The Drop (2014), R, ★★★

Tom Hardy and James Gandolfini (in his final role).

Crime thrillers have been considered as one of the most unpredictable genres, but one of the most exciting genres due to the interesting characters and how the filmmakers and writers guide their fates. However, the story becomes the most powerful component of the whole project as the audience wants to be entertained and shocked simultaneously because sometimes, our favorite characters do not make it out alive. The Departed, Heat, The Town had some fantastic characters that have a guilty backstory as to why the characters are in a vulnerable state. This movie is somewhat different but has predictable crime thriller elements, but, nevertheless, thanks to some strong performances, it is a solid crime thriller.

Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) plays a bartender at a Brooklyn bar called Cousin Marv's. It is a drop bar that holds all the collection money from all other mob businesses, but, specifically in this story, the Chechen mafia. The owner, Cousin Marv (James Gandolfini), detests the traditional ways of how the mafia toasts a kid who died ten years ago and the cash exchanges.

After his shift ends and on his way home, Bob sees a whimpering pit bull inside a garbage can. A woman named Nadia (Noomi Rapace) wants to know who snooping her trash can. Bob replies that there is an injured dog and Nadia helps Bob to patch it up. As Bob goes to a small congregation at the church, he notices detective Torres (John Ortiz). Bob picks up the dog and confesses to Nadia that he does not know how to take care of a dog. Nadia helps out to pick up supplies and he names the dog, Rocco.

Cousin Marv's has been robbed by two guys and Detective Torres investigates the robbery. It upsets Marv as Chovka (Michael Aranov), the head of the Chechen mafia, wanting to know why that Torres asked about a broken watch during his investigation. The watch and the money are components of a complex plot that will go wrong as both items are connected to the robbery. It is a more complicated than it seems.

Rapace, Hardy, and the dog having coffee.

What I liked about this movie is the slow, natural build-up to the climactic scenes as to how the characters will get out of the sticky situation regarding the robbery and the connections with the small town. You never know where this is going when we are introduced to the characters and to the relationships between certain characters. It seems that every character intertwines with a certain event that the situation comes back other innocent bystanders and have to clean the mess up. It is unfair, but it is a fair life in that little circle.

Tom Hardy is the central star of the film and gives another strong performance in a very good year with Locke and this film. He makes you interested in his character observing every move in any character's situation that is going on involving himself and the bar. He keeps you guessing. So does James Gandolfini, in a sensational final role as a tamer role in his usual character roles as a tough guy, sort of a tamer Tony Soprano. He plays a predictable character, yes, but he makes it fresh by reminding the characters and Bob he used to be a tough guy. But, he is a guy with pride, self-esteem with a hint of anger and questionable motives. Noomi Rapace has an unspectacular role but does a good job having a good chemistry between herself and Hardy.

The strong performances and the familiar, but entertaining story is what sold me. The story builds up into a quiet twist that many people will either question or will be accepted. I accepted it because it was not an ordinary twist. There were some slow scenes and some confusion in the first 30 minutes as the writers and filmmakers did not know what to write about or film. But, the movie redeems itself entirely. The movie is written by Dennis Lehane, who is credited for these kinds of genres and creates some strong dialogue. Finally, a good September movie to go watch and watch a tribute to Gandolfini's work on-screen and reminding us how good of an actor really was, blending into different environments and creating fresh characters. What a memorable final role.

***