A Most Violent YearWhen beset upon all sides by the iniquity of men (and women), how can one maintain the high ground? This is the question that haunts Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac), a business man and entrepreneur, owner of Standard Oil during a time of violence and corruption spread thick throughout the city of New York in 1981. Supported--and it is suggested, financed--by his wife, Anna (Jessica Chastain), who we infer has a past tied up in organized crime through her family (although she proclaims she is not a part of that world), Abel struggles to secure a milestone land deal bringing his business into the big leagues in the face of suspected conspiracy at the hands of his competitors to rob his trucks, intimidate his employees, as well as the threat of litigation by the Assistant District Attorney Lawrence (David Oyelowo).
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Abel's level of tolerance for his trials and tribulations is tested in light of his compulsive desire to project a persona of absolute virtue and stability, and to avoid some of the most obvious stereotypes involved in his line of work, his wife's family's apparent legacy of vice, and even the less-directly addressed issue of his ethnicity in contrast with his peers in his line of work. It is clear that for Abel, resisting the temptation to take the easy way out is an intrinsic part of who he is...or at least who he insists that he is. Practically from the first few minutes in, A Most Violent Year takes us step by step deeper down into the lures of dealing with the perils of his business through extralegal means, as the ever present question remains dangling in the air: What will it take to make Abel slip down the slope? It would be easy at a glance to look at Abel Morales and see a man dressed in the uniform of an executive professional, and see a member of organized crime. This bait is one of the cannier stylistic choices of director J. C. Chandor, who presents a highly moral character who looks like he wouldn't be out of place as a member of "The Family". But Abel seems bent on reclaiming this image as a determined and honest (but aggressive) salesman for his product, coaching young men and women personally with best practices, molding them into the agents of his enterprise. When his employees are attacked, we sense that his attachment to them makes it personal, but he is cautious enough to avoid vengeful actions...at least actions which he would incur legal action against his business. Abel claims that what he is most afraid of is failure. His massive undertaking to finance a key strategic location for his business means that he must constantly weigh the pros and cons of his moral superiority and ensuring financing versus desperation and a need to prevent his foundation from being corrupted from under him.
While Abel represents a nigh impervious level of morality and presence, his wife is far from a complacent happy homemaker or trophy wife. Stunningly attractive, strong-willed, and willing to not just bend, but break the rules when necessary, Anna is intensely involved in Abel's business, handling his accounting--often late into the night--managing their two daughters, and even offering guidance to Abel when he is unsure. More so, there is enough evidence to suggest that Anna is the more savvy of the two when it comes to cutthroat business strategy and is more pragmatic about how to secure their family and business against the threat of violence and financial destruction closing in on them. And while Abel and Anna disagree vehemently about the means to protect their family after an attempted break-in by an unknown party, they both share the same desire to support one another. Nevertheless, there is an undercurrent in their relationship considering her family history. Abel appears to resent that he has to fight to avoid the association-by-marriage with the mafia...Anna appears to resent that Abel is willing to play the martyr--or potentially sacrifice them all--to fulfill his crusade to be the "good guy". A Most Violent Year is a period piece, set in what has been called "the most violent year" in New York City, filled with many of the violent activities teased in the film. In truth, although there are many exceptional set pieces with violence as a backdrop in the movie, A Most Violent Year deals more with the character of Abel and the temptations and the "devils" which coax him into questionable actions. For Abel, this year is a revelation, where he has seen the true colors of those around him--his competition, his lawyer (Albert Brooks), and even his wife in a new way, and it threatens his intrinsic concept of what it means to be honest, and what it takes to walk the path that is most right.
Recommended for: Fans of a rich and complex drama about the conflict between not just what is right and wrong, but what costs each carry, question the worth of both; a film filled with nuanced performances and an engaging story.
While Abel represents a nigh impervious level of morality and presence, his wife is far from a complacent happy homemaker or trophy wife. Stunningly attractive, strong-willed, and willing to not just bend, but break the rules when necessary, Anna is intensely involved in Abel's business, handling his accounting--often late into the night--managing their two daughters, and even offering guidance to Abel when he is unsure. More so, there is enough evidence to suggest that Anna is the more savvy of the two when it comes to cutthroat business strategy and is more pragmatic about how to secure their family and business against the threat of violence and financial destruction closing in on them. And while Abel and Anna disagree vehemently about the means to protect their family after an attempted break-in by an unknown party, they both share the same desire to support one another. Nevertheless, there is an undercurrent in their relationship considering her family history. Abel appears to resent that he has to fight to avoid the association-by-marriage with the mafia...Anna appears to resent that Abel is willing to play the martyr--or potentially sacrifice them all--to fulfill his crusade to be the "good guy". A Most Violent Year is a period piece, set in what has been called "the most violent year" in New York City, filled with many of the violent activities teased in the film. In truth, although there are many exceptional set pieces with violence as a backdrop in the movie, A Most Violent Year deals more with the character of Abel and the temptations and the "devils" which coax him into questionable actions. For Abel, this year is a revelation, where he has seen the true colors of those around him--his competition, his lawyer (Albert Brooks), and even his wife in a new way, and it threatens his intrinsic concept of what it means to be honest, and what it takes to walk the path that is most right.
Recommended for: Fans of a rich and complex drama about the conflict between not just what is right and wrong, but what costs each carry, question the worth of both; a film filled with nuanced performances and an engaging story.