Tom Hardy stars as a lonely bartender in The Drop, which begins as a gritty crime drama surrounding illegal activities where he works, but becomes more mysterious through plot twists and character development. Thrilling and surprising with spiritual undertones amid the violence, this film presents one of James Gandolfini’s final performances, as “Cousin Marv,” the desperate former owner of the bar.
Trying to maintain a low-profile as the bar funnels money drops for local gangsters, yet still maintain his loyalty to his cousin, Bob (Hardy) tends bar, prays in church, and lives alone in his modest home. When the Chechen mafia-owned bar is robbed early in the film, it sets off a series of events that change Bob’s life as his quiet existence collides with various criminals. Marv’s shaky financial status becomes even shakier as he’s pressured by the Chechens to get the money back and by the police to tell them what he knows about the crime.
Rescuing a Dog From the Trash
As violence erupts at work, Bob’s home life becomes more peaceful. While walking through his neighborhood, he finds a severely beaten dog in a trash can and rescues it. Nadia (Noomi Rapace), the owner of the trash can (but not the dog), helps Bob care for its injuries and offers tips on how to care for the pit bull puppy he names Rocco. As a newbie dog owner, Bob fears the notoriously dangerous breed, but Nadia assures him it’s not the breed that makes dogs violent, but how they are raised that determines their character – a foreboding statement as dangerous breeds (of humans) surround them in their seedy Brooklyn confines.
Nadia offers to dog sit while Bob tends bar, and they become friends with the potential for more. She mends his broken angel figurine (another clear symbol) and they begin to help each other heal from earlier emotional damage. Lurking around the same neighborhood is crazed local thug, Eric (Matthias Schoenarerts), the animal abuser who demands $10,000 or the return of his dog so he can beat Rocco again. The bar robbery, Marv’s cash flow problem, the dog rescue, Eric’s threat, a snooping police detective (John Ortiz), and Bob’s budding relationship with Nadia build toward a stunning climactic turn of events.
Increasingly Unsettling
Although Hardy’s character goes by the simple name of Bob and claims he just tends bar, his complex character reveals much of himself through his dialogue with others, church visits, relationship with Nadia, and treatment of his puppy. He, like the dog and so many others in The Drop, needs rescue, if not redemption.
Terrific performances and an intelligent script highlight this thriller, which grows increasingly unsettling by the minute. Music by Marco Beltrami and Raf Keunen adds to the creepy ambiance, and tight cinematography by Nicolas Karakatsanis completes this dark, gritty cinematic package.
The Drop
- A lonely bartender becomes involved in the aftermath of a botched robbery at the Brooklyn bar where he works with his cousin.
- Starring Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, James Gandolfini, Matthias Schoenaerts, John Ortiz, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Michael Aronov, Morgan Spector
- Director: Michael R. Roskam
- Writer: Dennis Lehane (screenplay and short story “Animal Rescue”)
- Genre: Crime Drama
- Run Time: 106 minutes
- MPAA Rating: R (for some strong violence and pervasive language).