A Most Violent Year

Name: A Most Violent Year
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: December 31, 2014
Duration: 125 min
Rating: 79
Cast: Albert Brooks, Alessandro Nivola, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Christopher Abbott, David Oyelowo

2014

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 44 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 217 Ratings

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 217 Ratings

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A Most Violent Year

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Movie Details & Credits

A24 | Release Date: December 31, 2014 | R

Starring: Albert Brooks, Alessandro Nivola, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Christopher Abbott, David Oyelowo, Elyes Gabel, Jessica Chastain, Oscar Isaac, Peter Gerety

Summary: In New York City during the winter of 1981, statistically one of the most violent years in the city's history, an immigrant and his family try 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.

Director: J.C. Chandor

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 125 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Calvin Wilson

Jan 29, 2015

A far more interesting film than its title implies. And a film you’ve never seen before. Read full review

100

Joe Neumaier

Dec 30, 2014

Chandor (“All is Lost”) has made a movie that quietly but ferociously immerses us in a time and place, with atmosphere done in minimal yet evocative strokes. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

Jan 14, 2015

The film is slow at times, despite bursts of action, and Chandor could have let it breathe a little more. The seriousness grows stuffy every now and then, but these are small quibbles. A Most Violent Year is an outstanding movie about business and marriage, not necessarily in that order. Read full review

Joshua Rothkopf

Nov 7, 2014

A Most Violent Year, Chandor’s absorbing no-bull NYC drama, further clarifies what might be the most promising career in American movies: an urban-headed filmmaker attuned to economies of place and time, with an eye on the vacant throne of Sidney Lumet. Read full review

Ty Burr

Jan 15, 2015

A Most Violent Year, then, is something of a science experiment, with Abel the good rat trying to make it to the other side of the maze, uneaten and in full possession of the cheese. In its weaker moments, the movie struggles to get out of the lab. At its best, it reminds us that the maze is as big as the world and as timely as today. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Jan 3, 2015

It’s a gangster movie that tries to be more than that, not always successfully. In his own small-scale way, Chandor wants to expand the reach of his vision to “Godfather” status, with Abel as his shining (tainted) knight. Read full review

Stephanie Zacharek

Dec 30, 2014

Grand in its aims but tepid in its conclusions, A Most Violent Year burns slow and gives off very little heat. It's not really that violent. But it sure feels like a year. Read full review

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User Reviews

MarcDoyle

Dec 31, 2014

After only Margin Call and A Most Violent Year, J.C. Chandor is one of my favorite directors. The way he sets up and executes dramatic conversational moments without overplaying his hand is remarkable. Isaac, Chastain, and Oyelowo are at the absolute head of the class, and they are eachAfter only Margin Call and A Most Violent Year, J.C. Chandor is one of my favorite directors. The way he sets up and executes dramatic conversational moments without overplaying his hand is remarkable. Isaac, Chastain, and Oyelowo are at the absolute head of the class, and they are each pitch perfect in this film. About halfway through the proceedings, I wanted so badly to have this movie serve as the pilot to a new dramatic series. But by the end I was so happy that it stands alone and does so so powerfully.… Expand

12 of 17 users found this helpful125

BrianMcCritic

Apr 9, 2015

This film is the definition of an actors movie. The performances by Isaac and Chastain are top notch and they make every moment of this film compelling. A

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

DanBurrito

Oct 1, 2016

Led by a typically committed performance from Oscar Isaac, A Most Violent Year is a dark, gritty crime drama, and one of 2014's best films. Isaac continues to establish himself as one of his generation's finest actors, and Jessica Chastain and Albert Brooks shine in their supporting roles.Led by a typically committed performance from Oscar Isaac, A Most Violent Year is a dark, gritty crime drama, and one of 2014's best films. Isaac continues to establish himself as one of his generation's finest actors, and Jessica Chastain and Albert Brooks shine in their supporting roles. JC Chandor directs the film exceptionally, and while some may find the pacing too slow, it's well-worth watching for those who liked Chandor's previous films and are fans of Isaac and Chastain. Overall, A Most Violent Year is a great film with superb performances, great writing and expert direction. A most remarkable film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MetaVince

May 3, 2015

I'm so glad I didn't pay $10 in the movie theater. Good: Acting is very good (Chastain is the best), Story pretty good, Directing pretty good. Bad: Slow, Title is misleading, Characters not developed, oh... slow. This is weird, but I think this movie would be great for an "Intro to BusinessI'm so glad I didn't pay $10 in the movie theater. Good: Acting is very good (Chastain is the best), Story pretty good, Directing pretty good. Bad: Slow, Title is misleading, Characters not developed, oh... slow. This is weird, but I think this movie would be great for an "Intro to Business or Leadership' class. Yeah, I know, strange.. but it really shows the nitty gritty of running a business and what it takes to succeed (not what the Director intended, obviously). I liked that the violence was 'petty' and real, I didn't want it to be a bloody "Godfather meets Death of a Salesman' (lol), blam glam either. I'm glad it was a rental, though.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Mahmus

Oct 1, 2020

This movie is basically The Godfather part II but without the flashbacks and not nearly as good.

It just doesn't feel like it has enough conflict. There is conflict, but it just doesn't feel like it. However, there are some really good moments in it that make it worth watching. The scoreThis movie is basically The Godfather part II but without the flashbacks and not nearly as good.

It just doesn't feel like it has enough conflict.
There is conflict, but it just doesn't feel like it.

However, there are some really good moments in it that make it worth watching. The score is amazing.

Well made and well acted, just not very engaging.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

jeffrw

Jan 6, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This film is a visual delight for people who fondly remember the New York-based movies of the 1970's and early 80's -- "French Connection" comes to mind. In the end, though, the story is too weak to make a great film. The film's protagonist, Abel Morales, runs a heating oil company. He wants to buy a derelict oil container port on the East River and refurbish it so he can import more oil at a lower price. This is an eminently sensible, legal, and unexciting business goal. The writer-director J. C. Chandor wants to make a thriller about corruption and venality in the heating oil business of 1980s NYC, but it's all so vague it's hard to get worked up about people engaged in a fundamentally worthwhile business: warming homes in winter. In the end Morales' wife saves the day with a deus ex machina: she has been "skimming" money off the company's books into a rainy day fund -- money that they can now use to buy the container port. Abel is horrified at this accounting trickery. Except, how is it a problem that a company saves money to achieve a legitimate business goal? Maybe there's some kind of tax issue. Who knows, the film never follows up on the issue and anyway in the very next scene Abel tells his wife "You know what, let's use that cash." So much for moral dilemma.

Great style, limited substance.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

sghaffari

Apr 16, 2016

This is a waste of time. The acting is not great and its story-line makes you fall sleep. Yes the most violent part is the scene where the guy hits the deer and then his wife executes it which was very stupid! Everything from the beginning to the end of the movie feels fake.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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61	#61 Best Movie of 2014
83	#83 Most Discussed Movie of 2014
87	#87 Most Shared Movie of 2014