It is a character driven film and those of you who are looking for something a bit more filling regarding entertainment value, you'll be sorely disappointed with this film. A Most Violent Year Is a Most Extraordinary Film Oscar Isaac dazzles in J. C. Chandor's gripping, understated thriller. Statistically 1981 was one of if not THE most violent year in the history of New York, and against that backdrop a small heating-oil business is facing pressure on several fronts; at a basic level its trucks are being hi-jacked to the point where drivers are afraid to venture out; fiscally they are under investigation for dodgy bookkeeping and the bank pulls out as guarantor for a 1.5 mil loan they need to expand. About hpb_movies. Operating totally above board, Abel has made such a success of the business that he, Anna, and their two daughters are moving into a palatial new mansion. He's trying to close a deal to buy a fuel terminal. The film follows the immigrant owner of a heating-oil company, Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac), and his wife, Anna (Jessica Chastain). What makes the story work is some great acting. It's 1981 NYC, and it's not American Hustle. A crime drama set in New York City during the winter of 1981--statistically one of the most violent years in the city's history--and centered on the lives of an immigrant and his family trying to expand their business and capitalize on opportunities as the rampant violence, decay, and corruption of the day drag them in and threaten to destroy all they have built. The movie follows Abel and/or Anna as they try to get money to, their collective enterprise. Isaac shines in the protagonist role, playing one of the coolest characters around: broken yet proud, strong yet vulnerable, decent yet pressed, and shrewdly bad-to-the-bone. By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. The bulk of this is conveyed in dialogue as opposed to action and the writer is served brilliantly by the leading actors not least Jessica Chastain. A MOST VIOLENT YEAR is a thriller set in New York City during the Winter of 1981, statistically one of the most violent years in the city's history. . Directors J.C. Chandor Starring I've been amazed at some of the slams this movie has taken. It looks like he is the front-runner among those competing to purchase a $2.5-million prime riverside property that would allow him to expand the business and become the largest New York heating-oil distributor. Gray's "Godfather II" inspired "The Immigrant" is also excellent, and likewise steeped in post-Vietnam America's cinema traditions, although it's gentler, told from a female perspective, and set more deeply in the past. Elegant, old school crime thriller. Objectively speaking, they might be partially right, but that doesn't make this film objectively bad. In New York City 1981, an ambitious immigrant fights to protect his business and family during the most dangerous year in the city's history.In New York City 1981, an ambitious immigrant fights to protect his business and family during the most dangerous year in the city's history.In New York City 1981, an ambitious immigrant fights to protect his business and family during the most dangerous year in the city's history. Isaac plays Abel Morales, the owner of a small heating-oil company who is stressed by the competitiveness in the oil . There are shades of gangster movie sentiments - where Abel wants to make his business legitimate (or seem legitimate). Anna's father and most if not all of Abel's major competitors were and are corrupt. for those of us who love these types of films, 'A Most Violent Year' is a real treat. Worse, somebody's started hijacking his trucks: this happens in the opening sequence as he and his lawyer, Andrew (Albert Brooks, sly and smart and nearly unrecognizable, as is often the case these days), are delivering the down payment. A Most Violent Year is a searing crime drama set in New York City during the winter of 1981, statistically the most dangerous year in the city's history. Coming Soon. Scientists in Canada detected an 8 billion-year-old radio . The hero, despite a certain reticence about selling what's left of his soul, soon figures out that to get ahead in this world, you have to be cold and calculating, and divest yourself of illusions. : Despite the fact that this was a pretty decent film I can't help but wonder if the writers and filmmakers lacked a little confidence in their product. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. In the script, he answers $500,000. A Most Violent Year is a strong, character-driven drama that's lifted infinitely by terrific lead performances by Oscar Isaacs and Jessica Chastain, inflating what could have been a tiresome, trite look at one man versus the world in an unkind city. In New York City 1981, an ambitious immigrant fights to protect his business and family during the most dangerous year in the city's history. As Abel tries to remain true to himself, Julian, one of his immigrant drivers who was severely beaten during one of those hijackings, could undermine all that Abel has achieved so far, as Julian strives for his own piece of the American Dream. Image. I have no idea what you mean, Abel replies. Still, it was a very interesting character study that was able to maintain an excellent level of tension throughout its 2-hour running time. Filmed the style of a seventies slow burner and posing the question but set in the most violent year of 1981 - What would Michael Corleone do if he tried to operate within legal parameters? At the same time, it has something to say about the way business is done in 2015. Oscar Isaac has been extremely good in previous rolesfor instance, as a likable ex-con in Drive and as an unlikable folk singer in Inside Llewyn Davisbut he is an utter revelation as Abel, the quiet power of his performance recalling early Pacino. He brings what I would describe as restrained menace to the screen, a man who wants to have it all, who could very easily turn into a gangster and is struggling to stay straight when the city he lives and works in all work against him. Nothing wrong with the acting at all but the plot of this film is just dull from beginning to end. Abel Morales talks to Arthur and Ian about the lawsuit at a restaurant. Cinemark Oscar Isaacs did a good job and the storyline was unique. In 1981 New York City, Abel Morales, from an immigrant background, is trying to live the American Dream on his own moral terms. Style and substance replace noisy, quick-cut editing and chaotic noise. "A Most Violent Year" is not for everyone, some will find it too slow, but in the end you should set a date with it. A man with vision, self- belief and measured decisions. with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more. It's a major gamble that could pay off big if a few key things go right for him, but in this kind of movie, the "if"s rarely break the hero's way. For J.C. Chandor's period crime drama A Most Violent Year, the film's costume designer, Kasia Walicka-Maimone, collaborated with Armani on the mix of archival, vintage and contemporary . Rising Star Oscar Isaac stars as Abel Morales, a oil truck company entrepreneur who is in the process of finalizing a slick deal which will bring his company to the top of the game in the New York Oil Truck market. His trucks have been targeted by robbers from the last few months, which scared his drivers. With 30 days to secure the $1.5 million he needs to close the deal, Abel appears to be fulfilling his ambitions. The American director James Gray also has made this kind of sideways homage, channeling the gangster pictures of Martin Scorsese and Francis Coppola and the big city thrillers of Sidney Lumet ("Serpico"), with a moremeditativepace. They are shown above. And everything from the performances and overall put-togetherness of the film conveys the calculated intentions of the director, much like Abel is in his business dealings. Mike Scott Jan 30, 2015. I think it was largely due to the fact that I just sort of felt like I'd seen this movie before, and that it recycled elements of "American Hustle," and "Goodfellas" and other crime/gangster dramas out there. IMDb's Most Anticipated New TV Series of 2023. By Christopher Orr A24 January 9, 2015 A man is jogging on city streets,. Not for the Fast n' Furious Crowd, A gritty, atmospheric throwback crime thriller with its cast in top form. What you get here is a thoughtful character piece about one man doing everything in his power to protect the business that he's spent years building up. A Most Violent Year 79 Metascore 2014 2 hr 4 mins Drama, Suspense, Action & Adventure R Watchlist An immigrant businessman defends his expanding New York City empire against violence and. : Oscar Isaac as usual is phenomenal. What is the streaming release date of A Most Violent Year (2014) in India? A MOST VIOLENT YEAR.. : Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! In fact, it's far from it. Gritty, gripping, and weighted with thought-provoking heft. Sadly, it is probably the best movie I've ever given three stars to. With A MOST VIOLENT YEAR, Chandor journeys in a bold new direction, toward the place where best intentions yield to raw instinct, and where we are most vulnerable to compromise what we know to. "A Most Violent Year," a 1981 New York period piece written and directed by J.C. Chandor ("All is Lost," "Margin Call"), is that kind of movie. In 1981 there were over 136,000 vehicle thefts (something that is key to the movie) and over 2,100 murders in New York City. There was something about it that was a little mundane though, and dragged it back down to 3 stars. The film follows the lives of an immigrant and his family trying to expand their business and capitalize on opportunities as the rampant violence, decay, and corruption of the day drag them in and threaten to destroy all they have built. Philadelphia has been having a brutal 2022. Jessica Chastain is also superb, a character who realises what must be done in order to survive, even if that leads her into conflict with the man she is trying to support. First and foremost let's look at the title 'A most violent year' - based on the title you would assume that this film would be a combination of gratuitous violence and multiple killings, but it actually doesn't play out like this at all. A Most Violent Year is set in the most brutal year in the city's history, when Mayor Koch and the DA would not like it to be so. Abel Morales, a successful, hardworking oil company owner, tries to thrive and survive during 1981 NYC, the most violent year in history. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your account. He said, "It was a great period to set a story up and have this character study that I'd been working on for years set in this moment.". A Most Violent Year Oscar Isaac Jessica Chastain David Oyelowo (2014) In 1981 New York, a fuel supplier (Oscar Isaac) tries to adhere to his own moral compass amid the rampant violence, corruption and decay that threaten. Language. However, it was Issac's money starring performance as Abel was what most paramount of "A Most Violent Year"; no doubt the Morales character will remind you of kinder Michael Corleone, but with the same firepower of topping his competitors. A man is jogging on city streets, accelerating as he pushes himself to the limit. This was a fascinating character study of an "honorable man" trying to retain his honor in a corrupt business and political environment. Sectionsof this movie are reminiscent of Gray's "TheYards,"whichwas equal parts "On the Waterfront" and "The Godfather," and his followup, the gangster picture/undercover cop thriller "We Own the Night" (which, like "A Most Violent Year," is fitfully excellent, but sometimes tries too hard to be a K-Tel Greatest '70s Macho Movie Hits album). Audio, this is one of those annoying blurays where the sound blares out but once the actual film starts, the dialogue sound level in the film is a little too low although sound quality was overall very good. One day, writer-director J.C. Chandor will make a brilliant movie. 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