JC Chandor’s movies are spins on really long covered movie ideas. Margin Call tells the financial crisis from the good hearted underling perspective. All Is Lost is a movie version of how to survive a boat crash. Now, A Most Violent Year spins the organized crime story, focusing on a business man trying to do the right thing in the face of madness. I’m a little surprised at how good this movie is without focusing on the killing aspect of gangster business.
New York City in 1981 was one of the city’s most violent years. During this time, fuel distributor Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac) is trying to expand his business by purchasing a strategic piece of property from under his competitors. This purchase is facing a war on all fronts: he is moving into a new house with his wife Anna (Jessica Chastain) and kids, district attorney Lawrence (David Oyelowo) is threatening criminal action against Abel’s company, and company trucks are being targeted all over the city by Abel’s mob competitors. Abel has to push forward his growth plan without resorting to illegal tactics his enemies use.
For a movie called A Most Violent Year, this movie is surprisingly devoid of brutality. Instead, Chandor opts for a scary atmosphere to keep the tension high. Long, slow-moving tracking shots help set the state of paranoia Abel and Anna are in from time to time, punctuated by BOO! moments that made me jump out of my seat. Dread permeates the entire story, as poor Abel is trying to be good in a sea of bad. But despite the bad, Abel’s will is undeterred; there is an extended chase sequence that starts scary but ends up inspiring because of Abel’s ability to push forward in the face of fear.
A Most Violent Year also mines the inherent tension in business negotiation. Sometimes the negotiation is as simple as price agreement; sometimes Abel sucks up his pride and asks for money; sometimes he has to work information out of a bad guy. Each scene presents a new challenge Abel was not prepared for, escalating the stakes to pull off the property acquisition. Though A Most Violent Year is overlong and slightly repetitive, you’ll feel exhausted at the endless posturing needed just to buy a piece of land. I’m definitely not going into the fuel business anytime soon.
Oscar Isaac is the reason A Most Violent Year works. Isaac looks the part of a man who demands respect and is up to no good, but really just wants to be a good man. Such a juicy part is terrific for a talent like Isaac, whose charisma dominates the business meetings but also exudes importance, earning the respect of friends and enemies alike. Jessica Chastain is solid in an underwritten part, acting as perhaps a shady insider problem for Abel. David Oyelowo and Albert Brooks don’t get much to do, but acts their parts well enough. The only other actor of note is Elyes Gabel, who is tragically good as Abel’s underling caught in the wrong place and time.
Writer/Director JC Chandor is so close to making a spectacular film. Margin Call, All Is Lost, and now A Most Violent Year are movies with great ideas and great casts that need a little fat trimmed to stick the landing. Maybe he should work with Isaac again: I mean, he is important enough to lead X-Wings against Darth Vader now.