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A Most Violent Year

A Most Violent Year

Crime · Drama · Thriller · 2014

A thriller set in New York City during the winter of 1981, statistically one of the most violent years in the city's history, and centered on the lives of an immigrant and his family trying to expand their business and capitalize on opportunities as the rampant violence, decay, and corruption of the day drag them in and threaten to destroy all they have built.

Movie details

A Most Violent Year

“The result is never in question. Just the path you take to get there.”

2014 Crime · Drama · Thriller 2h 5m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.6 / 10

Community rating

A thriller set in New York City during the winter of 1981, statistically one of the most violent years in the city's history, and centered on the lives of an immigrant and his family trying to expand their business and capitalize on opportunities as the rampant violence, decay, and corruption of the day drag them in and threaten to destroy all they have built.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over A Most Violent Year?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

J.C. Chandor

Written by

J.C. Chandor

Oscar Isaac

Oscar Isaac

Abel Morales

Jessica Chastain

Jessica Chastain

Anna Morales

David Oyelowo

David Oyelowo

D.A. Lawrence

Alessandro Nivola

Alessandro Nivola

Peter Forente

Elyes Gabel

Elyes Gabel

Julian

Albert Brooks

Albert Brooks

Andrew Walsh

Catalina Sandino Moreno

Catalina Sandino Moreno

Luisa

Court is in session

Put A Most Violent Year on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Big-Idea Head

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.