American dream in the shadows

Athena 2022-01-06 08:01:03

(Spoiler) "A Most Violent Year" (A Most Violent Year) refers to 1981. In those years, the United States has only experienced the impact of two oil crises; Ronald Reagan just won the election and is about to lead the world into the era of neoliberalism; New York City is still the capital of crime, and trilateral collusion between business, underworld, and police is the norm. For film creators, this is a turning point. They try to treat the protagonist's experience within a month as a cross-section of the times, in order to see the best.

The protagonist Abel is a new immigrant from South America. The heating oil business has reached a bottleneck stage. Sufficient funds must be raised within 30 days to complete a warehouse transaction. If successful, he may use this to leave his competitors or even change the unclean market environment. However, the house leaks and night rains. During this period, Abel encountered the company's oil trucks being robbed, facing official prosecutions, and the bank refused to provide loans. If he cannot complete the transaction, not only will the business fail, but he will even face jail.

The creator adopts a narrative technique that sees the big from the small, and the structure is condensed. The radio news broadcast that the protagonist listens to provides concise background information on politics and public security at the time. For those audiences who did not understand American society at the time, they might find their explanations unclear. In addition, the interpretation and visual communication of the characters are also consistent and depressive: the actor is calm and patient most of the time, even if he breaks out, he immediately suppresses his emotions; there are not many activities in the daylight, because Abel is determined to take him from the gang. The business that the father-in-law took over was "whitewashed" and insisted on negotiating instead of shopping. Therefore, time and time again, bloodless confrontations were completed in a dimly lit room. The use of the lens is also restrained. There are not many hand-cranked mirrors that are often abused in the same type of movies, and the continuous changing plots are laid out in a slow and unhurried manner, which also matches the protagonist's suppressed emotions.

The pattern of the movie inherits the type of "The Godfather" to some extent, and its depiction of the "American Dream" is also reminiscent of "Blue Dragon" directed by Liu Weiqiang . Although Abel constantly emphasized that he wanted to get rid of the underworld characteristics of this line, he repeatedly rejected the suggestion of his wife (always a gangster daughter) to use violence for violence, and forbid the driver of the team under his control to equip guns to deal with the robbers, but he has always done a lot of illegal actions. Only things can get through the difficulties (although it is often his lawyer and wife who do it, he is not immune from responsibility). So instead of saying that the protagonist is a hero who turns darkness into light, he is like those giant white oil drums, with black oil inside being the key. The means of rejecting the gang is also a means, and Abel is actually a ruthless person. The driver Julian who works for him is his fellow countryman, and he has the same "American Dream", hoping to work hard, seize opportunities, and achieve success like the former. It is a pity that he was robbed twice while transporting oil. The psychological trauma and the illegally equipped body pistol eventually turned him into a fugitive. The American dream is broken, Julian may feel that the boss's concern for him is only for his own cause, rather than true care, and finally committed suicide in despair. At that time, Abel had completed the oil depot transaction and looked at the more prosperous area on the opposite river bank. , Another step in the way of dreams. Julian came out to commit suicide in public at this time. The blood splashed on the oil storage barrel. In exchange, the black oil spilled, as if to remind the audience that the glorious "American Dream" had its dark side, that is, "everything will become a dead end."

If this "black gold bleaching" story marks the "most violent year", it means that when violence hides behind the glory, it will be even more terrifying, and what is hidden in the bustling Vanity Fair is greater evil. This can't help but make people think: Although "The Violent Year" questioned the "American Dream", what would happen if the spirit of "Under the Lion Rock" was replaced?

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Extended Reading
  • Angelita 2022-01-06 08:01:03

    Chandall’s play skills are still very solid, telling the story of how the American dream was realized through violent blood lies betraying corruption so smoothly and smoothly. But this time the problem is that the restoration of the times is a bit too much, and the story is originally small and less powerful, which will give people a feeling of exaggeration. The photography scheduling is very eye-catching, and the overall control is full. PS: Isaac's buttocks are also a highlight!

  • Cayla 2022-01-06 08:01:03

    It reminds me of "We Have the Night" many years ago. It is a neat and respectable good story and a good movie. It can reach the G point of some people, but it lacks the explosive point that most people can get HIGH. The actor is great. In "Drunk Country Folk Songs", I was suspicious of the five short, straight-faced Oscar Isaac, and everything is right in this one. With Chastain partner and even sparkling, he is the current Oscar. The biggest nominated bead

A Most Violent Year quotes

  • Abel Morales: When it feels scary to jump, that is exactly when you jump, otherwise you end up staying in the same place your whole life, and that I can't do.

  • Julian: I feel... Vulnerable.

    Abel Morales: Good... Because you are vulnerable. We all are.