A MOST VIOLENT YEAR

US, 2014, 122 minutes, Colour.
Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, Albert Brooks, Alessandro Nivola, Catalina Sandena Moreno, Peter Geraty.
Directed by J. C. Chandor.

Many of us would think that in any year could be well named a most violent year. For the film makers, the choice is 1981, New York City.

This is very interesting drama, taking us into industrial issues in the United States, the ambitions of big companies, wheeler-dealing, the use of violence to put competition out of action. This has been a long time theme in American films, considering the 1950s and the look at unions and workers and power struggles in On the Waterfront, or in the 1980s, the biography of the teamsters boss, Jimmy Hoffa, with Jack Nicholson as Hoffa.

This film has been written by J.C.Chandor, who made his mark with a very interesting film about Wall Street, financial deals, speculations and risks, covert action in Margin Call. While expectations might have been that he would made another intense drama, he did do so, but confined his action to a yacht in trouble in the Indian Ocean, and one sailor battling the elements, Robert Redford in All is Lost. Now, he has moved back to New York City and strong drama.

The focus of the struggles is the trucking industry and the transportation and distribution of fuel. Oscar Isaac, becoming well known as a leading actor (Inside Lewynn Davis, Ex Machina), plays Abel Morales, a man of principle, who wants to do the right thing, but finds himself and his trucks and drivers targets of unknown boxes and their thugs, intimidating and bashing the drivers, stealing the fuel. At the same time, the industry is under investigation by the authorities, especially in the person of DA, Lawrence, played by David Oyelowo, the British actor, settled in the United States, appearing frequently in all kinds of films including The Butler, The Paperboy, his acclaimed performance as Martin Luther King in Selma. There is a very strong performance from Albert Brooks is a lawyer adviser.

Behind Abel is his strong-minded wife, and business partner, played by Jessica Chastain. A major complication is that Abel’s plan is to buy an abandoned terminal to turn it into a centre for his oil distribution. Negotiations are well under way with the Jewish community who own the property. He makes the required deposit, has 30 days to pay the rest of the money or he will lose the deposit. With the complications of the attacks on his trucks, the suspicions of the investigating authorities, it would seem that he will not be able to find the money, despite his sounding out various friends and associates, and will lose the edge on his business.

Part of the complications for Abel as well as for the audience is that it is not clear who are the powers-that-be behind the attacks on the trucks, the thugs just being hired without knowledge of who was really employing them. Another complication is Abel’s helping a young man in his work, the young man fearful, carrying a gun against the thugs and running away, compromising Abel.

On the one hand, this is an interesting drama about social issues in the American context. On the other hand, it is an interesting drama about a good man trying to do his best in the capitalistic world, becoming a victim, the whole process causing great personal and physical tension, complicated by the influence of his wife.

A Most Violent Year might well be called an adult drama in the best possible sense.

1. The title? Tone? The choice of 1981? The trucking industry? Fuel industry?

2. New York City, the atmosphere, the buildings, the streets, the neighbourhoods? The terminal, offices? Police offices? The score?

3. The director, his work, interest in psychological and social cases?

4. Audience knowledge of New York rackets, interest, the social issues, thuggery, the law and investigations?

5. Abel, the central focus, his character, background, Hispanic, his marriage to Anna, the family, the extended family? His helping other families? Luisa and Julian? his principles, the law, the investigation? His associates? Andrew, friendship, advice? The deal for the terminal, the bargaining with the Jewish community? The money, the outlay, 30 days? Anna and her help?

6. The sabotage to his trucks, the stealing of the oil, storing it? The trucks, the bashings of the drivers? Their fears? Julian, young, driving, fear? His having a gun, carrying it? His being accosted, firing it, the chase? The suspects?

7. Abel, the district attorney, his investigations, his attitudes towards Abel, the evidence, Abel hiding the documents from home, the DA and his visit to his home? Anna, her accounts, her explaining the she had skimmed the money, the reasons?

8. Abel meeting with the bosses, the discussions, suspicions? Peter and his role? The visits? Abel and his need for a loan, the bank’s refusal, the daughter and her father and their agreeing?

9. Julian, the injury, in hospital, his wanting a second chance, Abel and his friendship with Luisa, support? His fears, firing the gun, fleeing, giving himself up, the stance with the DA and the police, shooting himself?

10. Abel getting information, the truck and the car chase, the thugs, the confrontation, not getting any detailed information?

11. His confronting the boss, the issue of the storage of the oil?

12. Abel getting the money, the payment for the deal, the terminal and his prospects? A story of the 1980s? Now?