It is uncanny how much Oscar Isaac resembles a young Al Pacino at certain moments of A Most Violent Year. His lead performance is striking as a man trying desperately to expand his business, yet also trying to remain semi-legitimate in a NY world shrouded in corruption at every level. Jessica Chastain is also ferocious as his wife, breathing new life into the adage "the woman behind the man". Unfortunately, despite top notch work from the leads, much of J. C Chandor's film feels liked a missed opportunity. The story, which takes it time getting started, doesn't lead anywhere surprising at all. There are several tense moments, an important underlying message of what it truly takes to make it in that world and of course the acting fireworks. Yet for myself, this film sadly falls into that ever-expanding category that demands the exasperated question why hire great talent, spend many months and several million dollars making a film if this is all you had to say?
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