A Most Violent Year

Saw this last night and it is easily one of my favorites of the year along with Boyhood, Grand Budapest and Inherent Vice. I was impressed with Margin Call, but this film improves upon his previous work in every way.

I went for Chastain, who is excellent, but walked out raving about Isaac. He was so commanding and mesmerizing up on the big screen. He's in basically every scene of the movie and creates such intensity without raising his voice or carrying on.

I loved so many moments, but a highlight was the birthday party sequence and Chastain flicking her cigarette at David Oyelowo with an ironic, "This was very disrespectful."

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Such a shame that Best Actor is so crowded this season as Isaac is wonderful. I hope he enjoys a wonderful careee. And Chastain? That woman is magic. Her Oscar is coming in the next five years.

I'll have to see this. Chastain is that one actress who really bugs me. I found her scene in Interstellar with Casey Affleck to be laughable. And her performance in The Heiress was incredibly awkward and laughable. But I loved her in Zero Dark Thirty. I keep going back to see what else she's doing, so I guess that's a good thing.

I'm just back for a matinee at Lincoln Square, which was full-to-bursting. This is easily in my top five for the best films I've seen from the last year. Isaac and Chastain are superb, and the story and structure is so taut and truly suspenseful. Reminiscent of '70s/early '80s era Lumet and Pakula films, among others.

Chandor is three for three.

Reminiscent of '70s/early '80s era Lumet and Pakula films

That^ is exactly the impression the trailer and commercials give. I can't see this for at least another three weeks, but, damn does it look good. Chandor is very talented. Hope he has a long career.