A Most Violent Year **** (2014, Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, David Oyelowo, Albert Brooks) – Movie Review

Recalling the young Al Pacino, no less, Oscar Isaac gives an electrifying performance as Abel Morales, an ambitious American immigrant who fights to protect his increasingly iffy business and his family during 1981, apparently the most dangerous year in New York City’s history. He investigates repeated robberies of his Standard Heating Oil trucks, which are presumably being attacked by competitors. Then he learns that the District Attorney’s office plans to bring charges against his company for fraud and tax evasion.

Jessica Chastain is remarkable too in her Golden Globe nominated support role as Anna, his scarily determined wife who tends to the family’s books and financial affairs, though her role slightly lacks full focus, and could do with a couple of extra scenes to keep her in the frame later on. Certainly Chastain deserves more. Albert Brooks also stands out as the family lawyer with shades of Robert Duvall.

J.C. Chandor writes and directs this mini-Godfather-style Mob movie with great style, imagination and flair. Though this distinguished film is a tiny bit arty and talky for total popularity, it deserves to break through to a wide audience. It’s such very good stuff, cleverly written and smartly acted.

Writer-director Chandor is known for Margin Call (2011), All Is Lost (2013).

© Derek Winnert 2015 Movie Review

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