A MOST VIOLENT YEAR
Trying to do the right thing without compromising — for adults only.
Should You Watch It?
A MOST VIOLENT YEAR is one of the year’s best and most compelling movies. It follows a moral businessman trying to build a legitimate company in a corrupt oil-heating industry, while hijackings, financial pressure, and suspicion threaten his future.
The film’s strongest achievement is its moral center. Abel Morales believes there are only two ways to do things—the right way or the wrong way—and repeatedly refuses criminal help and violence, even when protecting his family and business would be easier that way. The movie also shows how corruption can stain the American Dream, and it includes one late moral stumble when Abel chooses the “most right” thing rather than the perfectly right thing.
The serious problem is content: strong foul language throughout and one brief, shocking burst of bloody violence. Adults who can navigate those elements should take the trip; families with children or young teens should choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESSet in New York City in 1981, the film centers on Abel Morales, a Latin American immigrant building a growing oil-heating company. Abel bought the business from his wife’s gangster father and is determined to run it legitimately.
When his trucks begin being hijacked, Abel’s crucial deal to purchase an oceanfront oil-storage facility is put at risk. As competitors, law enforcement, and financial pressures close in, he must decide how far he will go to protect his family and achieve the American Dream.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is one of the year’s best-made and most riveting movies. J.C. Chandor’s drama holds attention from beginning to end, and Oscar Isaac gives a brilliant performance as a slightly vain, materialistic capitalist hero with a strong moral conscience.
The rest of the cast is excellent, including Jessica Chastain as Abel’s ethically challenged wife. The film’s gritty world, moral dilemmas, and compelling performances make it thoroughly absorbing. Despite its harsh language and one morally troubling point, it comes close to perfect for a modern drama.
The Worldview
A MOST VIOLENT YEAR presents a strong moral, capitalist worldview. It extols hard work, legitimate business, and the American Dream while showing how corruption and violence can tarnish that dream. Abel is tempted to compromise with an industry run by mobsters and thieves, but he repeatedly refuses to cross those lines.
The film also values personal responsibility and care for workers. Abel’s strong moral conscience makes him a positive role model, even though he is slightly vain and materialistic. His wife is more pragmatic and morally flawed, pressing him toward compromise, while Abel insists on pursuing the right course. The story does include one or two lawless moral elements that are condoned or almost condoned, and its conclusion involves Abel doing the “most right” thing rather than the perfectly right thing.
The film’s central longing is for success achieved honestly in a corrupt world. Scripture likewise honors diligent work: “the hand of the diligent makes rich” (Proverbs 10:4).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong moral worldview, with one or two antinomian, lawless moral elements condoned or almost condoned, marred also by foul language; about 44 obscenities (including many “f” words), six strong profanities and one light exclamatory profanity; one brief example of extreme sudden violence with blood when man’s shot in head and some strong violence when truck driver shoots it out with would-be hijackers, hijackers beat up driver and dump him out on road and send him to the hospital, salesman gets beaten up, and protagonist in car chases hijackers until truck crashes and chases hijacker on foot and through subway until he catches up with him and tries to punch a confession out of him but stops when it’s clear the man’s not telling him anything; no sex scenes (man and wife kiss a few times, once passionately); brief upper male nudity, some female cleavage; alcohol use; smoking; and, men hijack oil trucks, man admits buying hijacked oil but agrees to pay victim for what was stolen, scared employee disobeys company order, wife wants protagonist to compromise his values but he refuses multiple times, and character admits to embezzling and lying about it.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Abel believes there are only two ways to do things: the right way or the wrong way. How can you pursue what is right when compromise seems profitable?
Micah 6:8 · Proverbs 10:9The film connects hard work with the American Dream. What does Scripture commend about diligent work, and what warnings should accompany the pursuit of success?
Proverbs 10:4 · 1 Timothy 6:9–10Abel refuses violence even when his family and company are threatened. When is courage different from vengeance?
Romans 12:17–21 · Matthew 5:9The movie shows corruption surrounding a businessman who wants to remain legitimate. How can truthfulness shape your choices when others are acting dishonestly?
Proverbs 12:22 · Ephesians 4:25The Final Word
A MOST VIOLENT YEAR is a gripping, morally serious drama about pursuing success without surrendering conscience. Its strong foul language and sudden bloody violence make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For other family viewing, see.
