A Most Violent Year (2014)

New York in 1981 isn’t the New York it is today. It was a year in which more than 120.000 robberies took place and 2100 people were murdered, in other words it was a place you couldn’t feel safe. A Most Violent Year is set in this year en tells the story about Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac), a business man who works in the oil industry. He is set on expanding his company, but this turns out to be difficult. His company is being investigated because it hasn’t been operating according to regulations. Abel himself thinks differently as he thinks that he is working according to industry rules. Besides the investigation by the government he also has to deal with robberies being executed on his oil trucks, which is losing him a lot of money. His plan to buy a new location would be able to give him an edge over the competition, but with his issues the investors are slowly having doubts about investing.

A Most Violent Year is a film which strongly reminded me of gangster movies and shows (like The Sopranos), even though Abel seems to be legit in what he does. Isaac makes the character a man who isn’t willing to change his thoughts about his integrity and principles, even when that might be bad for his company. While many people advice him to arm his truck drivers, he thinks it is a bad idea. It makes the character sympathetic and you care for the guy. Initially I didn’t even recognise Isaac and he really transforms into someone else. But Jessica Chastain is great too as his wife abel. It’s a strong, convincing performance showing that you don’t want to mess with her. She doesn’t always shares the principles Abel has, which leads to friction between the two.

Visually the New York of the eighties is nicely brought to life, in a cold environment in which only the strong survive. The story doesn’t only breathe atmosphere, but it also offers various exciting an tense moments, including a car chase which reminded me a bit of The French Connection. It is a fascinating character study well worth watching.