A Most Violent Year Movie Review

A Most Violent Year (2014)

Rent A Most Violent Year on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: J.C. Chandor
Directed by: J.C. Chandor
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, David Oyelowo, Christopher Abbott, Albert Brooks
Rated: R
Watch the trailer

Plot
In New York City 1981, an ambitious immigrant fights to protect his business and family during the most dangerous year in the city's history. 

Verdict
It's an atypical story about an unlikely protagonist in the fuel oil business, but this movie is engaging from the beginning. Isaac shines in the role, but he's aided by a sharp script. It's one of those movies where everything works in conjunction to create a great movie. This looks at the American dream against the backdrop of a violent time in New York from a businessman that's made it and tangentially his employee with big dreams. Abel is successful but his claims that he did it the right way may not be accurate, though sometimes ambition causes you to take risks.
Watch It.

Review
Abel (Oscar Isaac), in fuel oil sales, buys a fuel depot and moves into a new house, but his trucks constantly get stolen and DA Lawrence (David Oyelowo) is investigating him. While Abel is adamant he's done nothing wrong and doesn't price fix, rig scales, or fix his books, it doesn't halt the investigation. The DA ignores that his drivers are getting beaten up and his trucks stolen.

Oscar Isaac plays Abel Morales

This was a very violent time in New York. Abel has built his business from the ground, and we see he's a very good salesman. Abel is ambitious and focused, and there's an interesting dynamic with his wife, Anna (Jessica Chastain). They hit a deer while driving one night. She tells him to put it out of its misery. He considers what to do, hesitant to kill. While he contemplates, she shoots it. Abel likes to plan. His wife likes to act.

While the origins of Abel's business are ambiguous, some level of illegality is implied with Anna's father having given him a loan. Abel immigrated to America and worked hard to build his business and make a life. He's achieved the dream. He claims he's legit, but we have to wonder if that was always the case. It seems he's cut some corners either currently or in the past. You can't blame him. This is a ruthless business where his trucks are stolen and his salesman attacked. This industry doesn't like competition.

David Oyelowo, Oscar Isaac play DA Lawrence, Abel Morales

Because of the DA's investigation and allegations, the bank reneges on Abel's loan. He already put down a sizable, non-refundable deposit. His history and credit doesn't matter. Now he's scrambling to find the money. That includes considering less than favorable loans from competitors.

This is slower paced, but it's never dull. In nearly every scene we see Abel is driven, trying to protect or expand his business but always facing obstacles. It's low stakes, a bunch of business deals in the fuel oil business, but this movie makes it engaging. This is one of those movies that's just well made from top to bottom. The production looks like '80s New York. The script, directing, and acting work well together. Isaac really shines, aided by a sharp script.

Oscar Isaac plays Abel Morales

Abel is contrasted with his employee, truck driver Julian. Julian wants to be like Abel or at least successful in a similar way. Julian makes choices and with that comes consequences. From Abel's standpoint, Julian didn't do things the right way and that's why he faces repercussions. With Abel's murky past, I wonder if he ever cut corners. Is the difference between Julian and Abel doing things the right way like Abel claims or a fair amount of luck and not getting caught? If Abel is innocent as he claims, why does he hide his books when the cops have a warrant? We always get a sense that he took a shortcut at some point. His stance now may just be a correction to mitigate his past. Even in this film, we see him take shortcuts when it benefits. It could be that acknowledging what Julian has done is an acknowledgement of what he's done. He might just be in denial, and that makes Abel an intriguing riddle.