“THE DROP” (2014) MOVIE REVIEW
This film should have been nicely called “A LONELY MAN and his PIT BULL”.
It would be an apt tribute, but one might be swayed to think that it’s a Disney production, good grief.
“THE DROP” has, within its finer wrapping, an ingenious plot, exacting powerful performances from actors TOM HARDY and the late JAMES GANDOLFINI who died of a cardiac arrest months after shooting wrapped.
“THE DROP” would be his farewell piece.
To this Reviewer, he rates this film as a smart “thinking” crime story.
The script ambles with a steady burn at first, a slow but surely shimmer before you are drawn rapturously into the long haul.
Quick Synopsis:
THE DROP is a new crime drama from Michaël R. Roskam, the Academy Award nominated director of Bullhead.
Based on an awesome 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.
“THE DROP’s ensemble cast includes Noomi Rapace, Matthias Schoenaerts, Ann Dowd and John Ortiz.
From start to end of this crime thriller, you are made to feel that circumstances are not what they appear to be.
The plot ambles mysteriously in a dogged style that is both cold and chilling.
“THE DROP” introduces us to Bob (Tom Hardy), an unambitious slow-witted bartender who is content to toil for his cousin Marv (James Gandolfini) in a bar named Cousin Marv’s.
It is a small drinking hole, but this is what you only see from the facade.
Cousin Marv’s is also as a notorious “drop bar” where dirty money is “dropped” at the counter and specified people will pick up the “haul” later.
This is an urban thriller following the style of Sidney Lumet and other crime busters of his time.
The performances are soul-searching to match the overall doom-and-gloom mood of the cinematography.
“THE DROP” can be said to be layered with a dark tinge of poetic indulgence.
In his final screen appearance, James Gandolfini plays Marv, a Brooklyn bar manager who has to give up ownership of his bar to Chechen gangsters.
The crooks use the work venue as a “drop” off location for laundering money.
Marv may appear cool, calm and collected, but is one helluva guy capable of violence when he is in a rage. His sidekick is Bob (Tom Hardy), the bartender with the slow slur.
One fateful night a pair of shotgun-wielding masked robbers raided the bar and scooted off with US$5,000.
Even though the amount of money is little compared to the usual drop-bar night, the Chechen mob who actually owned the bar is pissed.
As the story progresses, Bob rescues an injured pit bull pup in a garbage can which belongs to a woman named Nadia (Noomi Rapace).
Both of them become firm friends, and Bob soon discovers that that the pit-bull pup is actually dumped by Nadia’s psychotic ex-boyfriend Eric Deeds (Matthias Schoenaerts).
A brilliant young Flemish director Roskam was identified as a talent to watch by Michael Mamn after his debut feature, Bullhead, was chosen as Belgium’s Oscar candidate.
“THE DROP” is his first English language film.
His treatment is liken to boarding a cool, deadpan roller-coaster ride to hell.
Go watch it!
RATING: 3.5 out of 5
Local Distributor: 20th Century Fox Malaysia
“ENOUGH SAID” PRESS REVIEW
The advertising slogan really hits hard on you, if you allow it to do so.
It cajoles you that this movie is everything insightful, funny and stunningly performed. It is.
Writer and helmer Nicole Holofcener delivers a heartwarming message, admonishing us not to wallow in self-pity with this elusive element called love.
Should you suffer an unhappy first marriage, no problem …. there’re enough valid reasons not to heap past issues upon a new found second relationship.
“ENOUGH SAID” the movie explores the nuances of love during one’s middle years.
Everyone will grow old eventually, so fat hope to cosmetic laden dreamers who think they can be the Peter Pans of everlasting youth.
WE call this taking “second chances”.
Rather than mopping over your disastrous first, this one demonstrates any middle aged man or woman can still enjoy singlehood again despite failed marriages.
“ENOUGH SAID” is all about our two leads Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini.
A chance encounter leads them to discover they have the hots for each other, and they waste no time in starting a sexual relationship. When there’s love, there’s sex, isn’t this thrilling? (guffaw)
But will they be able to juggle another relationship?
Our morale booster here nods YES, but be mindful that second chances will bring along its far share of emotional baggage.
Because nobody likes to grow old without a loving companion. Sad.
Right.
Actor James Gandolfini the sweet bearlike actor died unexpectedly in June 2013 at age 51.
So this film is a fond farewell of sorts.
He shared an affable screen chemistry with Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Gandolfini, who was 51, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 52, play divorced parents who begin dating, but they are also wary of past romantic failures.
Shot on a modest budget, ENOUGH SAID is a fascinating and powerful film.
It has a perfect blend of humor and heart.
Nice.
