A Most Violent Year

J.C. Chandor’s disappointing followup to All is Lost, A Most Violent Year, set in 1981, follows Oscar Isaac’s Abel Morales as he attempts to protect his business and his family from a myriad of menacing outside forces. It’s clear right from the outset that A Most Violent Year‘s greatest asset is its tremendously appealing sense of style, as writer/director Chandor’s atmospheric modus operandi initially compensates for the extreme deliberateness with which the story unfolds. There’s little doubt, also, that the movie benefits substantially from its uniformly superb assortment of performances, with Isaac’s note-perfect turn as the beleaguered central character mirrored by a strong supporting cast that includes Jessica Chastain, David Oyelowo, and Albert Brooks. And although Chandor effectively peppers the proceedings with a handful of electrifying moments, including a seriously riveting chase sequence, A Most Violent Year grows more and more uninvolving as Chandor delves deeper and deeper into the minutia of Abel’s various problems. It’s not surprising to note, ultimately, that the viewer has absolutely nothing invested in the protagonist’s ongoing struggle, and it’s obvious that the film’s lack of escalation ensures that one has checked out long before the underwhelming conclusion rolls around. (The 125 minute running time, of course, feels much, much longer, too.)

** out of ****