"with a cast of powerhouse performances certainly makes The Drop worth seeking out"

Tom Hardy shines as introverted Bob Saginowski a blue collar Brooklyn bar tender at Cousin Marv’s, one of a number of local bars used by Chechen mobsters to stockpile dirty money in a timed safe until the cost is clear for a pick up. Owned by said cousin Marv (which is James Gandolfini’s gruff final performance), Bob is burdened with the leg work of running the bar and is constantly under the scrutinising shadow of his imposing cousin.

With Marv living on former glory (he no longer owns his beloved bar) and Bob struggling to gain an identity in the increasingly crime fuelled neighbourhood, a sudden robbery in their own bar catapults both under the intense surveillance of the police and local crime lords. Loosely based on Dennis Lehane’s (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone, Shutter Island) short story Animal Rescue, The Drop takes direction from Michael R. Roskam whose English language debut is a follow up from Roskam’s equally tragic Bullhead.

With distrustful relationships lurking in every corner some light relief is gained through the gradual friendship between Bob and Nadia (Noomi Rapace) who bond after Bob finds a battered Pitbull puppy in her trash can, and set about nurturing the scarred dog, which they name Rocco, back to full health. Being both injured creatures themselves this unlike trio find what little hope is left in the dreary and cruel Brooklyn streets.

This urban crime thriller ultimately is about when events can’t be cleaned up or swept under the carpet and the past in never that far behind you in an area where everyone knows your business. With characters twists in the final build up, The Drop succeeds in showcasing East coast noir.

Verdict – Though the script is lacking at times, a cast of powerhouse performances certainly makes The Drop worth seeking out, and the sight of Tom Hardy cradling a puppy will melt your heart, whilst also being a fitting send off to the late, great James Gandolfini.