A Most Violent Year Rears its Head

The buzz on director/writer J.C. Chandor ("Margin Call", "All is Lost") has been suspiciously low the last few months. Though there have been some "reports" about the film's acting being incredible (I wouldn't expect anything less from the new Meryl Streep, Jessica Chastain, but that cast is incredible; Oscar Isaac, Albert Brooks also star), nothing else about the film has been released. Distributor A24, though relatively new, is not really much of an awards player; though they did manage some critics' awards wins for James Franco last year, their Oscar pull is weak. That all could change, however; the trailer and a poster for the film has finally been released, and it's promising.

Much like the film's promotion (up until now), reports about the film's plot remain pretty low-key. The only official plot synopsis available, says:

"The film's story is set during the winter of 1981 in New York City, one of the most violent years on record in the city's history."

Gangster flicks are no stranger to Oscar love, and even though Chandor's last film All Is Lost went unrecognized last year, he did manage a Screenplay nomination for Margin Call. Chastain's involvement and rising star Isaac should boost the film's profile; this could very well be Chandor's breakthrough film.

Or maybe Chastain (also in play for "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby" and "Interstellar") uses this as a springboard for her impending 3rd nomination. Or maybe this is her 3rd nomination.

We may not know everything about the film, but at least we know that the film is going to be a player in the race. The film will be released on New Year's Eve: December 31st.

Take a look at the film's poster below, and watch the trailer here