The titular year is 1981 in New York City. The owner of a fuel oil company and his wife (Oscar Issac and Jessica Chastain) struggle to grow their business, despite violent attacks on their trucks and an impending investigation. His lofty plan is to maintain his principles in the process, a conflict that dominates the dialogue. The movie takes itself very seriously and so do the actors. While their performances are so passionate, the sluggish pace slows the momentum. The dark cinematography is more murky than noir. Then there’s the writing, which lays out the plotting in many predictable beats. What looks to be a hard-hitting crime actioner turns out to be an interesting, but not especially compelling character drama.

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