The richly talented J.C. Chandor’s latest feature film, A Most Violent Year, takes him back onto terra firma after the oceanic All Is Lost, and back to Manhattan, the scene of his terrific debut Margin Call. This one is set a few blocks from Wall Street’s snake pits in the world of big oil, and a new image from the film shows its protagonist Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac) and his wife (Jessica Chastain) in action.
Set in New York’s murderous months of 1981, A Most Violent Year pitches its superb cast into a murky milieu that encompasses corruption, crime and murder. Isaac’s crude-dude is an immigrant who has to navigate these perilous waters with all the canniness and savvy at his disposal. But with his wife in the Lady Macbeth role, his scruples slowly fall away and the allure of criminal shortcuts becomes too great to resist.
As Tony Montana showed us, for every great crime empire that starts out this way, another ends in a career-limiting hail of bullets. The film’s first teaser trailer doesn’t give much away to suggest that Morales will fare the same, but don’t bet on him being voted into high office either. Along for the ride in supporting roles are Albert Brooks, David Oyelowo, Alessandro Nivola and Catalina Sandino Moreno.
The film makes its US bow on December 31 before a UK release on January 23, a release that plonks it right into the midst of awards season. Don’t be surprised to see Chandor adding to his Margin Call Oscar acclaim with another Best Original Screenplay nomination.