A Most Violent Year - B

Rated R, 125 minutes
Wes's Grade: B

"A Most Violent Year" a tense, gritty crime drama

If "A Most Violent Year" had been made years ago, it would've likely starred Al Pacino or Robert DeNiro and would've been directed by acclaimed late director Sidney Lumet. The intense, gritty new crime drama "A Most Violent Year" channels Lumet as it brings it's slow-moving plot to a boil; while it lacks some originality, its stellar performances make this one a must-see. Set in New York City during the winter of 1981, statistically one of the most violent years in the city's history, the film centers on the life of an immigrant (Oscar Isaac) and his wife (Jessica Chastain, nominated for a Golden Globe for this role) trying to expand their business and capitalize on opportunities as the rampant violence, decay, and corruption of the day drag them in and threaten to destroy all they have built. Directed and written by J.C. Chandor in only his third film after "Margin Call" and last year's superb "All is Lost" with Robert Redford, the intensity and excellent performances from an A-list cast make this dark crime thriller a worthy tale to be seen. The brooding New York vibe and low-life characters remind of Lumet's "Prince of the City" (interestingly made in 1981, the year in which this film is set) or "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead," his last film. The cast especially make this worth watching: Isaac and Chastain are both superb as the couple who experience some ongoing setbacks as they build their business; Chastain is especially memorable as the tough-talking wife who knows far more than she lets on. Watch for David Oyelowo (currently seen as Martin Luther King in "Selma") and a near-unrecognizable, gray-haired Albert Brooks in strong supporting turns. Chandor's script lacks the originality of his earlier films but the brooding, slow-burn intensity (the movie is peppered with several riveting scenes, including two involving an 18-wheeler) make up for it and may earn him another screenplay nomination. Chandor is becoming a filmmaker to watch, and "A Most Violent Year" is a well-constructed and well-acted ride of a movie that is worth your time.

Already playing in limited release, opens wide in mid-January.