Based on the
short story by Dennis Lehane, The Drop
is a film with themes better understood with the knowledge of the story’s
original title, “Animal Rescue.” Though there is an abused dog found abandoned
within the narrative, this is a film better appreciated with the understanding
that this is not the only animal within the story in need of rescue. It is the
subtle nuances in themes and metaphor’s such as this within the sophomore
feature from Belgian filmmaker Michaël R. Roskam which make him a subtle talent
not to be dismissed, and this is only enhanced by the spectacular performances
given by the three leads.
This cast is
headed up by Tom Hardy in the role of Bob Saginowski, further solidifying his
place among this generation’s greatest talents. Here he is a Brooklyn
bartender whose unassuming demeanor and oddly optimistic attitude make him a
rare creature amongst the hardened and cynical people he encounters in the
slightly seedy underworld of a mob-controlled bar. In some ways he seems to be
embodying the persona created by Stallone for Rocky, especially paired against the cynicism of his boss, Cousin
Marv (James Gandolfini, in a worthwhile final performance). Having had a rough
path in the criminal underworld, Marv is left bitterly tending his sad little
bar, with only Bob’s cheerful chatter to contradict the sullen atmosphere.
The other person
whose demeanor establishes the otherwise cold nature of the setting is a local
neighbor named Nadia (Noomi Rapace), who Bob encounters when he discovers a
badly-beaten dog abandoned in her trash can. This begins a courtship of sorts
between the two, though neither are completely adept at human interaction,
making it somewhat of a lengthy process. It is these naturalistic performances
paired with the witty, and surprisingly humorous, screenplay adapted by Lehane
himself which makes The Drop such a treat for intelligent filmgoers. If you are
looking for exciting action, there are plenty of blockbusters offering just
that, but this film somehow manages to be even more engaging by simply using
great words spoken by talented actors.
The plot is
purposefully simplistic, permitting the film to instead put the focus on the
characters. It is one of those rare crime films that allows the action to be
driven by the characters, rather than letting spectacle take the reigns at the
detriment to believable human beings. Following his Academy Award-nominated
debut feature (Bullhead), this seems
to be a common narrative choice of the filmmaker, whose early films address
ideas similar to those Martin Scorsese tackled early in his career, but with a
unique intellectual restraint usually only found in far more seasoned
directors. There are many themes addressing the propensity for violence in men,
whether for feelings of power of the mere desire for wealth. This film makes an
excellent comparison piece to Bullhead, but also has me even more excited to
see what Roskam will bring us next.
The Blu-ray
release includes a commentary track with Roskam and Lehane, as well as a
making-of featurette with more footage and interviews of both talented
contributors. The extras also include a handful of deleted scenes, and a
handful of featurettes about the locations, acting, and some of the performers.
This mostly just includes the departed Gandolfini, though there is also a
featurette dedicated to the dog performer, Rocco.
Entertainment Value:
8/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 9/10
Historical
Significance: 8/10
Special Features: 8/10
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