“The Drop” (2014) starring Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace & James Gandolfini / Z-View

The Drop (2014)

Director:  Michaël R. Roskam

Writer:  Dennis Lehane based on his 2009 short story “Animal Rescue”

Stars: Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, James Gandolfini, John Ortiz, Matthias Schoenaerts, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Chris Sullivan, Jeremy Bobb and James Colby

Tagline: None

The Plot…

Bob Saginowski (Hardy) is a mild mannered bartender.  He works in his cousin Marv’s bar.  Well, it used to be Marv’s, back when Marv was the local tough guy.  Everyone knew Marv.  He was into a little bit of everything that made money, but Marv was a big fish in a small pond.  That was then. Now the bar is Marv’s in name only. A  Chechen gang calls the shots.  The Chechens use the bar as a drop spot for illegal money.

When Bob finds an abused puppy, he and Nadia nurse it back to health.  Bob keeps the puppy and begins a relationship with Nadia (Rapace).  Things go south when Eric Deeds (Schoenaerts) shows up.  Deeds is rumored to have killed someone from the neighborhood years ago.  Everyone knows Deeds is a violent nut.  Bob learns that Deeds was Nadia’s former boyfriend and the one who abused the puppy.  Deeds wants money or else…

When the bar is robbed, the Chechens inform Marv and Bob that the stolen money is expected to be returned or heads (and other body parts) will roll.  The Chechens think Marv and maybe Bob were behind the robbery.  Plus time is running out before Eric Deeds shows up for his money.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I read Dennis Lehane’s short story, Animal Rescue, before seeing The Drop.  I loved the story and was happy to see the film live up to my expectations.  This is my favorite Tom Hardy film.  Hardy is usually an imposing figure so it was cool to see him play the mild mannered, somewhat slow of thought, Bob Saginowski to perfection.  This was James Gandolfini’s last film.  His role is totally opposite of Tony Soprano and Gandolfini nails it.

The Drop earns 5 of 5 stars.