A Most Violent Year

"The result is never in question. Just the path you take to get there."

2014 2h 5m EN

👍

6.6

SOLID

★6.6TMDB · 1,594

CrimeDramaThriller

Synopsis

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A thriller set in New York City during the winter of 1981, statistically one of the most violent years in the city's history, and centered on the lives of an immigrant and his family trying 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.

“The result is never in question. Just the path you take to get there.”

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Cast

Oscar Isaac
Abel Morales
Jessica Chastain
Anna Morales
David Oyelowo
D.A. Lawrence
Alessandro Nivola
Peter Forente
Elyes Gabel
Julian
Albert Brooks
Andrew Walsh
Catalina Sandino Moreno
Luisa
Peter Gerety
Bill O'Leary

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: J.C. Chandor
Writers: J.C. Chandor
Languages: Spanish, English
Countries: United Arab Emirates, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 60% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 12 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Spanish, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United Arab Emirates, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by J.C. Chandor, shot by Bradford Young. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Alex Ebert. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Ron Patane shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

AWARDS

Did you know

Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain and David Oyelowo carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

J.C. Chandor directs. Bradford Young behind the camera. Alex Ebert scores. Ron Patane cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United Arab Emirates, United States of America. Dialogue in Spanish, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 60% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 12 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Spanish, English.
4International production across 2 countries: United Arab Emirates, United States of America.
5Directed by J.C. Chandor, shot by Bradford Young. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Alex Ebert. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Ron Patane shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain and David Oyelowo carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "The result is never in question. Just the path you take to get there.".
10IMDB entry: tt2937898 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Classified under 17 themes, including "new york city", "immigrant", "husband wife relationship", "corruption".

The technical file

Cinematography: Bradford Young
Original score: Alex Ebert
Editing: Ron Patane
Production design: John P. Goldsmith
Costume design: Kasia Walicka Maimone
Makeup / hair: Kay Georgiou
VFX supervisor: Jason Forster
Sound: Gary Summers
Stunt coordinator: Victor Paguia
Runtime: 125 min · 2h 5m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $20,000,000
Box office: $12,007,070
Return: 60% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: A Most Violent Year (2014)

Awards

National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
National Board of Review Award for Best Film

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

J.C. Chandor

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Nathan2022-11-25
★ 8/10
A Most Violent Year took a long time to get me hooked, but once I was able to come around to it I was fully invested. Oscar Isaac is fantastic in this movie. He was able to balance the intimidating front of a mobster while being able to present a sense of honesty as he was trying to avoid the more barbaric business practice of his contemporaries. It was a fine line, but it was a joy to see the mobster slowly start to take over as his desperation increased. Jessica Chastain was really good as well. She was a balancing force for Isaac's character and was just as badass in my opinion. They had amazing chemistry and formed a dynamic duo that was a force to be reckoned with. There is not a lot of action in this film, but the tension was thick and when there were more chaotic sequences they felt organic and real. The cinematography was top notch, I love the haze that was in this movie. It was nice touch and made the movie feel right at home in the 80's. This movie is not going to be for everyone, but I really dug it and recommend anyone to check it out. Score: 83% | Verdict: Great

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