There seems to be an irksome trend emerging in cinematic circles for bestowing mediocre dramas with fawning praise based solely on one or more decent acting performance.
Take this year’s offering from JC Chandor; the heavy handedly entitled A Most Violent Year. Much like last year’s much overhyped American Hustle, this ‘crime drama’ fails on both generic counts as it crucially lacks a solid plot- line and does not delve fully enough into the characters’ development to attain credence as a character drama.
Following his enigmatic realisation of angst ridden folk musician Llewyn in last year’s Inside Llewyn Bowen, Oscar Isaac gives a solid performance as the film’s cut throat, rags to riches protagonist, Abel Morales. The film follows him as he endeavours to prosper amidst legal investigations tarnishing his credibility and violent competitors threatening the safety of his employees and his family. Sadly, his performance at times verges on generic cliché; as though his sole preparation for the role consisted of binge viewing 80s Pacino and De Niro whilst soliloquizing in front of a mirror. Unlike the pivotal performances of these crime genre veterans however, the character is not awarded a thunder clap climactic moment- of self realisation, or redemption, or violence. The film meanders around a multitude of mundane incidentals, for example the uncertainty of whether his loyal bank manager will honour his loan agreement now he is under federal investigation; this culminating in a montage of tedious exchanges where Morales entreats basically everyone who will listen to put up the money for him; including a previously unmentioned younger brother who vanishes from the narrative as quickly as he appears.
Jessica Chastain is smouldering in her depiction of Abel’s polished to perfection wife Anna. Her nuanced character and powerful performance feel under utilised however, and much like the film as a whole leaves one waiting, hoping for more than is delivered.
There is a fatal lack of urgency, with no element of real danger imposed on the protagonists and no emotional connection to these characters, who, though obviously flawed, are not awarded the space or agency to develop into anything more than vehicles for a dull narrative which plods along relentlessly whilst inciting no climactic drama or resolution.
In all, the film offers some credible acting performances from actors who are steadfastly climbing to the top of their game. It is a pity then that this feature did not provide them with better material in terms of both character development and a cohesive and exhilarating thriller narrative. Even the violence the title so resoundingly forewarns fails to deliver.
Rating- 5/10
lisadoop 
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