Fresh and Exciting

Captivating movie !

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

The main actor was magnetic. Imagine a cool, stylish, calm, Italian, New York gangster, who is neither a gangster, nor Italian, but seems mildly like both. I've never heard of this guy, but he either pulled it off really well, or he is like that in real life. In the film he is an Hispanic business owner who must walk the tightrope of ethics in order to compete, but also married a gangster's daughter. But he himself is a decent man who is passionate about limiting unethical or immoral behavior. In that sense a rather refreshing character for a modern movie. But then it doesn't take place in the modern era. It's in the early 80's. Through use of subtle techniques, not bombardment, we do get a feeling for the time period. Something about the quality of the film stock and the cars, hairstyles, and clothes helps. But there is no obnoxious soundtrack. The man deals in heating oil, but there isn't an explanation for what that means. Those of us from other parts of the country or other eras don't necessarily understand who uses this, and for what specifically Meanwhile it would have been nice to hear a bit more about his background, how he acquired this business, how he developed his philosophy, and why he married this woman. Presumably because she is tougher than him. But did her dad set him up with the business? Well the ethics of the city oil business is not a sexy subject, but the actor's film noir mannerisms, including his tempered desperation give it an edge that keeps you tuned in.

Man this movie was boring from start to finish. Acting seemed decent but crap this thing was slow.

Chandor has a gift: the tension simmers, the conflict builds and the characters face human conflicts. It doesn't matter whether it is Wall Street corruption, shipwrecks or family business, every movie feels high stakes. The story telling is tight, and the imagery is tighter. Performances like Isaac's here are rare, but the ability to harness them is rare too. This film is MacBeth set in 1981 New York. I wanted it to boil faster, but it cooked anyway. And the final shots were perfect.

Viewers who watched J.C. Chandor's thoughtful 'Margin Call', about the 2008 financial crisis, will see some of the same strengths in 'A Most Violent Year', whose subject is the efforts of a businessman to stay afloat in the winter of 1981. But the setup here is not entirely satisfactory: the hero is good looking, has made enough money to be able to take "I like to own what I use" as a guiding principle, is the last honest man in New York, and even briefly turns action hero to track down those who are stealing from him. Even the basic premise of the plot is a little contrived: to win a deal, he offers terms which leave him exposed to all of the risk (and needless to say, some of that risk duly materialises). The film hints at the possibility that he might not be as straight as he professes (or even believes); but ultimately, shies away from this position. Instead, the film asks us to respect a man whose goal is to drive his rivals out of business, because he plans to do so through his own innate excellence. We do see hints of his single-mindedness that are unappealing; but the film refrains from passing harsh judgement. The perfection of the character somewhat undermined my interest in what is basically a very well-constructed film.