The Drop

Directed by Michaël R. Roskam
Written by Dennis Lehane (based on Animal Rescue)
by Dennis Lehane
Starring Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, James Gandolfini
Global box office: $18.7 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

Plot: Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) is a bartender at a neighbourhood bar in Brooklyn called "Cousin Marv's". Marv (James Gandolfini) ceded ownership of the bar years earlier to Chechen mobsters and now operates it with Bob as a 'drop' for illegal takings. Marv berates Bob and some patrons for commemorating the 10th anniversary of the murder of a man named Richie Whelan. Later at night, Nadia (Noomi Rapace), discovers Bob rescuing a battered pit bull pup abandoned in her garbage can. She assists Bob in caring for the dog. Bob leaves the dog in her care until he can decide whether to adopt him.
On another night, the bar is robbed by two masked gunmen. During the robbery, Bob notices that one of the gunmen is wearing a broken watch. Detective Torres (John Ortiz), who attends the same church frequented by Bob, shows up to investigate the aftermath. Marv is infuriated at Bob for informing Torres about the watch, providing the police an early lead on the culprits. The next day, Chovka, the face of the Chechen mob, shows up to question Marv and Bob about the robbery, asking the two of them whether or not they know one of the robbers impaled in the back of a van. He demands to know why the cops know about the broken watch, and warns Marv he must retrieve the money.

Review: This seemed to fly under pretty much all radars, including mine, upon release. Which is a shame, as it's a well crafted movie that brings nothing new to the table but does what it sets out to achieve very well.

This is Hardy's vehicle and he carries it effortlessly, depicting an unassuming bartender to which there is more than meets the eye. Gandolfini, in one of his last roles, is also on top form and the twists and turns throughout are well positioned and unexpected.

Highly recommended if you have a spare 90 minutes or so.

8/10