Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Moody, violent thriller doesn't quite sustain its promise.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
A Most Violent Year
What's the Story?
It's 1981, one of the most crime-ridden years in New York City's history, and Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac) is about to pull off the most important deal of his life. An immigrant who's worked hard to become the head of a fuel-delivery business, he's ready to buy a harbor terminal that will make him one of the biggest operators in the city. The problem is that someone keeps hijacking his trucks, and soon Abel is getting dragged into an all-out war, with truck drivers getting into shoot-outs in broad daylight on crowded streets. It doesn't help that the city is investigating his industry, and Morales may have cut a few corners. His deal is close to falling apart, and so is his entire life in what's turning out to be A MOST VIOLENT YEAR.
Is It Any Good?
When it comes to setting the vibe for gritty, early '80s New York City, A Most Violent Year is a tour de force. From the hairstyles and the graffitied buildings down to the film's very patina, it captures a specific time in the city when hope was in short supply and violence doled out in large doses. In this arena, director J.C. Chandor proves again that he's a master of dark, moody dramas. Kudos also to Isaac and co-star Jessica Chastain, who rise above the paltry material and make their mark every time they're on camera with their realistic and textured portrayals of two characters brought to the brink.
But, yes, the material is paltry. It's true that everything hinges on a single transaction, but the stakes feel high because we're told they are, not because the storytelling makes it so. The big reveal doesn't feel like a big reveal, and we're left out of the loop at key moments that, had we been brought inside the action, would have felt more significant than they do. Being at a remove means the audience doesn't care as much, and that's a disappointment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about A Most Violent Year's violence. Is it necessary to the story? Why, or why not?
How does the New York City of 1981 differ from how Manhattan is portrayed in films set in the present? How/why do you think things changed?
Talk about Abel's business practices. Is he running a clean operation? Is he breaking the same rules as all of his peers? Does that make him a criminal? Can a character do iffy things and still be sympathetic?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 31, 2014
- On DVD or streaming : April 7, 2015
- Cast : Oscar Isaac , Jessica Chastain , Albert Brooks
- Director : J.C. Chandor
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : A24
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 124 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language and some violence
- Last updated : September 20, 2019
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