I do not agree with the 'kinda' low rating. This film is all about dialog, its a slowish paced movie with gorgeous styling and utter quality. If you go into this expecting some kind of tony montana shootups and lots of yelling- you shouldnt leave a review. I absolutely feel the grace this movie radiates. Also you care for the characters. ( If you are willing to tho) Very calm, tense film, without much pooh haah! Beautiful delicate film. Love it!

A Most Violent Year is a gangster movie in which the protagonist is ironically trying not to be a gangster. Oscar Isaac played the lead part so well, and it's rare to identify with a character so much that you genuinely empathize with him. I thought the movie was based on a true story, but the only factual thing about it was that New York City had its highest crime rate in 1981. Another commendable film from the director of Margin Call.

Sorry to everyone that believes successful businesses are built on violence and corruption. This movie illustrates the pressures and strategies required to build a real business. It never has anything to do with sex, bribes, violence, etc. Not that those stories do not exist, but they are shooting stars which are fast, bright and short lived. To complete the marathon it takes a cool head when all others panic and over react to the stress and chaos. Why did this movie fall short of the expectations of the American film audience? Simple. Nothing was exaggerated. The main character in this film plays the long game. He sees all the angles. He knows how everything is connected. People lie. He floats above it all to maintain his honor. He can still get down and dirty without crossing the lines he has drawn to govern his moral code. He still does this without fear while working towards his goal of ever expanding his business. When questioned as to why he does it all, he fails to understand the question. It is not in his nature to accept failure or a static existence. As a first generation business owner I respect the honesty and reality revealed in this movie. Sex, crimes and car chases produce two results: quickly failed businesses and Hollywood blockbusters. Perhaps the American public does not enjoy films that reflect reality too closely.

This is one movie that I kept watching, hoping that it will really become something. But then it ended. I cursed, turned off the projector and went to sleep. The biggest issue is the lack of a compelling story. There are movies that take a slice of out of someone's life and make it compelling. I guess the writer's intentions were the same, but the end result feels like a bland unfinished meal. It is sometimes hard to go by IMDb ratings to select a movie to watch. I guess if you have enough friends to write glowing reviews, you can bring the ratings up to a point. Critics I guess try not to become lone wolves by toeing the most common critic denominator line and rate it above average. After all, its their job. They don't want to look outside the mainstream. So, I have no idea why it has 7.0 rating on IMDb, it should be a solid 6 for effort, cinematography and decent acting. Nothing more. Nothing less.