User reviews

The Drop (2014)

A solid, somewhat slow but never tedious look inside some small time crooks who own a bar in the City. This one is a drop for payments in a booking racket, and the bar owner (James Gandolfini) sort of goes along because he has no choice. The bartender (Tom Hardy) is far more ambiguous, and he makes the movie click. Add Noomi Rapace whose small role fills in a big gap rather well and you have the core of the cast, all excellent.

There is no attempt at the grandiose here, despite all the history and slightly exaggerated characters involved (mostly bad ones). And that's the beauty of the movie, which manages not just realism but a welcome tenderness amidst all the darkness and bad intentions. The one bright spot is, tragically, Gandolfini, who manages to be really funny even as he about to do terrible things. Hardy is just the opposite, showing a huge heart with utter sobriety even as he, too, is going to do terrible things.

Whether this quite rises above the many movies that dive into this kind of world I don't know, but I thoroughly enjoyed it even when it seemed to get slow. It doesn't plod, but it has no urgency, either. There are some clichés that might have been avoided (the attitude of the bad guys) and some violence that seemed a bit in your face, but it balances out, too. Rapace is not given enough to do—this is a man's movie, another one —but she is tough and smart in necessary ways.

Well filmed, smartly done, I'd give this a look.

I felt compelled to write this review because I was fortunate enough to see this movie at an advance screening, and because I do not think the movie will be around long.

The reason I think it will not be around long is because this movie is for adults. It is character driven with a well written storyline. It does not have anything that would appeal to most movie goers....no car chases, moronic humor, or gratuitous sex. The Drop starts slow, but you have to pay attention to what goes on in the movie, and what the characters both do and say. It picks up speed and intensity, and is well worth your time.

The storyline is a very interesting underworld crime caper, but it is very nuanced, with excellent acting by all the leads. I was only familiar with the late James Gandolfini, and he does not disappoint, and the other actors, although unknown to me were also outstanding.

There are a lot of films that fall into the same sort of "ilk" in the sense that when we watch a particular movie, it gives us the same feel as others we have seen before it. This can be a reason why someone really enjoys it or gives the pretentious "it wasn't very original" remark that makes you never watch a movie with that fool again. "The Drop" brings out similar feelings, primarily because it has the feel of many other works of the author (and writer of the script) Dennis Lehane who is famous for works such as "Mystic River", "Shutter Island", and "Gone Baby Gone". Right away you get a feel for those previous works as we are again introduced to a gritty, seedy, and corrupt underbelly of a big city environment that introduces us to a bunch of low lifes who are caught up in doing the wrong things just to "make something of themselves".

What makes "The Drop" different from some of these other films is that these are different characters compared to what we're used to. No one seems to be a big talker and we can tell that all of these characters are more than meets the eye and carry significant baggage from a checkered past. Most films that deal organized crime and other things ask us to witness the violence that just seems to "come with the territory" so to speak with it. This film asks us instead to imagine the potential for violence in a man and how brief releases of that violence can affect how these characters live their lives in the future. There are moments of violence and bloodshed, but they come in such short and intense instances that they hit you harder then violence might normally would in another film of this sort. You believe that any of these characters is capable of beating another ones head in and when something of that sort actually happens, it sticks with you and has a lasting effect that carries throughout the remainder of the film.

The story follows Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) and his Cousin Marv (the last film of the late James Gandolfini) who run what's known as a drop bar which simply mean that they serve as a place where mobsters leave large amounts of illegal money to pick up at a later date. Cousin Marv used to be a man of his own power in the organized crime world and briefly had his own crew before he was pushed aside by an incoming Chechen gang and now he just manages the bar with Bob. 10 years has passed sense this change but Marv is still as bitter as ever about his position in life. Gandolfini excels in roles like this for so many reasons. Of course we see a little Tony Soprano in Cousin Marv but he brings so much else to this role from his tone of voice, expression with his eyes, and physical presence that makes the performance that much more captivating. It's great to watch him be able to display that intimidation factor as the "tough guy" that Marv wants to be seen as, as well as the fear and weakness that really exists in his heart.....all being shown through his eyes. It's the kind of performance that has a low-key profoundness that makes you hope the academy rewards a posthumous Oscar nomination.

Hardy is no less brilliant here as the quiet and mysterious Bob. Bob is not a big talker and just lives quietly in his own little bubble tending bar and handling the drop. His life is changed when he finds a wounded puppy in the trash can outside of the damaged Nadiya's (Noomi Rapace) house. They both decide to take care of the dog together as a potential budding romance threatens to grow. Bob has almost an instant connection with the dog, a young pitbull, and you begin to notice similarities between the two as the film progresses. Bob makes a comment that a pitbull is a "dangerous dog" which is true, but almost seems impossible to think when you see them as puppies. Bob can be looked at the same way as the puppy in the sense of he seems harmless but there is the potential for danger and violence deep inside both of them. I've always found it amazing how well British actors can master American accents compared to the other way around. Hardy especially is a master of accents and the way he handles his blue collar, Brooklyn speak is amazing to watch as we follow the mysterious Bob throughout the film, always wondering what he is thinking and what he really is about.

The other stand out performance in the film comes from Matthias Shoenaerts as the loose cannon, Eric Deeds. Shoenaerts brings a level of intensity that is so palpable that you often become uneasy when he is on screen. He spends the majority of the film claiming that Bob's new dog is his and that he wants him back, as we all are questioning what he is really after. Shoenaerts is a rising star for sure and I can't wait to see him continue to show what he's capable of a bigger stage.

In the end, "The Drop" is most likely going to be one of those early fall gems that falls by the wayside after a few weeks in theaters and is unfortunately forgotten about due to poor marketing. However, it also could be one of those small festival films that develops a cult following after people realize how good it is for being a slightly slower paced thriller that delivers great performances and a good story. In a way, that almost fits perfectly into the makeup of these characters who live in this world. Great and powerful things in small and low-key packages

The Drop appears as a crime thriller, taking its audience to a gritty life of gangsters hiding their dirty money in drop bars, but this is mostly a drama about a lone bartender thinking on living a different path apart from his cousin's. It also involves a subplot of a man trying to retain his already faded glory. But there is a deadlier conflict lurking in the dark. There isn't much remarkably grand to be found in this story, but telling the details of the characters' past and waiting for the impending danger behind their backs instantly makes it compelling. It benefits by being low-key, but still far from classic. In any way this is still one fine basic crime drama.

This is a story where you find no heroes. Bob is basically not the kind of person anyone would fear. In spite of his reserve and kinder personality towards people, you may not know that he is still a tough fellow since he's been adapted into this mess. Things get lighter when he adopts a dog, meets a new friend and starts a relationship, thinking that his life would change for a bit. Once the real threat appears into this small side of his world, we expect him to protect them from harm, but this is not one of those glossy heroic deeds that lead to some action set piece. The thrills are simply calm and with that calmness, you can sense more of the danger coming after himself and his loved ones. If there is one thing we've learn about gangsters in great crime movies then that is how unpredictable they are at killing. That is how often the movie displays its suspense.

The story relies to many backstories within its main characters and we could easily comprehend those on their conversations and their lifestyle. The cast helps making these characters engaging, with Tom Hardy layering coldness above Bob's remaining humanity. The late James Gandolfini does beyond brooding, you can feel the character's despair from his old days. Anything else, the actor did what he does best. Noomi Rapace makes for a likable backup for Hardy. And Matthias Schoenaerts is effectively threatening. These performances just live up to the depth of what's written for these characters.

The Drop is plain simple, that the only value it provides to its audience is some entertaining cluster with the stars like Hardy, Gandolfini, and Rapace, and some grounded tension. This won't end up being one of the greats since it doesn't actually satisfy in whatever happens in the end, but this is already an interesting study of a corrupt lifestyle at the streets of Brooklyn, with people hiding their own dirty secrets and facing some uncertain consequences. That alone could bring a fine recommendation to this movie.

"I had something once. I was respected. I was FEARED." Cousin Marv (James Gandolfini in his final performance)

Writer Dennis Lehane knows his neighborhoods, evidenced by his Gone Baby Gone and Mystic River. He's back again but in Brooklyn, not Boston, in The Drop. It's a small movie with some big actors (Tom Hardy as Bob, Noomi Rapace as Nadia, and the late James Gandolfini as Cousin Marv) in a small-time noirish story that has been told many times before: mean streets, laconic heroes, troublesome women, secrets. It's acting that keeps it from being an imitation.

Bob tends bar in Cousin Marv's, which now and then can be a "drop," a designated place on a night when sports-betting money can be deposited and moved for laundering. The short story was called Animal Rescue, an apt title because Bob finds an abused dog , precipitating his connection with Nadia and furthers peripheral action. In reality, it's something for Bob to love, to get him out of himself.

Bob holds tightly to much in both the present and the past. Hardy is a master at revealing little somethings as the camera lovingly holds on to him in close ups. Just as in his brilliant solo act in Locke, Hardy can tell us everything through facial expression and nuanced voice, an artfully minimalist performance that might remind you of Brando without the extreme mumbling.

For those who like their screen romances spare and chaste, this one between Bob and Nadia is a classic of restraint. Director Michael R. Roskam and Lehane want to emphasize the hoodlum motif without mixing in clichéd boy meets girl stuff, and they succeed. The emphasis remains throughout on the claustrophobic bar and the occasional release to the outside, always looping back to Marv's.

For those who like their stories small and their actors big in a world Sidney Lumet (Dog Day Afternoon) and Elia Kazan (On the Waterfront) would love, see The Drop.

(66%) An apt farewell to the great James Gandolfini in a role that fits the very talented actor like a well tailored glove, and anyone with at least some fondness and admiration should find a fair degree to enjoy here. Along-side the great man is the ever impressive Tom Hardy playing a character somewhat reminiscent to Rocky Balboa, with his good heart, chequered past, devotion to dogs, and even the relationship with Moomi Rapace has a similar feel to the one heavily featured in the Rocky movies. The way this focuses on characters that aren't really what one would call gangsters and yet they're not really all that straight and narrow either making for a somewhat unique angle, and that's considering the fact that the movie barely breaks any new ground. The plot is more intriguing than exciting, and the pacing does grind to a near halt at a few times, but I never found it dull, and a couple of scenes are surprisingly heartwarmingly sweet. All-in-all a good addition to crime cinema that won't be ranked among the best but is still a worthy watch for the cast alone.

"I just tend the bar," Bob Saginowski innocently states in this under- the-radar gem of a film. Tom Hardy plays Bob, a quiet, reserved bartender at his cousin Marv's bar. Cousin Marv is played by James Gandolfini in his final role. The Drop is getting a lot of attention because of Gandolfini, who gives another memorable performance, but The Drop is much more than an opportunity to see one our generation's greatest actors one last time, it's one of the best films of the year.

In The Drop, Marv owns a local neighborhood bar that also happens to be a "drop bar", which means the bar essentially collects money from illegal betting and god knows what else and then delivers it to the local Chechen gang. Gandolfini plays Marv as a Tony Soprano that never was. A guy that tried to get into the game, but couldn't really cut it when the big guys came into town. Those "big guys" are the Chechen mob that have taken over Marv's bar. It's his bar in name only and he's relegated to serving drinks and cleaning up spills. Gandolfini plays Marv as a bitter, beaten down man. It's vintage Gandolfini and a perfect way to end a career that was cut way too short.

As one actor takes his final bow, it's another actor who officially arrives. The Drop is clearly Tom Hardy's film. Granted, Hardy certainly hasn't come out of no where. He burst on the mainstream scene with Inception and should have become a household name after his performance as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises. He didn't, and I'm not really sure why. He seemingly has everything you'd want in a leading man.

Hardy's performance in The Drop should finally change that. I know it's early, but it's Oscar worthy. Hardy plays Bob with such an authentic nature that it's downright astounding. He really inhabits this character. Bob seems to take everything in stride, nothing seems to bother him. When he is confronted by the Chechen mobsters, he keeps his head down and chooses every word with precision, knowing that his life depends on it. Bob is non-threatening and unassuming and almost comes off as simple-minded, but as the film progresses, it's clear something is brewing beneath the surface. Bob is an example of a guy who is a product of his environment. He's a good man that doesn't really have a choice in life. He either adapts to survive or dies.

Bob also has a big heart as is evidenced when he rescues a puppy that has been beaten and literally thrown in the trash. This is where he meets Nadia, played by Noomi Rapace (Prometheus). Nadia is also reserved and seems wounded in some way. It makes sense that The Drop is written by Dennis Lahane (writer of Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone and Shutter Island) who adapted the film from his short story "Animal Rescue," a title with more than one meaning. Not only does Bob rescue an injured dog, but both he and Nadia seem like animals that need rescuing in one way or another.

The Drop is the kind of film that Hollywood just doesn't make anymore. It really does feel like it was ripped right out of the 80's. It has a slow, deliberate pace that perfectly builds suspense. The Drop is a character driven film that constructs each scene with great dialogue and fantastic acting. The director allows his characters to inhabit the world they live in. It's the wardrobe and the set design that really help bring everything together and add to the authenticity of the film. Everything seems organic and not like it's part of a movie set.

The Drop is a film lovers film. It has everything you could possibly ask for: a top notch cast, great direction, dialogue, set design, cinematography, and an understated score. You name it, and The Drop has it. It's easily one of my favorite films of the year. We need more films like The Drop. Go see it.

Michael R. Roskam burst onto the scene a few years back with "Bullhead" which was deservedly nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

In his first English language, American film, Roskam works with a script by the great author Dennis Lehane to tell the story of Brooklyn bartender Bob, waitress Nadia, has-been Cousin Marv, and the mysterious Eric Deeds.

The plot of "The Drop" has been done before to various degrees, and Lehane's script was surprisingly predictable. Although the material wasn't particularly fresh, the actors and a few strong scenes make it worthwhile.

Hardy, although a bit inconsistent, delivers a quietly great performance. You just want to give the guy a hug. Gandolfini is unsurprisingly fantastic in his final big screen performance. He plays to perfection a middle aged has-been that's ticked off with what his life has become. The direction they took with his character was predictable and left me very disappointed, but I'm happy that his last performance was this good. Noomi Rapace arguably gave the best performance in the film, and probably the best supporting actress I've seen so far this year. She does a great job playing a damaged woman trying to lead a good life, and her scenes with Hardy (and the dog!) are some of the best of the movie. Schoenaerts (who was sensational in Roskam's Bullhead) is good, but not given too much to do with a one-dimensional character. And the dog! Rocco! One of the all-time great dog performances in my opinion.

The movie is also really funny at times (mainly Gandolfini in the first half hour and Hardy with the dog). It drags a bit at times, and like I said above the script could have been a lot better.... but it's still a very good movie that easily could have been a great one with a few changes. I'll still see it again, and I'm sure it will stay in my top 10 of the year.

And as a huge fan of James Gandolfini, I'm sad to say this is the last time we'll ever see him on the big screen. But I'm happy that Roskam did him justice with one last great performance. RIP to one of the all-time greats.

The Drop is a dark, brooding crime film starring Tom Hardy and the late James Gandolfini. Directed by Mikaël Roskam, this film focuses on Bob, a low level shy bartender at Cousin Marv's. The bar is a "drop bar" in which the mob's money gets laundered there. While this does sound like the story to The Drop, it isn't. The film is much more a character study first about Bob and his back story. What this film does beautifully is show the progression of the story strictly through casual dialog, explaining why Bob is the way he is. Our first clue to Bob's back story is a subtle hint as he attends church and does not accept the communion offering. A recurring theme throughout the film is the idea of how a sin can weigh your conscious down. Some of this is heavy handed and others are very subtle and mostly through something as small as a glare from Tom Hardy or a sigh from James Gandolfini. Quite frankly, without these amazing performances from everyone across the board, this film would more than likely sink after the first 30 minutes. The entire cast from Tom Hardy, James Gandolfini, Noomi Repace, Matthias Schoenaerts, John Ortiz, they are all in top form here. There is not one hollow or fake performance, they are all pitch perfect and really pull together to mend the story and progress it very well. The real stand out is Tom Hardy though, who continuously keeps turning in really well, thoughtful and master class performances, The Drop is no exception. Gandolfini also gives a fitting final performance here and knocks it out of the park. Watching him on the screen is rather haunting in a bittersweet way. Roskam seems to rely heavily on letting his actors work without every manipulating a scene with high tech camera work or any camera movement at all. This is a straight forward film filled with actual characters that feel alive and feel vulnerable and at any moment their life could end in this world that Roskam creates. This isn't the hipster Brooklyn that Brooklyn has seemingly become lately, this is Roskam's Brooklyn and its a cold land without any glorification. The screenplay by Dennis Lehane is top notch, establishing plot points by sprinkling them across the entire film before finally concluding in a twisted but necessarily dark ending that ties everything together. While this does work for the most part, it does feel a bit muddled in second act as if the story is in some sort of limbo, but it quickly gets back on track in no time. The film does have its lighter moments within dialog and scenes with Rocco the pitbull puppy, but for the most part this a really dark film with an equally gritty scenery. Overall, The Drop is a tense and gritty crime film with an amazing cast that doesn't miss a beat. I highly recommend it.

Bleak and fascinating, "The Drop" stands in the higher ranks of crime drama films of the last few years and provides for yet another flawless performance by the great Tom Hardy and a testament performance by Gandolfini, who shines in all of his brightness, accumulated through a glorious career.

"The Drop" isn't at any moment doing, nor trying to do, something highly original, but thanks to the fact that it knows perfectly well what it's doing it shines on many level, including the story that could be looked as weak from a synopsis, but reveals itself to be quite well thought out as it unveils. Gandolfini as I said is a blast to watch, but what truly makes this movie rise above is Tom Hardy and his amazingly written character. For all the movie I was asking myself, well he is very good as always, but this isn't the brilliance I expect from Hardy. That until the climax where, not to spoil anything, you discover things that make Tom Hardy's performance and character have so much more relevance, so much more brilliance in it, you can't help yourself but bow to the craft of on of the greats. Other than that it is beautiful to look at and paints some images which have really a lot of depth.

Speaking of depth, the above points are the only ones in which the movie reaches it. For the rest the characters are either bland or unreadable, the context underdeveloped and the ultimate resolution underwhelming. I had some very good tension kicks out of the film and got awed by the performances and the direction, but there was really nothing that made this movie fly over the roof. It certainly is well constructed and loads better than some of the crappy crime dramas of the last few years, but nothing more. I would recommend this as a good, entertaining watch, but don't expect to be thinking about this one for very long.

Holy Moly, I see people talking about no one in the theater for this and I know why, no trailers no advertising at all. I look everything up before I go, as soon as I saw IMDb reviews and Gandolfini I knew I was in. It's a dark twisty movie with equally dark and twisty characters. There were gangsters and good guys and bad guys. However they are anything BUT cookie cutter, run of the mill, you have seen this all before good guys and bad guys. There are explanations' you see how some of them end up the way they do, its not black and white. Crazy outwardly isn't the most crazy in the room. The most violent characters can also be some of the most kind. There is no typical in this film. It draws you in and never lets you go. Keeps you guessing till the end.

Quickie Review:

Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy), runs a drop bar where dirty mob money is dropped and laundered. After a robbery at his bar, Bob gets tangled in between criminal investigations, the Chechen mob, and a murderer. He must now deal with these multiple threats at all cost for his friends and himself. The Drop, has a slow moving plot in which you get to explore the rich characters portrayed by the excellent cast. This slow pace may be too much for some viewers, but the movie still holds your attention with good dialog and character interaction. In the end the wait pays off as everything culminates to the final intense climax.

Full Review:

Tom Hardy and James Gandolfini… Are there any more reasons you need to watch this movie? They are two incredible actors, and since this is tragically the last movie of Gandolfini, I had to see it. Overall, I enjoyed the movie for its great acting and satisfying story.

The strength of this movie is without a doubt Tom Hardy. He plays a character that is quiet, non-threatening, and down to earth. He is very careful about how he interacts with others, be it friends, family, or even the mob. Bob always makes sure he doesn't offend anyone and keeps to himself, like he says "I just tend the bar." However, deep down you can see there is an anger and intensity that he is trying to hold back. Throughout the movie there many instances where he is being pushed to his limits and you can see that intensity seeping out. Soon enough it becomes clear that you don't want to be on the receiving end. So I really like how Hardy balanced the two different sides of his character. James Gandolfini was yet another great addition to the cast, playing the polar opposite to Hardy's character. Gandolfini is more outspoken and has a more intimidating presence in his scenes. In the quieter moments his great subtlety brings out the history between characters, adding more depth to their interactions.

While the movie is great there is one problem with it that did bother me and may affect others the same way. The story is a very slow burn, it's not till the third act where you start seeing where it is all leading to. Luckily the first two thirds of the movie was put to good use to develop the characters. Nevertheless, I would've liked to have seen The Drop get to the main plot quicker. Don't let this negative detract you from watching the film, because the slow build-up is worth it in the end (can't say more without spoiling it).

The Drop is a strong character driven movie. It could've gotten less distracted in the first two acts but the character development was captivating enough to hold your attention. I'd recommend giving it shot in the cinema.

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It seems many will disagree, but I found 'The Drop' incredibly uninspiring.

I don't look at ratings/reviews of films until after I watch them, to allow myself to form my own opinion. So you can imagine my surprise at seeing this rated fairly highly across many platforms. I respect that, but for me this is terrible.

First of all, I must say this, I love Tom Hardy and James Gandolfini - two superb actors. That's where the good for this film ends. Neither Hardy or Gandolfini give their best here, though are not helped by the poor script and lacklustre premise.

You can tell they were going for something smart, like that mechanic they use for the drops inside the bar - they show it once at the beginning, then a few times near the conclusion as if it's something mind-blowing.

I realised at one point I was 1hr 15mins or so in and was shocked as nothing had happened. To me, this is the definition of a plodding storyline. They build and build without it leading to anything, even throwing in an entirely predictable love quarrel.

Back to the onscreen people, Hardy's accent bothered me too. I'm not normally one to critique accents, I even like Don Cheadle's 'effort' in the 'Ocean's' trilogy for example. It felt so forced. The other cast members are entirely forgettable, also.

I think the reason I'm so frustrated by this is the fact it has two great leads, with an initial plot that could be enthralling. Instead, it's an absolute snoozefest. Perhaps I missed something?

Many reasons to see a film admirable crafted like this. The first motif / Tom Hardy and James Gandolfini and MatthiasSchoenarts. The second - the great architecture of it. Not the last- the love story, a dog and fair definition of loneliness. It is far to be a film about mobs and murders and plots. It is not a smart film but a wise one. And, sure, I am profound subjective, Tom Hardy is pure great .

It took me two viewings of 'The Drop' to really appreciate everything it had to say. At first, I thought I was stepping into an action crime drama with Tom Hardy & James Gandolfini. However that's just not the case. This isn't a flash movie.

It feels more like a slice of life. Everything you take for granted. The faces you encounter. The things you do. The things you won't. Stuff going on all around you that is either uninteresting fading into the background or the type that doesn't concern you.

Maybe no better representation of that idea than the neighborhood bar featured at the center of this story. Uncle Marv (Gandolfini) used to own / run it, but now it's a front for the underworld mob who use it as a place to drop illicit money. Bob (Hardy) a man of few words, needless emotions and Marv's cousin tends bar.

Very early on it gets robbed and sets the tone. Both Marv & Bob have to tow the line to their criminal overlords, but Marv misses the glory days. He wants more. Money, respect, reputation and the lengths he'll go to get it are far from his grasp - something Bob tries to remind him - but perhaps in vain. While Bob finds new meaning in life when he rescues an abused and discarded dog. Leading to interactions with a neighborhood woman Nadia (Noomi Rapace) and her unstable ex boyfriend Eric Deeds (Matthias Schoenaerts). Who Bob has more than one unlikely connection to.

When the bar is chosen by the mob to be the drop point for the biggest business day of the year - the Superbowl - everything comes to a head in a very subdued, electric burst of life. Four people become intertwined in a moment and nothing will be the same afterwards.

Tom Hardy channels a type of energy in a character you don't see much of in movies. You might think Bob is stupid, but it couldn't be further from the truth. While James Gandolfini projects a bit of the simmering rage and narcissistic behavior he perfected in 'The Sopranos' as someone who can't let the past go and is caught up in himself. Noomi Rapace is both believable as a downtrodden lady who's seen better days and not wanting to be lonely anymore (much like Bob). Matthias Schoenaerts does his part justice of a neighborhood face not operating on all cylinders who thinks he's tougher and scarier than he actually is. Lastly veteran actor John Ortiz is dependable in the flick's need for a man with a badge sorting through the story beneath the surface.

There is no action. There is no big, complicated plot. 'The Drop' is really a straightforward movie about simple people. Some who make good choices, others that don't and the fallout. Recommended.

The movie in question has 3 great performances: James Gandolfini (as Cousin Marv; his final movie, RIP!), Noomi Rapace (as Nadia), and - particularly - Tom Hardy (as Bob Saginowski) whose character and role presentation is so different from the ones he is known of. The plot, however, in spite of some witty angles and giggling moments (well, the author is solid), is tardy and arid at times, especially seen through scenes with subordinate characters such as the Chechen mobsters and Eric Deeds. I can't say the story becomes boring, but as we do with crime drama here, the narration is too floating and commonplace, the characters do not change even in the course of dramatic events.

Thus, too static even to me, even if I don't find that a proper crime drama should be based on constant chases, shootings and explosions. But still worth watching due to the performances mentioned above.

If you didn't have Tom Hardy on your radar up to this movie, you surely will have him on it after watching this. There is another stellar performance from James Gandolfini, whom regrettably we lost too early, but this is Hardys movie through and through. With Noomi making an impact too as the female lead of the piece.

But while I am excited about the movie and others obviously are too, do not expect this to be a fast paced ride that will be exciting in that style. This is understated and subtle and slow burning. If you can dig that, you will experience a great story, with great characters with some neat surprises along the way. The deliveries are on the money (no pun intended)

It's reminiscent of Scorsese, and all the gangster films. "The Drop" is not a classic Hollywood film. But an exciting gangster plot and a touching love story

'THE DROP': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

Crime-thriller about a bartender who finds himself in trouble, with dangerous criminals, when the bar he works at, which is a 'money drop' for local gangsters, is robbed. It's based on the short story 'Animal Rescue' by Dennis Lehane (who also wrote such popular novels, turned movies, as 'MYSTIC RIVER', 'GONE BABY GONE' and 'SHUTTER ISLAND'). Lehane also wrote the screenplay and Michaël R. Roskam directed the movie. The film stars Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, John Ortiz, Matthias Schoenaerts (who also starred in Roskam's 2011 crime-drama flick 'BULLHEAD') and James Gandolfini (in his last film role). I found the movie to be really dark but extremely involving and suspenseful, at times, as well.

Hardy plays Bob Saginowski; a Brooklyn bartender who works for his cousin Marv (Gandolfini) at a local tavern. The bar is involved in a money laundering scheme, run by local gangsters, and used as a 'money drop' for funneling dirty cash. When it's robbed, apparently by small time crooks, Bob and Marv find themselves under a lot of pressure (from the crime bosses) to find out who did it. At the same time Bob rescues a dog, that was beaten and left for dead in someone's trash can, and starts a relationship with the woman, Nadia (Rapace), who helps him. A detective (Ortiz), who goes to the same (closing) catholic church as Bob, is investigating the robbery.

The movie, like everything based on Dennis Lehane's writings, is pretty dark. Hardy is outstanding once again; he's arguably the most talented male actor in film today. He's also the relatable heart of the film but even his character has a dark twist. All of the performances are good though and it's nice to see Gandolfini doing what he does best, one last time, as well. The directing is superb and the screenplay is, of course, brilliant. I think the movie is exactly what most viewers are expecting it to be, that are familiar with Lehane's work, and Hardy makes it even that much more memorable and classic!

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You either love it or hate it I guess. Definitely in that first category.

More and more I tend to dislike the usual chewed up/spat out run of the mill Hollywood fare that comes by in dozens. I mainly concentrate on European and Asian cinema. But every now and then America still shows signs of movie-greatness with beauty's like "Killing them softly", "The Counsellor" and now this crime drama that I think can most definitely be compared with those films.

Old fashioned character- and story driven movie-making that hits you in the gut instead of computer driven video game making that only makes your gut grow from falling asleep on the couch.

And characters it brings. Enough has been said about the beautifully understated role by Tom Hardy, and James Gandolfini, whom I've always enjoyed watching perform, certainly leaves a big void with this being his last performance, man, will he be missed. Noomi Rapace is also noteworthy, but the scene-stealer for me is, again, Matthias Schoenaerts. A menacing, explosive and powerful presence and a very worthy, and deserved, international debut.

And it may be purely coincidental (don't think so) but this great director, Belgian Michael Roskam, known for "Bullhead"(check it out, please) is a European. As is Ridley Scott and Andrew Dominik, while not European, sure as hell ain't from the states either. People making great American movies/stories with new flair and originality.

Okay, so I might be overreacting a little, but I sure loved it and hope to see many more like it.

Moviegoers will hate this, Cinemalovers will love this 8/10

Greetings again from the darkness. Much of what I write here contradicts my long maintained stance that a strong story/script is the basis for any movie worth it's proverbial weight. This neighborhood crime drama does not spin a twisty plot. Nor does it flash fascinating and colorful mobsters. Instead, it's the acting that elevates this to the point of neo-noir must see.

This is James Gandolfini's final movie. He passed away while director Michael Roskam (Bullhead) was in editing mode. Gandolfini plays Cousin Marv, a would-be wise-guy who never-really-was and is now bitter and desperate, in a beaten down kind of way. As a farewell, Gandolfini leaves us a final reminder of what a powerful screen presence he was, and what a terrific feel for character and scene he possessed.

The real attraction and the main reason to see the film is the outstanding and mesmerizing performance of Tom Hardy. In many ways, his bartender Bob is the polar opposite of his infamous Bane from The Dark Knight Rises. Quasi-effeminate in his vocal deliverings, and moving with a slow, stilted shuffle, Bob is one of the least imposing guys you would likely look right through. At least that's the first impression. Hardy is so nuanced, we aren't even certain when his character evolves and exposes his true make-up. When he does, it's the highlight of the film.

Noomi Rapace, in yet another intriguing turn, plays local waitress Nadia, who befriends Bob after he rescues an abused puppy. Since the movie is based on Dennis Lehane's short story "Animal Rescue", it's no surprise that the main characters each share a need to be rescued. Nadia's ex-boyfriend is played to full creepy effect by Matthias Schoenaerts (so great in Rust and Bone, 2012). The scenes between Schoenaerts and Hardy show the movie at its tension-filled best.

As with most neighborhood crime dramas, there are many secrets, local legends, and allegiances in doubt. The players are weary and dream of either better times or ending the misery. Mr. Lehane wrote the novels that led to some other fine films: Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone, and Shutter Island. He has a feel for realistic characters, and his material depends on extraordinary acting for fulfillment. This slow boil benefits from some of the best acting we could ask for.

Normally i don't argue with the rating a movie gets on here because some will like a movie and some don't.

But how in the name of everything that is movieloving does this film get a rating of 7.4. Nothing happens in this film. Tom Hardy acts like he is 3 years old. James Gandolfini just does what he does. Noomi Rapace is not believable as whatever the hell she was supposed to be.

When the movie starts you're thinking okay this is gonna be heistmovie, 10 minutes later you're thinking ow this is gonna be a drama, 20 minutes in you're thinking this gonna be a whodunnit or revengemovie and an hour in you're thinking oh my god how am i ever going to get this hour back? Nothing that happened in the movie made me feel with any of the characters, i just didn't care what happened to them.

In my opinion don't waste your time on this. I gave it a three only because there a even worse movies out there