Synopsis: Bob Saginowski finds himself at the center of a robbery gone awry and entwined in an investigation that digs deep into the neighborhood’s past where friends, families, and foes all work together to make a living – no matter the cost. (c) Imdb

[springboard type=”video” id=”1431871″ player=”tmbg001″ width=”599″ height=”336″ ]

Tom Hardy and James Gandolfini star in the The Drop, available everywhere on Blu-ray and DVD. Gandolfini delivers all that you would expect and more in this crime drama, also one of his final performances of his life.

The Drop is a movie about lonely. Bob Saginowski (Tom Hard) is a one of those lonely people living a bleak live and working for his cousin-employer Marv (James Gandolfini). Managing the bar is only a cover up to stashing money for local gangsters. The scheme is referred to as “drops”. Bob has little to look forward to in his life. He works as a bartender, and his life is under supervision of the Chechen mob. Things get out of control when the bar is robbed and cash goes missing. Marv and Bob are forced to replace the missing money.

Bob’s life alters a bit when he discovers an abused puppy in a dumpster. The puppy’s discovery leads him to  an encounter with Nadia (Noomi Rapace) who’s garbage the puppy was stashed in. Bob and Nadia quickly develop friendship over the puppy. Problems escalate when Eric Deeds (Matthias Schoenaerts) becomes a roadblock in Bob’s life. Deeds comes looking for his dog, but Marv is suspicious that he might be involved with the robbery and the mob. Soon, Bob’s life is sent into turmoil as he attempts to protect everyone that’s close to him from the impending dangers they will be faced with.

Tom Hardy once again turns in a superb performance. He is very believable as a regular blue collar guy from Brooklyn. The way Hardy can blend into a role and own it, is what makes him one of the best talents in Hollywood. The Bob character is quiet, yet tough. A true loner that treats his bar patrons like family. They seem the closest thing he has to a family. James Gandolfini was the cast perfectly as Marv. There is that quiet and tough quality to him also, with shades of Tony Soprano, although much more composed. Gandolfini was a terrific actor with great range, this movie gives you a peak into his more subtle side. Noomi Rapace’s character Nadia blends in nicely into this gleam and depressing world that Bob and Marv are a part of. She appears damaged, but also very strong. The parallel between her character and Bob’s is uniquely compatible.

The Blu-ray and DVD combo includes the following special features: Making the Drop is a 4 minute feature about the film story and it’s characters, a nice inside look at film. Making Brooklyn Your Own is a 4 minute feature about why the production team decided on Brooklyn as a setting for the movie. Rocco the Dog is a 2 minute feature with the cast and crew talking about their experiences with the dog on set. Keeping It Real is a 4 minute feature about the novel becoming a movie, along with the film’s characters and their individual purpose. Character Profile: James Gandolfini is a profile on the experience working with James Gandolfini, aside from Hardy’s commentary, all mention of Gandolfini were made prior to his death. There are also four Deleted Scenes, and a Directors Commentary included.

Overall, The Drop is a slow paced, but intriguing crime drama. It has an old-school feel to it. The characters are authentic, and believable. A stellar cast doesn’t take away from the story. The world these characters live in is bleak and uninspiring. You root for them to find some sort of happiness. Director Michael R. Roskam wants you to see how none of the main characters have much hope in their lives, the dog and Nadia give Bob something to look forwards to, as an audience that’s as much joy as you will get from the story.

The Drop DVD –  7.5 out of 10!

Hardy and Gandolfini sharing the screen are worth the watch