A Most Violent Year

The challenge of being an honorable businessperson

A Most Violent Year was written and directed by J. C. Chandor, one of the most exciting filmmakers of our time, not least because his films are so very different from each other and from everything else out there. Now if only people would go out and watch Chandor’s films instead of films like American Sniper, which is best viewed by no one.

Instead of films that provide character studies of snipers who lose their humanity but are depicted as heroes, let’s watch character studies that make us think deeply about what it means to be an honorable person.

In 2011 Chandor gave us Margin Call, about the 2008 financial crisis, and in 2013 it was All is Lost, about one man alone in a leaky boat in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Both of those films made my top 10 of the year. Chandor’s latest film once again exudes an uncommon intelligence and thoughtfulness while eliciting outstanding performances from all involved. This time out, Chandor has chosen to give special attention to the cinematography, lending a unique atmosphere and quality to his crime drama, which reminds me of the best of David Mamet and the best of modern film noir, while being something wholly original.

Set in New York City in the winter of 1981 (the sense of time and place is terrific), A Most Violent Year concerns the cutthroat business of selling home heating oil. That is meant sarcastically, but in the New York City of 1981, gangsters seem to have their hands in everything, as Abel Morales, our protagonist, will discover.

Morales, played by Oscar Isaac, purchased the heating oil company from his gangster father-in-law five years before and is on the verge of making it big, closing a deal with Jewish landowners that will give him an edge over all of his competitors. But just days before the deal closes, everything starts to unravel. His drivers and salesman are beaten up by persons unknown and the assistant district attorney (played by David Oyelowo) has indicated that Morales is facing indictments for various crimes (also unknown). His wife, Anna (Jessica Chastain), is hiding something and showing a sudden interest in guns despite having come home to their new house one day to find their young daughter playing with a loaded gun she had found in the bushes.

Morales is an honorable man (as we hear repeatedly). He doesn’t understand why the world has suddenly aligned itself against him when all he wants is to do things the right way. At one point he describes his view of life as: “You should know that I have always taken the path that is most right. The result is never in question for me. Just what path do you take to get there?” But Morales is terrified of failure, and the events of these days will repeatedly test that statement and conviction, providing a marvelous character study of a flawed man trying to remain honorable.

Given the title, there is surprisingly little violence in A Most Violent Year, though the violence is strong and jarring, hitting you where it hurts (as it should). But despite that violence and the constant presence of gangsters, A Most Violent Year is not a typical crime film. Some of the gangsters go out of their way to be nice to Morales and even warn him to stay away from their dirty hands. These gangsters and competitors are reluctant to kill people, which is refreshing. But they do like to carry handguns, and one of the strengths of A Most Violent Year is the way it draws attention to the fact that the minute you bring in guns, the threat of serious violence increases exponentially.

A Most Violent Year is a deeply sad, unsettling, scary, and intense film, as film noirs often are. It is also full of brilliant dialogue and memorable, thought-provoking scenes. And the acting is stellar, with Isaac completely believable as Morales and Chastain perfect as the femme fatale. Providing excellent support are Oyelowo, Albert Brooks as Morales’s lawyer, and Elyes Gabel as an immigrant truck driver caught in the middle of everything.

Instead of films that provide character studies of snipers who lose their humanity but are depicted as heroes, let’s watch character studies that make us think deeply about what it means to be an honorable person.

A Most Violent Year is rated R for language and some violence.