Film review: The Drop (15)

The Drop (15) review

We’re heading into a pretty exciting time of the year at the cinema – but it’s probably fair to assume that The Drop may not be on your radar just yet.

Out a few months ago across the pond in America, it’s not had too much hype over here with the third instalments of the Hunger Games and The Hobbit on the horizon.

I’m here to tell you that Tom Hardy’s latest thriller is well worth your time… and may just end up as one of the surprise packages of the year. Saying that, any film with Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises), the late, great James Gandolfini (The Sopranos) and Noomi Rapace (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) on board grabbed my attention from the get go.

The Drop follows Bob Saginowski (Hardy), an introvert bartender who works in a Brooklyn bar. Not just any bar though, but a pub where local mobsters bank dirty money accrued from illegal gambling.

Bob works for his cousin Marv (Gandolfini), who still runs the place despite having it “taken” by Chechen gangsters nearly a decade ago. He’s a pretty lonely chap, but that all changes when he comes across an abandoned pit bull puppy that had been dumped in a bin.

With a bit of gentle persuasion from Nadia (Rapace) – the lady whose trash can he found the puppy in – Bob eventually decides to take the dog in and names him Rocco.

The more Bob and Rocco bond, the more he comes out of his shell – and he even begins to forge some kind of relationship with the equally damaged Nadia too.

By now, you’re probably thinking that this doesn’t sound much like the traditional plot for a gangster film, right?

You’d be wrong. You see, trouble is also heading into Bob’s world just as he’s found a bit of happiness.

His bar is robbed and local nutjob Eric Deeds (Matthias Schoenaerts – Bullhead) claims that Rocco is his… and wants him back.

With the Checens demanding their money back and Bob’s unlikely bond with Rocco under threat, it soon becomes clear that there’s more to his character than meets the eye.

I’ll be honest with you, The Drop is a real slow burner and does take quite some time to get going.

That being said, Hardy’s brilliant and captivating performance should keep you interested. It’s one of his better roles to date (and he’s had some crackers).

His accent and mannerisms are bang on the money – and it is almost impossible to believe that this is the same guy that played both Bane and Bronson.

Equally, Gandolfini perhaps saves his best film showing for last as fallen mob boss Marv, who has a real chip on his shoulder after being knocked off his lofty perch as local kingpin.

Completing a hat-trick of top individual performances is Rapace, who proved a great foil for Hardy’s Bob.

Don’t let Rocco’s presence in the film put you off, either. The dog element to the movie isn’t cheesy in the slightest and actually works very well.

It’s not quite great, but The Drop is a very good watch.

Rating 4/5 (watched at West End Cinema, Boston)

Showtimes at West End Cinema, Boston
(November 21 to November 27)

EVENT CINEMA

THE PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER (12A)
3pm (Sun)

HOCKNEY LIVE FROM LA (12A)
7pm (Tues)

L’ELISIR D’AMORE (12A)
7.15pm (Wed)

FILMS SHOWING

**REDIRECTED (18)
6.30pm (Thurs), 8.45pm (Thurs)

**THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 1 (12A)
11.30am (Sat/Sun/Wed), 2.15pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 5.20pm (daily), 8.25pm (daily)

THE IMITATION GAME (12A)
12.30pm (Sat/Sun/Wed), 3pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 5.45pm (daily) 8.20pm (daily)

THE DROP (15)
4.30pm (daily), 8.50pm (not Tues/Wed/Thurs)

NATIVITY 3: DUDE WHERES MY DONKEY (U)
10.10am (Sat), 12.30pm (Sat/Sun), 3pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 5.30pm (daily)

INTERSTELLAR (12A)
2pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 5.30pm (daily) 8pm (daily)

OUIJA (15)
6.45pm (Fri/Sat/Mon), 8.45pm (daily)

BOOK OF LIFE 3D (U)
10am (Sat/Sun)

BOOK OF LIFE 2D (U)
Noon (Sat/Sun)

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES 3D
(12A) Noon (Sun), 2.15pm (Sat)

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES 2D (12A)
10am (Sat), 4.30pm (Fri/Sat/Mon)

ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE VERY BAD NO GOOD DAY (PG)
10am (Sat/Sun)

KIDS’ CLUB
Daily 10:30am – The Postman Pat Movie (U)

SILVER SCREEN
Wed 11.30am – The Imitation Game (12A)

** Denotes free list suspended

Box office: 01205 363634
Web: www.westendcinema.co.uk/SavoyBoston