The Drop

In wintry Brooklyn, Bob Saginowsky (Tom Hardy) bartends at the working-class neighborhood tavern run by his Cousin Marv (James Gandolfini, in his final screen role), which is also used as a drop spot for money picked up “after hours” by the local Chechen mob. When two masked gunmen rob the dingy bar of $5,000, the Chechens demand to know who's responsible—and Bob, who discovers an abused puppy in a trash can, doesn't have a clue. With the help of neighborly Nadia (Noomi Rapace), Bob nurses the tiny pit-bull, which he names Rocco, back to health, until menacing psychopath Eric Deeds (Matthias Schoenaerts) claims the dog. And all of this is leading up to Super Bowl Sunday, the biggest drop of the year. Adapted by Dennis Lehane from his short story “Animal Rescue,” filmmaker Michaël R. Roskam's The Drop serves up a gritty, neo-noir character study of Bob, a pensive cipher who rarely says anything beyond what is absolutely necessary, particularly when questioned by Detective Torres (John Ortiz), who is curious about why Bob avoids taking Communion at the nearby Catholic church. Slowly, Hardy peels away the layers of his complicated character, revealing the subtext beneath the mild-mannered, soft-spoken exterior. A suspenseful urban crime drama, this is recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Michaël R. Roskam and writer Dennis Lehane, deleted scenes (6 min.), a “making-of” featurette (4 min.), the production segments “Keeping it Real” (4 min.), “Making Brooklyn Your Own” (4 min.), “Rocco the Dog” (2 min.), and “Character Profile: James Gandolfini” (2 min.), a photo gallery, and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a bonus UltraViolet copy of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for en effective drama.] (S. Granger)