A Most Violent Year (DVD): Review

The Film

Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac), a businessman in New York City 1981. An immigrant who is fighting to protect his family and his business. And we see his story during the most dangerous year of this city’s history. In essence, A Most Violent Year.

Abel is trying very hard to do everything honestly, building a business in fuel distribution. The business is trying to expand, and capitalise on opportunity, while all around decay and corruption drag them closer to ruin and trouble, threatening to destroy everything.

The various characters play off each other as their respective personalities clash, brought to life with the talented ensemble cast. One really feels for each character, loving them or hating them. The drama builds, as does the tension, as the story progresses, and while there is no overly complex plot to speak of, one is never quite certain from one moment to the next, what might happen. Might someone snap, cross a line, or will the law finally catch up to them. Worse still, who will make it to the very end of this tale. A well written story, that will keep viewer enthralled throughout.

A Most Violent Year is a mob film, well portrayed, and a joy to watch. Providing a small glimpse into the life of the time, where New York faced a dark hour. A glimpse into what life would have been life, in that point in the city’s long and colourful history.

This film is sure to keep many viewer entertained, with its stark delivery, talented cast, expertly written script, and frank delivery.

Disc And Bonus Features

As with most dics, this one is encoded at a high bitrate, keeping the image clear of artefacts. Viewers who so wish, would be able, with the right hardware or software, scale up to a larger or higher resolution screen.

Audio is presented in a 5.1 mix, adding depth to scenes, and expanding the on-screen action when necessary. With the film holding more drama than action, this will certainly not give the surrounds a huge workout, but does add to the viewing experience.

Menus are basic and static, saving space for a higher bitrate on the main feature.

There are no bonus features on the disc.

A Most Violent Year is available now, for purchase on disc, in South Africa.

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb