Blu-Ray Review – A Most Violent Year (2015)
J. C. Chandor has followed up his extraordinary nearly silent All is Lost with a totally different kind of film, a solid as a brick wall Crime saga in the vein of Sidney Lumet and to a lesser extent Scorsese. I sadly missed A Most Violent Year during its theatrical run so I was very happy to have the opportunity to catch up on it with its home video release. The film came out on New Year’s Eve in the US to make it eligible for awards consideration and it got a late January release over here.
The title refers to the year the film is set 1981 which is considered to one of the most violent in the history of New York City. Oscar Issacs plays an oil businessman Abel Morales who is trying to seem legit as humanly possible especially since he is under investigation. His wife is the mob daughter Anna (Jessica Chastain)for urges him to fight the hijackers of his oil trucks with violence which is very reluctant to do and at the same time he is trying to finish a deal on an oil terminal.
The film’s success really lies with the two lead performances, both actors have had a couple of years at this point full of interesting and challenging roles and these two performances up their with their finest work. Isaac’s performance tilters on violence but like his character, he restrains himself. Jessica Chaistain gives possibly her most nuanced performance to date, she has a dark past and she is the violent one in the relationship but she subtly displays it. David Oyelowo plays the District Attorney investigating Abel and gives another fine performance and is shaping up to one of the best British actors around. Albert Brooks hot off his unfairly snubbed performance in Drive (also starring Isaacs) gets a meaty role as Abel’s lawyer.
The themes are the American Dream and how Capitalism is rewarded even if they way you get there may not be strictly legal. These themes have been done before but Chandor has crafted a new and interesting way of retelling them. Bradford Young’s cinematography is rich blend of gritty exteriors and classy interiors with expert use of shade and colour. Alex Ebert’s score adds a rich mood that is reminiscent of ’80s crime film scores.
It may not quite be the out-and-out masterpiece some critics has claimed but it’s a rewarding slow-burn crime drama. The two leads have rarely better with a strong supporting cast and Chastain was robbed of an Oscar nomination, she got Golden Globe and Independent Spirit nominations however. Chandor has crafted yet another multi-layered film and his next film i’m eagerly awaiting.
[rating=4]
Ian Schultz
Genre: Crime, Drama | Distributor: Icon Film Distribution | Release Date: 18th May 2015 (UK) | Rating: 15 Director: J.C Chandor | Cast: Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, Albert Brooks, David Oyelowo | Buy: [Blu-ray]
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