Review of A Most Violent Year (2014) by Jordan R. M — 16 Jan 2015

Finally getting around to this one. I love a good crime thriller, especially inventive ones. New York is and always will be gangster ground zero. So many films have been made about gangster mobs in New York City, and this one may one day be considered a classic. "A Most Violent Year" is directed by J.C. Chandor and stars Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, David Oyelowo, Albert Brooks, and Elyes Gabel.

Abel Morales (Isaac), is the owner of an oil company. The year is 1981. It's winter, and Abel is about to close on a deal that will expand his company. One morning, a young man who works for Abel named Julian (Gabel), is assaulted while driving his oil truck. The goons make off with the truck leaving Julian lying prostrate on the pavement. All over the city, Abel's oil trucks are being stolen and drained. As Abel struggles to keep his honest business together, the D.A. is investigating his company. With pressure on all sides, he attempts to keep his company afloat while also trying to keep his family safe.

Oscar Isaac is one of my favorite actors right now, and Jessica Chastain is probably my favorite female actress of all time. I was so pleased with how great they were in this film. Oscar Isaac does a phenomenal job in his role. He has such range in his acting abilities. His performance is sharp and intense. Jessica Chastain is also fantastic. She has several great scenes in this where she absolutely kills it. She plays her character with such precision and with such ferociousness. Aside from these two, everyone did a great job.

I was really surprised by how smart the script was. It's so well written. Every bit of dialogue is sharp and perfect. This adds to the intensity of the film. It's also full of tension from beginning to end. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. The cinematography by Bradford Young is absolutely beautiful. I was so impressed by the camera work. It's definitely some of the best cinematography I've seen this year. Every shot was beautiful with perfect lighting and a great color palette. Also, the musical score shouldn't be overlooked. It's a really simple score, but it adds to the tension of the film.

If it's not obvious enough, I loved his film. However, it is not for everyone. It's what some would call a "slow burn". It is not a fast paced movie. It's a steady crime thriller drama from beginning to end. Therefore, this is not something everyday moviegoers will likely enjoy. Some may be put off by it's "slowness". I personally love slow movies and fast paced movies. The key is, they have to be engaging. Thankfully, to me, this film is. This is not a flawless movie. No film is truly flawless. Not very many are; though there are some. My only complaint is that sometimes things get a little bit genre cliche. Not much, but a bit.

"A Most Violent Year" is a smart, superb crime drama that succeeds in every way. It's dark, gritty, engaging, well written, has astonishing cinematography, great performances, and it's full of great tension. I definitely recommend if you are into crime dramas. Some audiences may not enjoy how "slow" it is, but if you're a lover of films that take their time and engage you from start to finish, you'll be thoroughly impressed.