MovieChat Forums > A Most Violent Year (2015) Discussion > I love how Abel cares more for the spill...

I love how Abel cares more for the spilling oil

posted 9 years ago by RussMeyer1
8 replies | jump to latest

... than Jullian's dead body. True egoistic nature very well portraited. Kudos to the writer.

[–] Egobot 9 years ago

I don't think it's as simple as that. The parallel is there for a reason, but Julian is already dead. There's nothing to convey at the thought that Abel cared more for his oil than the lives of his employees. He always tried to take care of them the best he could outside of going to an extreme, like arming them. It was obvious his business meant the most to him, it's all he ever wanted.

It is funny though. He tried so hard, and got so close to seeing this dream come true on good terms but someone ends up hurt anyway.

[–] ricardo-ro1980 9 years ago

I'm not sure about that he cared more for his employees than for his company. I'm saying this because previously Julián told Abel that he feeled insecure on continuing driving trucks. Abel, instead on moving him out to another area or taking any measure to protect the guy, tells him a speech about how they should keep doing the same thing, so they would not be intimidated by their enemies.

[–] cookiela2001 9 years ago

Yeah, I don't think Abel showed concern for his employees at all.

[–] Bruce7 8 years ago

I agree with some of your thoughts. Abel tried to help Julian, but Julian chose otherwise. And Abel was a Business owner, and he ran his business.
His zealousness brought growth, and others grew envious. They wanted to take from him. He was the better business man.

Can you fly this plane?
Surely u cant be serious
I am serious,and dont call me Shirley

[–] recalcitrant44 9 years ago

Everything you need to know was in the speech he gave to the new salesmen (and women).

He was teaching them how to close. He was a salesman himself. He knew how to do the right things, and say the right things at the right time, to get what he wanted. Make them think you care, make them think you are concerned about their needs, and pretend to take care of them. That's the way he treated his employees, and that's how he wanted the salespeople to approach their job.

He really didn't care about them as individuals, but at the same time, he was willing to take care of his people if they needed it, because it is the right thing to do.

[–] Paul_Mall 9 years ago

Like he said, look forward it's the only thing you can control.

He couldn't turn back time to change the suicide, but he could preserve the further loss of oil, which he does.

[–] RussMeyer1 9 years ago

He's right and that's logical. But where's his empathy?

[–] Paul_Mall 9 years ago

He probably cried himself to sleep that night, but obviously that makes for a lousy ending.