10 Essential 2015 Movies You Might've Missed (So Far)

10. A Most Violent Year

The name Oscar Issacs has become loaded with images of X-Wings skimming the surface of a lake lined by mountains in the backdrop, but the Guatamalan-born actor has been making waves of his own in more recent low budget and independent movies, too. J C Chandor's A Most Violent Year is deceptively titled - there's little in the way of action and almost no blood throughout the running time - yet it's the undercurrent of corruption and double crossing which lends it its tension. Issac plays Abel Morales, a business owner trying to deal with the constant hijacking of his oil company trucks while simultaneously dealing with an investigation from the Assistant District Attorney, all the while trying to maintain a level of ethics and integrity. Chandor's direction is measured and atmospheric (as fans of All Is Lost can attest to), while Issacs' performance is complimented by a great turn from Jessica Chastain as his more pragmatic wife. It's a lean, thoughtful drama and a bitter assessment of the business world.