A Most Violent Year (2014), written and directed by J.C. Chandor, is a gripping crime drama set in 1981, one of New York City’s most crime-ridden years. With stellar performances by Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain, the film explores themes of ambition, morality, and survival in a city teetering on the edge of chaos.

The story follows Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac), a principled and ambitious immigrant who owns a heating oil distribution company. Abel is determined to expand his business while adhering to ethical practices, despite the rampant corruption and violence plaguing his industry. His wife, Anna (Jessica Chastain), the daughter of a Brooklyn mobster, provides a more pragmatic and ruthless counterbalance to Abel’s idealism. As Abel works to secure a crucial deal that could transform his company, he faces mounting threats, including hijackings of his trucks, investigations by the district attorney, and pressure from compeтιтors who are less scrupulous.

Oscar Isaac delivers a nuanced performance as Abel, portraying him as a man of quiet intensity and steely resolve. Abel’s journey is not just about business but about staying true to his principles in an environment that constantly tests them. Isaac’s portrayal captures the tension between ambition and morality, making Abel both relatable and admirable. Jessica Chastain, as Anna, is a commanding presence, exuding strength and shrewdness. Her character’s pragmatism and willingness to cross ethical lines contrast sharply with Abel’s idealism, creating a compelling dynamic between the two.

The film’s supporting cast, including David Oyelowo as the district attorney investigating Abel’s business and Albert Brooks as his loyal attorney, adds depth to the narrative. Each character represents different facets of the struggles Abel faces, from legal scrutiny to underworld intimidation.

J.C. Chandor’s direction is deliberate and precise, focusing on the slow-burn tension of Abel’s predicament rather than flashy action. The film’s pacing mirrors Abel’s methodical approach to navigating a world rife with danger. Bradford Young’s cinematography captures the bleakness and grit of 1980s New York, with muted tones and stark lighting creating a moody, atmospheric backdrop. The visuals are complemented by Alex Ebert’s haunting score, which underscores the film’s themes of ambition and adversity.

A Most Violent Year is not a traditional crime thriller filled with shootouts and high-octane action. Instead, it is a character-driven exploration of integrity in the face of systemic corruption. Abel’s struggles resonate as he fights to achieve the American Dream without compromising his values, a task made nearly impossible by the pervasive greed and violence around him.

The film also examines the immigrant experience, with Abel’s story reflecting the challenges faced by those trying to build a life in a land where success often requires moral compromise. Anna’s character, with her sharp instincts and ties to the criminal world, serves as a reminder of the thin line between survival and corruption.

Critically acclaimed for its performances and craftsmanship, A Most Violent Year was praised for its subtlety and depth. Some viewers, however, found its restrained pacing to be a drawback, expecting more overt drama from a film set in such a volatile period. Nonetheless, its meticulous storytelling and complex characters have earned it a lasting place as a standout in contemporary crime cinema.

A Most Violent Year is a thought-provoking and intense portrayal of one man’s fight to succeed without losing his soul. It’s a testament to J.C. Chandor’s skill as a filmmaker and the power of nuanced performances from its cast. The film’s exploration of ambition, ethics, and resilience makes it a timeless and relevant story about the cost of integrity in an unforgiving world.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.