A Most Violent Year Movie Review 0 1080

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In the space of just a few years, writer-director J.C. Chandor has marked himself out as an impressive new voice in the world of cinema. He burst onto the scene with his Oscar-nominated financial drama Margin Call, which showed off his talent for complex but utterly compelling dialogue even about the most dense of subjects. He followed that up with a powerful existential survival drama in All Is Lost, drawing out of Robert Redford perhaps the best performance of his career.

Now he’s back with another impressive, handsomely mounted film this time focusing on the seedy world of shady businessmen, back room deals and often violent corner-cutting to get ahead. Set in New York City in 1981, man-of-the-moment Oscar Isaac stars as Abel Morales, an immigrant oil businessman operating during what is statistically one of the most violent years in the city’s history. Despite his trucks being hijacked for months, turning his suspicion to one or more of his rivals, he preaches non-violence and respect in all that he does, doing whatever he can to prove that he runs, “a fair and clean business.” With his ambitious wife (Jessica Chastain) by his side, he does his best to find out who’s perpetrating these crimes and to expand his business without becoming the type of man he so desperately wants to avoid.

Chandor’s film serves as both a literal time jump back to the era in which it’s set, with superb period detail and beautiful cinematography bolstering an authentic atmosphere, and as an enjoyably gritty throwback to the films of that time. We find ourselves very much in a Serpico/Godfather/French Connection-esque world here, where seemingly no one can be trusted, corruption and shady dealing are more common than the famous Yellow Cabs and there’s danger lurking around every dark and murky corner.

Ironically it’s less of a violent, bloody affair than it’s title so overtly suggests – nae promises – but that seems like it would have been the easier option to take, perhaps resulting in a more visceral experience but probably an emptier one that doesn’t really stay with you. Chandor’s film takes a much subtler but far more effective approach that’s more to do with how the threat of violence and effect that violence has on the business expansion (read: capitalistic ambitions) of its characters, helping it linger long in the mind.

It reminded me of last year’s under-seen Locke, in which Tom Hardy played a respectful, strong-minded man desperate to complete a concrete pour he‘s in charge of even after he’s been fired . It’s oil here instead of concrete but the principle of the two films are the same; it’s not really about the materials, even if that’s what motivates the characters in a literal sense, but uses that as a metaphorical base from which explore their respective themes.

Strong performances helps give depth and empathy to what might otherwise have been cold and austere characters, with Isaac giving an effectively insular, restrained performance that evokes Pacino in The Godfather – the film and central performance is more reminiscent of Part I in Francis Ford Coppola’s gangster trilogy than it is Part II – and while Chastain is equally good as his faithful, quietly ruthless wife. The two have terrific chemistry together and the film is often at its strongest whenever they’re on-screen together, whether it’s exchanging subtle glances or full-on marital rows. David Oyelowo is also very good as the assistant D.A. investigating Abel’s business practices, as is Albert Brooks playing what is essentially the Robert Duvall consigliere role as Abel’s dedicated advisor.

The film may lack true originality as it covers much of the same crime-ridden ground and asks the same sort of morality question – about the likes of doing certain perceivably wrong things to get ahead – as many films before it. But, much like its central character, it does so with real class and respect, populating its unpredictable world of crime with well-written characters that we might not necessarily care about in the fullest sense of the word but who are nevertheless fascinating to watch.

A Most Violent Year is released in UK cinemas on January 23rd.

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I'm a freelance film reviewer and blogger with over 10 years of experience writing for various different reputable online and print publications. In addition to my running, editing and writing for Thoughts On Film, I am also the film critic for The National, the newspaper that supports an independent Scotland, covering the weekly film releases, film festivals and film-related features. I have a passion for all types of cinema, and have a particular love for foreign language film, especially South Korean and Japanese cinema. Favourite films include The Big Lebowski, Pulp Fiction and 2001: A Space Odyssey.

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Tolkien Biopic to Be Released in May 0 5286

10th May, 2019 is when Tolkien will be released to the world, an autobiographical film that will revolve around the early days of legendary author J.R.R. Tolkien before he became the literary giant that he is today.

Here on Thoughts on Film we are big fans of his work and the recent films made by Peter Jackson. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings (LOTR), are responsible for originating a universe that has gone on to inspire movies, animation, fiction, and modern media interpretations.



This is why Tolkien is regarded by many as the greatest fantasy author of all time. His creative stamp can be seen nearly everywhere in modern media. There’s the direct reinterpretation of his work in the recently released action roleplaying game Middle Earth: Shadow of War, where players are thrust into a major role in Tolkien’s literary canon. George R.R. Martin, who originated the now globally-popular Game of Thrones series on HBO, openly reveres LOTR as the inspiration for his work, citing the early death of Gandalf in Fellowship of the Ring as having a profound effect on his “own willingness to kill characters at the drop of a hat.” On the web, more Tolkien-inspired work can be found on leading slot portal Slingo and its many online titles dedicated to the fantasy genre, including Amazon Queen, Fae Legend Warrior, and Magic Castle, all of which feature elements that can be traced back to the author’s massive body of work. Technically speaking, the same can be said of nearly every major fantasy brand out there today, from Dungeons & Dragons to Magic: the Gathering. In short, almost every type of entertainment that features western fantasy can be traced back to the works of Tolkien.

In the upcoming Tolkien movie, the man will be played by Nicholas Hoult, whom is best known for Mad Max: Fury Road and Hank McCoy in the most recent X-Men movies. And now, the actor’s versatility will be tested as he steps into the shoes of the most iconic fantasy writer of all time. Starring alongside Hoult will be the actress Lily Collins as Edith Bratt – the woman whom Tolkien loved above all and is reportedly the inspiration for all “elven princess characters” in the LOTR series.

Helming the film is director Dome Karukoski whose CV includes 2017’s Tom of Finland, a critically acclaimed chronicle of the life and works of the controversial artist of the same name. And while media outlets haven’t yet heard from either the cast, director, or crew of the film, an official synopsis of the movie has been released via Collider. “Tolkien explores the formative years of the orphaned author as he finds friendship, love and artistic inspiration among a group of fellow outcasts at school. This takes him into the outbreak of World War I, which threatens to tear the “Fellowship” apart. All of these experiences would inspire Tolkien to write his famous Middle-earth novels.” It sounds like a real treat for film, literature, and Middle Earth fans.

Feature: 2019 Oscar Predictions 0 4030

I think it’s fair to say that the run up to this year’s Oscars has been a little messier than usual, from unexpected and bizarre wins at other awards shows (Vice winning Best Editing at the BAFTAs, anyone?) to ridiculous decisions by the Academy to change the show around.

The latter has proved a particular point of contention with both those in the industry to onlookers on social media, with choices such as not letting all the songs be performed to introducing a Best Popular Film category (whatever that means) to not airing four categories live; Editing and Cinematography proved a particular issue, sending the folks of Film Twitter into a Hulk-like rage.

Thankfully all of these decisions except for the one to not have a main host have taken the walk-back of shame; I look forward to Clint Eastwood talking to an empty chair again. Of course there’s still the issue of plenty of thoroughly deserving films, filmmakers and performances not being up for any Oscars at all (*cough* Toni Collette! *cough*) but of course that’s not an issue unique to this year.

The show must go on, as they say, and I thought a week out from this year’s ceremony I’d throw my hat into the ring as far as predictions goes. Below I’ve listed what I think will win in each category, as well as what I personally would like to see pick up that little gold man come next Sunday evening.

Best Picture

Want to win: A Star is Born
Will win: Green Book

Lead Actor

Want to win: Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born)
Will win: Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody)

Lead Actress

Want to win: Olivia Colman (The Favourite)
Will win: Olivia Colman (The Favourite)

Supporting Actor

Want to win: Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?)
Will win: Mahershala Ali (Green Book)

Supporting Actress

Want to win: Emma Stone (The Favourite)
Will win: Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk)

Director

Want to win: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma)
Will win: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma)

Animated Feature

Want to win: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Will win: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Adapted Screenplay

Want to win: BlacKkKlansman
Will win: BlacKkKlansman

Original Screenplay

Want to win: First Reformed
Will win: The Favourite

Cinematography

Want to win: Roma
Will win: Roma

Documentary Feature

Want to win: Free Solo
Will win: Minding the Gap

Foreign Language Film

Want to win: Roma
Will win: Roma

Film Editing

Want to win: BlacKkKlansman
Will win: Bohemian Rhapsody

Sound Editing

Want to win: A Quiet Place
Will win: Bohemian Rhapsody

Sound Mixing

Want to win: A Star is Born
Will win: Bohemian Rhapsody

Production Design

Want to win: Roma
Will win: The Favourite

Original Score

Want to win: If Beale Street Could Talk
Will win: Black Panther

Original Song

Want to win: Shallow (A Star is Born)
Will win: Shallow (A Star is Born)

Makeup and Hair

Want to win: Mary Queen of Scots
Will win: Vice

Costume Design

Want to win: Black Panther
Will win: The Favourite

Visual Effects

Want to win: Avengers: Infinity War
Will win: Ready Player One

Animated Short

Want to win: Bao
Will win: Bao

Live Action Short

Want to win: Marguerite
Will win: Marguerite

Documentary Short Subject

Want to win: Black Sheep
Will win: Lifeboat

Do you agree? Disagree? Feel free to leave your predictions/wishes for the winners below or tweet @TOF_UK or @rosstmiller.

Roll on Sunday!