The film has excellent International & French reviews so we were very excited to see this film and maybe we expected too much of it. “A Most Violent Year” is the third film from J.C Chandor after “Margin Call” and “All is Lost.” What is clear about that movie is that the director has a really interesting style of filming. All the shots are well thought; there is an intelligence in the angles he used, original and subtle camera movements to install tension (a light zoom in with a stressful music).
The dramatic tension is intensified by the way the sound is used: in the transitions, with silences and strong sudden sound effects.
All of this contributes to set a special atmosphere also helped by the photography and the color grading that give very retro feeling. Moreover, the costumes provide characters a special stature (like a mobster look to Oscar Isaac). They could almost become Halloween costumes, they are so iconic.
In short, if you love original stylish shots and filmmakers who take into account every technical details, you have to go & see this movie. J.C. Chandor is really good at creating sudden tension.
The only problem is that the tension lasts only few minutes.
Indeed, the film has a slow pace at the beginning. You accept it because it enables the director to introduce the characters and set the mood. There is a mystery surrounding the story and Oscar Isaac’s character at the beginning that can intrigue you. Then, when you see some slightly more intense scenes, you think the film will finally start but it doesn’t.
All throughout the movie, the plot doesn’t show what you expect that is to say some kind of explosion, some kind of breakdown of a character’s facade. Thus, there’s too much frustration & not enough satisfying moments in this film.
The only character to whom you can rely on is Jessica Chastain’s as it is the only one that you can fully understand. The other ones (and one can appreciate that each character is interesting not simple extras behind the leading roles) are too ambiguous like Abel who is presented as an honest guy but who still looks suspicious & on the verge of being a con man. You don’t get out of the theather with the impression of having been scammed or to have lived a great time (except again if you are interested by a particular directing). The film suffers from too many lengths despite an editing with interesting cuts. This is an atmosphere movie with thriller moments. Thus, the movie leaves you feeling subdued. The scenario is nominated to a lot of prizes (like the Independent Spirit Award), yet even though it is quite complex & unsual, it contributed to the slow pace of the film …
Nonetheless, the actors’ performances are great. We are always glad to see Oscar Isaac in a leading role, which increasingly happens since “Inside Llewyn Davis” (link 2 sides of january). But even if he is excellent (the face he makes at one of the last shots is just awesome), it’s not a part that enables him to showcase his talent as he could. The part of an entrepeneur, more or less linked to the mafia doing everything he can to make it, suits him perfectly. But at the same time, as you are already convinced of his talent, you are not really surprised by his performancemance. This is why he is paradoxically nit used to his full potential. No scene really impresses you, probably because his character is too reserved. In fact, the performance that will be most remembered is Jessica Chastain’s one (who is nominated for several prize including the Golden Globes and the Independent Spirit Award). But as well as Oscar Isaac, you are already aware of her talent so you are not that much impress by her performance in this role.
In short, a film a bit frustating…
