Chandor Comes Back For More in A Most Violent Year

There is a lot of crap out there. So when something like A Most Violent Year comes along, it is my pleasure to bring that cinematic option to you. Director J.C. Chandor's follow-up to his engaging lost-at-sea picture All Is Lost, is the gritty crime drama A Most Violent Year. Now, I am not one to seek out crime dramas past the mid '90s, but it was clear to me watching his previous feature that Chandor is a talented new director. The film unites Jessica Chastain (Interstellar, Zero Dark Thirty) with her former Juilliard classmate Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis, W.E.), whom she suggested for the lead after Javier Bardem dropped out.

A Most Violent Year is set in New York City during a cold winter of 1981, statistically the highest crime year the city had seen. Amidst this chilling backdrop, the ambitious owner of a growing heating-oil delivery company, Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac), is being investigated under suspicion of corruption, by the District Attorney. Abel and his tough-as-her-nails wife Anna (Jessica Chastain), who does the accounting for the company, are being slowly terrorized by criminals who may or may not be associated with the company's competition. It is when things start to unravel that Chastain's character shows us her wounded self, leaving the fearless facade behind. Abel's sole interests are to protect his business and his family from those who are aiming to bring good down. Struggling to run his business without fear, Abel begins to question the people who he has been working with, meanwhile focusing on the growth which he so eagerly demands to achieve. Oscar Isaac always displays a seriousness in his characters, and his Abel draws all eyes on him. His delicate performance of an honorable man with a challenging dream commands respect. Isaac is a true talent that should have nabbed a Best Actor Oscar nomination for A Most Violent Year, yet did not, arguably because of the packed category this year. But, he will have his time; just keep watching.

A Most Violent Year is not indulgent filmmaking. Not crimes, chase scenes, nor violence are glorified by director J.C. Chandor, as they are portrayed in most-to-all "gangster" pictures. Chandor's film is very dimly lit, and he drowns out the background in many of the important dialogue scenes, focusing only on his characters at hand. A Most Violent Year feels classic, which is the direction that films should be going in. Stripped of flash and CGI, the film bares itself to us. The script refers to Abel Morales as The Caped Crusader - but this crusader is not cloaked in disguised mystery - his ethical determination will allow good to be victorious.

Comments

Poltergeist Curse: Urban Legend or Production Nightmare?

Gather 'round ghoulies. Come into the light. Let me tell you a story revolving quite possibly the best horror film ever made: Poltergeist (Steven Spielberg, 1982). The following information are facts, based on actual events that happened to many of the cast involved in the Poltergeist movie trilogy. Six cast members died deaths shrouded by mystery or tragedy, while the other cast is said to be "cursed." So why were they cursed? Remember the scene (pictured above) where JoBeth Williams is swimming in a muddy pool of bodies? Production decided to use real human cadavers as props because it was allegedly cheaper than using prop skeletons. The Poltergeist cast and crew thereby cursed by the angry spirits of the deceased used in the making of the 1980s box office hits. Actors and actresses in the Poltergeist trilogy who died untimely deaths are: Dominique Dunne , who played older sister Dana in the first film, was st...

Once Upon Maleficent

Tale as old as time...No, wait... that's Beauty and the Beast . Disney's ideals have changed since its classic Sleeping Beauty was released in 1959. Then, female animated characters were driven by "true love," or rather, the idea of romantic perfection: a dashing hero who will save them from dreaded despair. If her Prince found her , then all was well in Dislandia. The fairy tales provided escapism for viewers, but also exceedingly high expectations, thereby disappointment. But, fear not! The Beauty re-imagined Maleficent validates that things are different now; in fact, one may not even have to do anything to attain the message in this Fairytale 2.0. Maleficent begins with a classic Disney opening, along with narration from a friendly voice...a young fairy named Maleficent. A compassionate healer, she cures trees and such in her fairy kingdom The Moors. Maleficent's pre-black-rubber days consisted of protecting her land and the creatures who inhabited it...

Lifetime's 'Witches of' Eastwick... I mean: 'East End'

Lifetime witches can be so caring and generous, I've heard. Lifetime has ordered ten episodes of the new TV show Witches of East End , about a mother witch of two ( Julia Ormond ), and her adult daughters Jenna Dewan-Tatum ( American Horror Story ) and Rachel Boston ( American Dreams ) who are unaware of their powers and immortality. Virginia Madsen ( Sideways ) has recently been cast to join the Lifetime coven. Recently ABC's Eastwick (2009) only survived one season of fledgling sorcery before getting the axe. The series is loosely based on the novel by Melissa de la Cruz of the same name. This all sounds charming, will probably be a little practical about the magic used, but we can all hope for some real Hocus Pocus since there won't be any teenage witches.

Ed & Lorraine Warren: 'Conjuring' Up The Wicked

We love to be scared. We love it even more when it's based on a true story. Director James Wan who brought you Saw and Insidious , has a new horror film out - The Conjuring . The bone chilling tale based on the true events experienced by husband and wife Ed and Lorraine Warren - the paranormal investigator dream team. The film takes place in 1971, where the Warrens give lectures on demonology at Universities, aside from debunking paranormal cases with their years of expertise. The Warrens even have a museum of haunted artifacts in their abode, taken from cases so haunting, they have a priest on the payroll who regularly visits to bless the room. The Warrens are brought on by Carolyn Perron, played by Lily Taylor ( The Haunting , Six Feet Under ), to help her family of five daughters who are being haunted and taunted by dark spirits in their farmhouse. Things go bump-in-the-night, to say the least....

The Triumph of Camp X-Ray

After premiering at Sundance Film Festival in January to critical praise, Camp X-Ray , the directorial debut from writer/director Peter Sattler which stars Kristen Stewart and Peyman Moaadi was picked up by IFC Films and released OnDemand, on iTunes, and Amazon Oct. 17. Sattler opens the film with a shot of the Twin Towers up in smoke, which is then revealed to be current news on the television at Ali Amir's residence, played by Peyman Maadi ( A Separation ). Privately praying in his humble apartment, Ali suddenly has his head enveloped by a black bag and is whisked off on a boat, along with other visibly-and-audibly shielded men across the ocean. Sattler cuts to eight years later, where we follow Kristen Stewart 's Army private first class Amy Cole who has just arrived to Camp Delta located at Guantanamo Bay, and stationed to guard the detainees. Informed by her superior that this is a war zone, the guards are put on suicide watch every 3 minutes. While she's just be...

Peculiar Reviewer

Search This Blog