9/10

Writer and director, J.C Chandor takes us back to a more dangerous time for New York City in his newest film starring Academy Award Nominees, Oscar Isaac, and Jessica Chastain. Set during the winter of 1981,statistically one of the most crime-ridden of New York City’s history, “A Most Violent Year” is a crime drama following the lives of Abel (Isaac) and his family as they attempt to capitalize on the American Dream, while the rampant violence, decay, and corruption of the day drag them in and threaten to destroy all they have built. Simply put, this is a film based on dynamic performances from two of the world’s most powerful actors. Isaac and Chastain set the silver screen on fire with the portrayal of a couple with very dark backstories. It’s those backstories that are slowly peeled off, but never fully revealed. We get a taste of the kind of sinister deeds that these two have had to undertake to get to this point, and we understand why they are perfect for each other in that regard. Most crime genre films tend to focus on only the male character and his motivations for such decisions. It’s in Chandor’s film, that this history ends with Chastain stealing the show in every single scene she’s in. Jessica can pack a punch with the powerful emotions she displays without ever making the scenes feel like actors acting. Her portrayal of Anna in this film far outweighs even the best of performances from her at this point in her career. Isaac is quickly perfecting his craft with the charisma and passion of a young Pacino in his prime. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that his name is Abel considering he is fighting himself with two different sides throughout the whole film. There is the business man who wants the American dream, and tries to keep his cool in the face of other sabotaging his business. Then, there is the gangster with a violent history who works as a problem solver. Unfortunately, the ladder is more of what appeals to his wife. She tells Abel that without conflict, there can be no resolution. Perhaps the most compelling character is that of the actual setting, New York City. With the underlining tones of a beautiful composition by Chandor favorite, Alex Ebert, the on screen transformation for a setting 34 years ago is a successful one. Chandor uses gritty and dream broken streets to tell a story of how hard it is to make it during the city’s most turbulent decade. I couldn’t find any contradictions to the year that would take me out of the film, and that’s a testament to the eye for detail that Chandor and staff have. The movie generally feels like you are watching a picture from the early age of VHS cinema. The soft lighting is very limited, but reflective in the shadows are the backstories from these tested characters that we don’t know much about. When watching the film, notice how much the blurry takes up the framing of the film. Like the characters are the only thing that stands out in world’s they’ve made figuratively and literally dark. If i had one small problem with the film, i only wish the intro would’ve educated the viewer more on some of the problems with NYC and what made it the most violent year to date. With little knowledge unless knowledgeable about the city, the viewer is left to wonder what made this era so threatening to those still hungry for their dreams. I think a black background scene with text displaying the crime and murder rate could’ve gone a long way in setting the mood for the next two hours. We’re watching the beginning of a great American filmmaker in Chandor. His originality when it comes to set production is on the very brink of a composer ready to write his memorable masterpiece. It’s hard to imagine where J.C will go, but he has certainly made a fan out of this critic. “A Most Violent Year” is a welcomed flashback to the time where we were still learning what true depths it took to reach for that brass ring. It’s a gritty, savvy, and brilliantly structured. Impactful even without the very violence that typecasts the title.