A Most Violent Year (2014) ****

 

Written and directed by J.C. Chandor, the guy who did “All Is Lost”, “A Most Violent Year” is an exploration of corruption, sexual politics, and the pursuit of the American Dream. Oscar Isaac plays Abel Morales, an immigrant who has worked his way up from the bottom, building a successful business with his wife, Anna (Jessica Chastain). That business, delivering heating oil in New York City, happens to be pretty corrupt. Operators with Mob connections control areas of the city that they consider their territory, and they don't appreciate the kind of open, free market competition that Abel has been successful at. Abel is on the verge of buying an oil storage facility that will allow him to expand and increase efficiency. At the same time, someone is robbing his oil trucks, and the District Attorney is more interested in investigating Abel's financial dealings than in catching the thieves. Abel's truck drivers and his wife want him to get tough with the thieves, the way the Mob-connected operators would. Under pressure from all sides, Abel tries to steer his business to success without succumbing to the corruption and violence that seem to be the natural state of his business.

“A Most Violent Year” works on multiple levels. It's a solid neo-noir, as Abel tries to solve the mystery of who is robbing his trucks. It's also an interesting business thriller. I loved the scene where Abel explains to his bankers the rationale behind purchasing the storage facility. Every college business major should watch this film. The movie is also a well-played exploration of a marriage that works as an equal partnership. In a male-dominated business, Abel is the face of the company, but Anna has just as sharp a mind, and is even more ruthless. Abel succeeds because he is able to set aside his ego and benefit from Anna's input.

J.C. Chandor is not a particularly prolific writer and director. He only has a handful of credits, but one of them is 2013's outstanding "All Is Lost." “A Most Violent Year” is equally good, and his first film, “Margin Call”, is now at the top of my list of films to watch.

4 stars out of 5