
The Drop
2014, Crime/Drama, 1h 47m
201 Reviews 10,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
There's no shortage of similarly themed crime dramas, but The Drop rises above the pack with a smartly written script and strong cast. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Bob Saginowski
Nadia
Cousin Marv
Eric Deeds
Det. Ortiz
Dottie
News & Interviews for The Drop
Critic Reviews for The Drop
All Critics (201) | Top Critics (60) | Fresh (179) | Rotten (22)
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'The Drop' reminds us of what Gandolfini always did well: providing support, heft, and color, in the tradition of our finest character actors.
June 18, 2016 | Full Review… -
The film is just three degrees off being brilliant yet is always creepingly moving, and I loved its lived-in squalor.
January 5, 2015 | Full Review… -
As a vehicle for those two actors, The Drop is gangbusters.
January 5, 2015 | Full Review… -
It's a classic case of a little becoming a lot onscreen on the basis of a single impressive performance.
January 5, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review… -
Lehane, the hardboiled master, has almost gone soft here.
January 5, 2015 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review… -
I have the distinct impression the film could have slid off into the territory of the hokey, or at least forgettable. Thankfully, Hardy and Gandolfini have it under control.
January 5, 2015 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for The Drop
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Dec 02, 2015Pretty solid. Worth checking out if you like crime dramas. Pretty good cast, although I really wasn't a fan of Noomi Rapace here. Tom Hardy makes up for that though.Stephen S Super Reviewer
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Oct 05, 2015The Drop is one of those films that almost sneaks by an audience but strangely there's still something that catches the eye. That something may be because it's yet another adaptation of the normally successful page to screen transfer of crime novelist Dennis Lehane (Gone Baby Gone, Mystic River, Shutter Island), the English language debut of Bullhead director Michaël R. Roskam or that it features the last screen performance of the late, great James Gandolfini. All of these are reason enough to see it, but the one that really makes it worthwhile is a quietly commanding Tom Hardy. Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) is a quiet, unassuming bartender working with his cousin Marv (James Gandolfini) in his Brooklyn bar. Marv is a bit of a has-been who lost his bar to incoming Chechen gangsters who use the establishment as a "drop" for illegal money takings. However, when the bar is robbed it puts them in a tight spot and leads to an investigation that brings up the past and the depths of the neighbourhood's criminal affairs. The Drop has come in for a fair bit of criticism from numerous corners. Predominantly these issues have stemmed from plot strands not coming together or Lehane going a bit on the soft side and to a minor extent I can agree with this. There are some problems with the narrative, namely a religious sub-plot involving John Ortiz's church-going cop that feels misplaced and underdeveloped and the talented likes of Noomi Rapace is wasted in a woefully underwritten supporting role. However, what the film manages to capture is a perfect sombre mood and uses a patient approach that very much works in it's favour. Cinematographer Nicolas Karakatsanis captures Brooklyn in all it's blue collar edginess while the two central characters in Bob and Marv are afforded the space to grow and develop at their own pace - resulting in both Gandolfini and, especially, Hardy raising the film to a whole other level. There's also a good support from rising Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts (Bullhead, Rust and Bone). However, Gandolfini's presence hangs heavily over the film and it's a real shame that this is the last we'll see of this fantastic actor. That being said, he's not the main player and you get the impression that Gandolfini is happy to step aside and allow Hardy to do his thing. I don't suppose there's anything here that hasn't been done before but that still doesn't take away from this slow-burning, gritty drama. It's a fine addition to a sub-genre that I have a real soft spot for and that's, ultimately, down to the strong performances. Roksam has a good command over Lehane's prose and dialogue but the plot comes secondary to the characterisation. And in terms of Hardy and Gandolfini, there's plenty of that to be had. We may have lost a great actor that'll be hard to replace in Gandolfini, however, rising star Schoenaerts is deservedly becoming more prolific and Tom Hardy just continually manages to impress. The Drop's low-life tale of criminality benefits from seeing all three deliver solid work. Mark WalkerMark W Super Reviewer
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Mar 03, 2015In "The Drop," Bob(Tom Hardy) works in a bar run by his cousin Marv(James Gandolfini). One day, they are robbed. That would not be a big deal if the bar was not a drop site for the mob. Otherwise, Bob rescues a pit bull with a little help from Nadia(Noomi Rapace). While there may be worst things than a crime movie with almost no urgency, "The Drop" proves there are few things that are more frustrating, as this is a movie that is 30 minutes too long. Yes, this slack pace goes towards showing that these peoples' lives are going nowhere but a little of that goes a long way. While there is a neat twist, it also serves to invalidate other parts of the movie, including the ending. At least, James Gandolfini is excellent in the kind of part he used to do so very well. And Tom Hardy and Noomi Rapace do display a certain rapport.Walter M Super Reviewer
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Feb 08, 2015A well done gangster movie which combines suspense with an intricate plot, although that can be confusing at times. Tom Hardy especially shines.Ian W Super Reviewer
The Drop Quotes
Cousin Marv: | It's like you're wrapping a piece of meat. Like you've done it a thousand times. |
Bob Saginowski: | Go out for a dinner still dressed like you're in your living room. You wear those big, you wear those big hippity hoppity clown shoes and you speak to women terribly. You treat them despicably. You hurt harmless dogs that can't even defend themselves. I'm tired of you man. I'm tired of you, you embarrass me. You know we would've kept coming back. That's what he would've done. People like this they take something from you, and you let them, they just act like they can keep coming back and you still owe them something and they never, never change. You can never change their mind. |
Bob Saginowski: | There are some sins that you commit that you can't come back from, you know, no matter how hard you try. You just can't. It's like the devil is waiting for your body to quit. Because he knows, he knows that he already owns your soul. And then I think maybe there's no devil. You die... and God, he says, Nah, nah you can't come in. You have to leave now. You have to leave and go away and you have to be alone. You have to be alone forever. |
Detective Romsey: | They never see you coming, do they Bob? |
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