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IMDbPro

A Most Violent Year

  • 20142014
  • RR
  • 2h 5m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
72K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,206
77
Albert Brooks, Alessandro Nivola, David Oyelowo, Oscar Isaac, and Jessica Chastain in A Most Violent Year (2014)
In New York City 1981, an ambitious immigrant fights to protect his business and family during the most dangerous year in the city's history.
Play trailer2:27
12 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Crime
  • Drama
In New York City 1981, an ambitious immigrant fights to protect his business and family during the most dangerous year in the city's history.In New York City 1981, an ambitious immigrant fights to protect his business and family during the most dangerous year in the city's history.In New York City 1981, an ambitious immigrant fights to protect his business and family during the most dangerous year in the city's history.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
72K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,206
77
  • Director
    • J.C. Chandor
  • Writer
    • J.C. Chandor
  • Stars
    • Oscar Isaac
    • Jessica Chastain
    • David Oyelowo
Top credits
  • Director
    • J.C. Chandor
  • Writer
    • J.C. Chandor
  • Stars
    • Oscar Isaac
    • Jessica Chastain
    • David Oyelowo
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 243User reviews
    • 381Critic reviews
    • 79Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 15 wins & 52 nominations

    Videos12

    Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 2:27
    Theatrical Trailer
    Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 1:22
    Teaser Trailer
    Bankers Dinner
    Clip 1:00
    Bankers Dinner
    Clip
    Clip 1:16
    Clip
    "A Most Violent Year | Art of the Sell | Official Movie Clip HD"
    Clip 2:12
    "A Most Violent Year | Art of the Sell | Official Movie Clip HD"
    A Most Violent Year | The Gun | Official Movie Clip HD
    Clip 1:13
    A Most Violent Year | The Gun | Official Movie Clip HD
    A Most Violent Year | Respect | Official Movie Clip HD
    Clip 1:00
    A Most Violent Year | Respect | Official Movie Clip HD
    A Most Violent Year
    Featurette 2:20
    A Most Violent Year
    A Most Violent Year | The Director | Official Featurette HD |A24
    Featurette 2:23
    A Most Violent Year | The Director | Official Featurette HD |A24
    A Most Violent Year | Behind the Lens | Official Featurette HD | A24
    Featurette 2:18
    A Most Violent Year | Behind the Lens | Official Featurette HD | A24
    A Most Violent Year | The Craft | Official Featurette HD |
    Featurette 4:49
    A Most Violent Year | The Craft | Official Featurette HD |
    A Most Violent Year | Foundations | Official Featurette HD |
    Featurette 3:58
    A Most Violent Year | Foundations | Official Featurette HD |

    Photos153

    Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain in A Most Violent Year (2014)
    Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain in A Most Violent Year (2014)
    Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain in A Most Violent Year (2014)
    Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain in A Most Violent Year (2014)
    Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain in A Most Violent Year (2014)
    Albert Brooks, Oscar Isaac, and Jessica Chastain in A Most Violent Year (2014)
    Jessica Chastain in A Most Violent Year (2014)
    Jessica Chastain in A Most Violent Year (2014)
    David Oyelowo and Oscar Isaac in A Most Violent Year (2014)
    Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain in A Most Violent Year (2014)
    Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain in A Most Violent Year (2014)
    Albert Brooks and Oscar Isaac in A Most Violent Year (2014)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Oscar Isaac
    Oscar Isaac
    • Abel Moralesas Abel Morales
    Jessica Chastain
    Jessica Chastain
    • Anna Moralesas Anna Morales
    David Oyelowo
    David Oyelowo
    • D.A. Lawrenceas D.A. Lawrence
    Alessandro Nivola
    Alessandro Nivola
    • Peter Forenteas Peter Forente
    Elyes Gabel
    Elyes Gabel
    • Julianas Julian
    Lorna Pruce
    Lorna Pruce
    • Toll Booth Attendantas Toll Booth Attendant
    Christopher Abbott
    Christopher Abbott
    • Louis Servidioas Louis Servidio
    Matthew Maher
    Matthew Maher
    • John Dominczykas John Dominczyk
    Albert Brooks
    Albert Brooks
    • Andrew Walshas Andrew Walsh
    Jerry Adler
    Jerry Adler
    • Joseph Mendelsohnas Joseph Mendelsohn
    Quinn Meyers
    • Moishe Mendelsohnas Moishe Mendelsohn
    Chester Jones III
    • Beat Copas Beat Cop
    • (as Chester Jones)
    Ashley Williams
    Ashley Williams
    • Deputy Langeas Deputy Lange
    Glenn Fleshler
    Glenn Fleshler
    • Arnold Klineas Arnold Kline
    Jimmy Palumbo
    Jimmy Palumbo
    • Barber Jimmy O.as Barber Jimmy O.
    Daisy Tahan
    Daisy Tahan
    • Annie Moralesas Annie Morales
    Taylor Richardson
    Taylor Richardson
    • Elizabeth Moralesas Elizabeth Morales
    Giselle Eisenberg
    Giselle Eisenberg
    • Catherine Moralesas Catherine Morales
    • Director
      • J.C. Chandor
    • Writer
      • J.C. Chandor
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jessica Chastain thought that her nouveau-riche character Anna would only wear Armani and wrote to the fashion house to request that they lend their costumes to the film. They obliged, so every outfit that Anna wears is vintage Armani from 1981.
    • Goofs
      When Abel goes to Lefkowitz for a loan and Loraine asks him how much he needs, he replies: "A million and a half dollars." In the script, he answers $500,000. This was spoken during the shoot and the newer figure changed in post-production. The audio/visual mismatch is visible.
    • Quotes

      Abel Morales: When it feels scary to jump, that is exactly when you jump, otherwise you end up staying in the same place your whole life, and that I can't do.

    • Connections
      Featured in Film '72: Episode #44.2 (2015)
    • Soundtracks
      Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
      Written by Marvin Gaye and James Nyx

      Performed by Marvin Gaye

      Courtesy of Motown Records

      Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

    User reviews243

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    When I was 11, it was a very violent year...
    In 1981, an immigrant oilman struggles to improve his fortune and protect his family during the most dangerous year in New York City's history. A Most Violent Year is a strong, character-driven drama that's lifted infinitely by terrific lead performances by Oscar Isaacs and Jessica Chastain, inflating what could have been a tiresome, trite look at one man versus the world in an unkind city.

    Abel Morales (Isaac) runs Standard Oil, and he has his eyes on some prime waterfront real estate. With this land, he'll be able to fill his trucks from directly from the oil barges on the river, rather than have the oil transported from boat to someone else's trucks and then to his warehouses. And by saving money there, he'll be able to buy a little more oil than he normally would, keep it on the premises, and then sell it to customers or competitors when demand rises. He makes a deal for the land with a sizable down payment and the stipulation that the balance be tendered within 30 days - no extensions allowed. This, of course, is before Abel's company comes under investigation by an intrepid detective (David Oyelowo), his trucks get highjacked and the oil stolen, and his backers start to, well, back away.

    But Abel is no wilting flower, whether he's dealing with the fuzz or the other oilmen in the city. He has his convictions, and damned if he's going to give them up to appease anyone. Which, as you might suspect, makes things a little more difficult. His wife Anna (Chastain), who can match Abel in sheer willpower, is also fiercely protective of her husband, her business (she's the bookkeeper), and her family. Sort of a two-pronged attack. Abel's charm and style nets him both friends and enemies, but this isn't yet another mobster movie by any means. In fact, the only direct evidence of organized crime in the movie centers around Abel's competition - men who would do anything to maintain and/or increase their share of the lucrative oil business in the city.

    Both Isaacs (Inside Llewyn Davis) and Chastain (Interstellar) deliver powerful performances that manage to be both relatable and fascinating. Theirs is not a one-sided relationship. Abel is not some power-mad, bombastic husband who treats the wife and kids as either baggage or items to be used for fun and profit. Anna is not some melodramatic, over-spirited harpy who resents her husband's work obsession. They work together even when they disagree. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention an almost unrecognizable Albert Brooks, the company's astute and slightly amoral lawyer. Brooks, in what appears to be a Karl Malden wig, is a real treat.

    A Most Violent Year carries a strong message, and that message is this: don't count the little guy out, particularly when he (and his spouse) is whip-smart, unafraid to take chances, and endlessly resourceful. High praise indeed for director J.C. Chandor (All Is Lost) and his talented cast.
    helpful•51
    23
    • dfranzen70
    • Feb 2, 2015

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 30, 2015 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Arab Emirates
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Jc3
    • Filming locations
      • Packard Plant, Detroit, Michigan, USA
    • Production companies
      • Before The Door Pictures
      • Washington Square Films
      • FilmNation Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,749,134
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $172,788
      • Jan 4, 2015
    • Gross worldwide
      • $12,007,070
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 5 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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