The Drop: Blu-ray Review
The Movie:
Lonely bartender Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) and his hardened employer Cousin Marv (James Gandolfini) run a bar that is used as a “drop” – a covert scheme that funnels cash to local gangsters. But when they find themselves caught in a robbery gone bad, and on the hook for a debt they can’t repay, both men have to make the dangerous choice between loyalty and survival.
We’ve seen lots of gritty crime stories over the years and a lot of them seem to fall a bit short but this is one of the few that really exceeded my expectations. The set up to the story is a slight predictable with the robbery gone wrong scenario but after that it’s a guessing game until the end. Hardy is one of the greatest actors of this generation and has proven time and time again that he can play ANYTHING. In this film he plays a very timid sounding New Yorker with a dark secret. His performance is insanely good even in the way he presents himself and his accent. He is so believable in the way he plays his role that you completely forget about anything else he’s ever been in and that’s the great thing about Hardy. He can basically transform himself almost instantly and become the character. Gandolfini was great as per usual and it’s awesome to know that one of his final performances was a really strong one. He of course plays a guy in the midst of crime (it’s not a surprise) but it definitely isn’t the typical Tony Soprano role. Noomi Rapace was the perfect compliment to Hardy’s character just because it gave him a glimpse at hope and at a normal life where he cared for her. It was those moments that Rapace really balanced everything out in the film and was glad that she was there. Like I had stated before, I didn’t expect this story to be as compelling and addicting as I thought it was going to be and with a wonderful cast this is one you must pick up. 8/10
Special Features:
Deleted Scenes – Only about 6 minutes worth of scenes here. Nothing too major.
Making Of The Drop – A basic Behind The Scenes feature with clip and interviews.
Making Brooklyn Your Own – This feature takes a look at the location used in the film.
Keeping It Real – This takes a look at the characters in the film and how they support the story.
Character Profile: James Gandolfini – A short feature on the late actor. This is one that they should’ve expanded on.
Rocco the Dog – A feature on the cute puppy in the film.
Audio Commentary by Michaël Roskam and Dennis Lehane
