Review of The Drop (2014) by Shpostal — 22 Sep 2014

When you have Tom Hardy on the bill, it's a fail safe as far as this reviewer is concerned, and we will truly miss James Gandolfini, who was great in his last role as a down and out former bar owner with illusions of gangster grandeur, not to mention some other problems.

Dennis LeHane, popular author, did the original short story ("Animal Rescue"), and like "Mystic River" and "Shutter Island", gives us a gripping sober tale of modern gangsterism courtesy of Chechen mobsters who own several bars in Brooklyn and randomly use one for "drops", tribute and extortion money left at the designated bar for later pickup. Tom Hardy, who plays the unassuming bartender Bob is much smarter and deeper than his cohorts give him credit for, and turns in an Oscar level performance, delivering an accurate Brooklyn accent even though he's British and carefully assesses the situation unfold after rescuing a pit bull puppy from certain death. (The little pup is as adorable and integral as the human actors).

This is not a "Wiseguys" remake. It's gritty, believable right down to the last second of film, and you leave with no doubt that Tom Hardy is one of the world's finest actors, hands down, equal to his brilliant performance as Forrest Bondurant in "The Lawless" a few years ago. "The Drop" is the first "10" of the year for me, and will be a classic. Here's hoping it puts Hardy over the top once and for all.