Based on a screenplay from Dennis Lehane (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone), The Drop follows lonely bartender Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) through a covert scheme of funneling cash to local gangsters – “money drops” – in the underworld of Brooklyn bars. Under the heavy hand of his employer and cousin Marv (James Gandolfini), Bob 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.
The Drop is an American crime drama film directed by Michaël R. Roskam and written by Dennis Lehane. The film is based on Dennis Lehane’s 2009 short story “Animal Rescue”. Lehane also adapted the script into a 2014 novel of the same name. The film stars Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, James Gandolfini, Matthias Schoenaerts, John Ortiz and James Frecheville. It was screened in the Special Presentations section of the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, and was released theatrically on September 12, 2014.
About the Story
Bob Saginowski is a bartender at neighborhood bar in Brooklyn called Cousin Marv’s. Run by the titular Marv, the bar operates as a “drop” bar where criminals launder money. Marv is shown angry at some people honoring the tenth anniversary of a man being murdered. On his way home, Bob finds a badly beaten pit bull inside a garbage can.
Nadia, who lives in the adjunct house and sees that the dog is injured, helps Bob patch up the dog. She tells him that because it’s a pit bull, it’ll be put down at the shelter if its owner doesn’t come. Bob agrees to take the dog, while someone watches them from across the street. When Bob goes to church, the congregation is to small for him to notice fellow parishioner Detective Torres. Bob picks up the dog and names him Rocco.
The bar is robbed by two gunmen. During the robbery, Bob notices that one of the gunmen has a broken watch. Detective Torres shows up to investigate and Bob tells him about the watch. This upsets Marv, who knows that the Chechens are going to be angry that their money got stolen. Torres shows up to investigate and the next day, Chovka, the face of the Chechen mob wants to know why the cops know about the broken watch, and tells Marv to find the money.
Bob and Nadia begin to grow closer taking care of Rocco. Bob meets Eric Deeds, who comments that Rocco is a nice looking dog. Marv, who lives with his sister Dottie is told by her that a collection agency has been calling because they need to pay for their father’s life support. She suggests that they should take him off life support, to which Marv disagrees. He storms out and meets up with one of the robbers, revealing that Marv orchestrated the robbery.
Deeds shows up at Bob’s house and demands the dog back. Deeds takes Bob’s umbrella and sees himself out. On his way into the bar, a man asking for directions stops Marv, which makes Marv believe he’s being followed. He tells Bob that Deeds is a local thug who claims to have killed the man mentioned earlier. They then find a bag near the garbage with the arm with the broken watch and all the money. Bob disposes of the arm and Marv returns the money to the Chechens. They tell him that his bar will be the drop bar for the night of the Super Bowl.
The Drop
Directed by: Michaël R. Roskam
Starring: Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, James Gandolfini, Matthias Schoenaerts, John Ortiz, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Patricia Squire
Screenplay by: Dennis Lehane, Dennis Lehane
Production Design by: Thérèse DePrez
Cinematography by: Nicolas Karakatsanis
Film Editing by: Christopher Tellefsen
Costume Design by: David C. Robinson
Set Decoration by: Mila Khalevich
Art Direction by: Michael Ahern
Music by: Marco Beltrami, Raf Keunen
MPAA Rating: R for some strong violence and pervasive language.
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Release Date: September 12, 2014
Visits: 68
