Writer: Dennis Lehane (Screenplay) Dennis Lehane (Short Story)
Starring: Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, James Gandolfini, Matthias Schoenaerts, John Ortiz, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Michael Aronov, Morgan Spector, Michael Esper
Plot: Bob Saginowski finds himself at the center of a robbery gone awry and entwined in an investigation that digs deep into the neighbourhood’s past where friends, families, and foes all work together to make a living – no matter the cost.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Atmospheric Thriller
Story: The Drop starts with Bob (Hardy) explaining how things work in Brooklyn where the dirty money can be put into a bar without any notice. Bob just works in one of those bars, he has his regulars and is still mourning the loss of a close friend ten years before. We learn that Bob is a good natured guy who goes to church and will give people a break along with saving an innocent dog from the trash. This leads Bob to meet Nadia (Rapace) who help look after the injured puppy.
When two robberies decide to hold up the bar owned by Cousin Marv (Gandolfini) leaving with money owed to the gangs that use the bar as a drop point. Chovka (Aronov) wants his money back and threatens Marv and Bob until they find the money. We soon learn that not everything is as it seems with the robbery and all the people involved have a personal agenda. Bob’s new puppy seems to getting the attention of the wrong people including Eddie Deeds (Schoenaerts) who could be the man who killed Bob’s old friend.
The Drop is a slow moving but very atmospheric thriller that really does keep you wondering what will happen next. The story manages to balance a couple of different stories together that also intertwine together works very nicely. I feel this holds back too much on the Bob character and through the film we are made to believe he is a simple man while he has a lot more to his character. The film manages to keep nearly every character looking shady without meeting the main villains as we only see they are part of a bigger event going on. I do think you will need to be a fan of the genre to enjoy this one though. (7/10)
Actor Review
Tom Hardy: Bob kind bar tender that ends up caught in the middle of the gang robbery along with his new puppy, he always tries to do right by people while trying to let the situation solve itself. Tom gives a good performance but you would expect that from him now days. (7/10)
Noomi Rapace: Nadia is the lady that Bob meets when he finds the stranded puppy, overtime the two become friends and joint guardians of the puppy. Nadia does give a good supporting performance but we don’t see enough of the romantic angle. (7/10)
James Gandolfini: Cousin Marv the man who runs the bar who has secretly been planning to rob his own bar when the gang’s money gets dropped off. James does a good job in his last film playing his traditional gangster role well. (7/10)
Matthias Schoenaerts: Eric Deeds the estranged ex of Nadia’s who starts turning up too often in Bob’s life, he claims to have been involved in the murder of one of Bob’s friends many years earlier. Matthias would be the smallest name of the main four characters and he matches them on screen too. (7/10)
Support Cast: The Drop has supporting cast that includes the people who want the money, the people who took the money and the cops looking for answers. They all keep you guessing to who is involved with what.
Director Review: Michael R. Roskam – Michael does a good job directing making us get pulled in from start to finish. (8/10)
Crime: The Drop enters us into a real crime world where nearly everyone is up to something they shouldn’t be. (9/10)
Thriller: The Drop really does keep you wondering about what will happen next. (9/10)
Settings: The Drop is set in Brooklyn giving it a rough around the edges feel all the way through. (9/10)
Suggestion: The Drop is one to watch it you enjoy the genre otherwise you may not enjoy it as much as you would. (Crime Thriller Fans Watch)
Best Part: Rocco and Bob.
Worst Part: The fact Bob isn’t as strong as we think.
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Similar Too: Most Crime gangster thrillers.
Oscar Chances: No
Box Office: $18.5 Million
Budget: $12.6 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 46 Minutes
Overall: The Drop is one of the best atmospheric thrillers that really keeps your attention from start to finish.
Rating