chooses instead to keep his moral compass in check, despite further mounting for all angles. A Most Violent Year does possess some down sides, particular in the marginalisation of undoubtedly the most potent acting talent in Hollywood right now in Jessica Chastain. For too long in the film Chastain had to play second fiddle to Isaac, which is frustrating when you know if allowed to flex her full acting muscles, she could have easily taken the entire film to new level. I also feel it would have been better served if there was more conflict between the married couple, because you feel that in real life the violent culture of the time would have wedged a bigger gap between them. While shots of vintage New York were stunning, the narrative pace greatly dropped in the middle of the film and dragged significantly, however the pay of at the end was hugely rewarding and certainly earned A Most Violent Year the right to be remembered.